Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock is one of the best improvisers on the free-jazz scene, and Contemporary Chaos Practices her first writing project for large orchestra with soloists. Which genre is it more closely related to? To paraphrase composer and improviser George Lewis, “a stupid word like jazz was not going to restrain her from doing what she wanted to do…” In order to guarantee the cohesion of both the large ensemble of some 40 musicians, including a vocal octet, and the soloists Mary Halvorson, Nate Wooley, Kris Davis and Laubrock herself, whose performances are spontaneous, she has even used two conductors. The music, dense, rich and unpredictable, will reward those who like to venture into unfamiliar territory.
