Tomchess and The Lovedogs
Friday, March 21, 2025 7pm
7PM – Experimental Theater

Pittsburgh/NYC based Multi-instrumentalist/improviser/composer Tomchess has played and recorded with some of the most esteemed players in the improvisational and Jazz scene (Dewey Redman, Butch Morris, Pharoah Sanders, Drew Gress, Ronald Shannon Jackson), as well as Morrocan Sintarist Hassan Hakmoun. Having deeply studied the Near Eastern, and North African traditions his syncretic sound encompasses the tonal palette, rhythms, and forms of these traditional musics as well as focusing on the transcendent unity of all human culture and the importance and freedom of improvisation.

Tomchess- Oud, Ney, Morsing, Composer.

Ravi-Padmanabha – Tabla, Sarangi, Percussions

Will McEvoy – Upright Bass

The trio will be representing original compositions as well as improvisations inspired and influenced by musics of the world, more specifically West African, Middle Eastern, Andalusian, Mediterranean, India as well as American Jazz. These compositions and Improvisations will be presented towards creating stories and dialog through sound. Improvised musics promote collective and individual development, spontaneously creating common languages that alter perceptions and encourage us to imagine different alternatives in music and life towards creating a more beautiful world for all.

They have performed in Africa, Canada, Holland, France, Switzerland, Turkey, India and Italy, with notable performances at Lincoln Center, The David Rubinstein Atrium, The Turkish Embassy, The Pakastani Embassy, the Asian Society, The Natural History Museum, The Metropolitan Museum, The Himalayan Museum of Art and The United Nations among countless other venues in the United States. Tomchess has played on Grammy Nominated recordings, been awarded grants from the Turkish American Society and The Maryland Council For The Arts and nominated for an Independent Music Award.