March 2: Area musician Gary Joseph Hassay will perform a short program of spontaneous compositions at the reception and gallery talk for Area Artists 2017. Hassay’s performance, dedicated to these exceptional artists, precedes a gallery Q & A with Kerns, Slahta, Ross, Badt, and Sherk. Doors open at 6pm, performance at 6:30 pm. LUAG Main Gallery, Zoellner Arts Center.

Gary Hassay (alto , tenor and soprano saxophones) has been performing since 1979 with various groups, both as a leader and a sideman. His large ensemble, “Dr. Vincent Sakeeda’s Attack Ensemble“, founded in 1979, was a tour de force of free music which drew critical and public attention. Beginning in 1985, interdisciplinary collaborations have become the main interest of Mr. Hassay. Working in partnership with choreographer Karen Carlson has produced more than thirty-seven performance scores (musician/dancer ) in nine years. “The Stubborn Trio” (Gary Hassay/Karen Carlson/action painter Howard Greenberg) performed together for over four years. An inter-active computer environment installation (Scott Sherk, George Shortess, Gary Hassay, Karen Carlson) occurred in 1997. “The New Lounge“, is the name of one of Hassay’s current musical projects (alto sax, drums and guitar). A solo cd project entitled “A Survivor’s Smile” was released on the Dbops Music label in November, 1996. In 1999 “Another Shining Path” was released on Drimala Records and received qualifications for Grammy Awards in four categories. Dbops Music released a limited edition cd (alto sax/violin) entitled “Dbops Pollittics” in June, 2001. In March, 2002 Drimala Records released a duo cd “Blackwater Bridge” featuring harpist Anne LeBaron. Blackwater Bridge made the Grammy ballot in two different jazz instrumental categories, and has almost completely sold out. In late 2004 the new cd titled “Tribute To Paradise” with Gary Hassay and Ellen Christi was released on Drimala Records. “Tribute” is Gary Hassay’s debut as a Tibetan style throat singer, and the disc is selling well while receiving great reviews.

For more information about Gary Joseph Hassay, check out his website.

Don’t miss these other sound-related events and exhibitions:

Scott Sherk: SonanceZOELLNER, March 20 – December 10, 2017.

April 20, 2017: Scott Sherk Reception and Artist Talk.