Ches Smith: Clone Row at Gulbenkian

Ches Smith brings his Clone Row project to the Gulbenkian Garden Amphitheatre, presenting music that Marc Ribot has described as like "listening to a Jim Hall concert under the influence of many mushrooms" or "a post-punk, post-Dave Brubeck, post-trip-hop experience with classical form." Known primarily as a drummer for artists like Darius Jones, John Zorn, and Tim Berne, Smith here showcases his compositional imagination with a quintet featuring two guitars, bass, and electronics.

The ensemble includes guitarists Mary Halvorson and Liberty Ellman, bassist Nick Dunston, and Smith himself on drums, vibraphone, and electronics. Each composition explores a new angle on how to approach the different guitar styles, creating disconcerting music that tangents through various genres. The outdoor setting in the Gulbenkian gardens provides a fitting backdrop for this adventurous evening of contemporary jazz.