Ibarra, Tsahar use talent to create new jazz sound

Two principal figures in the downtown New York music scene, drummer/percussionist Susie Ibarra and her husband, saxophones/bass clarinetist Assif Tsahar, will be in Oberlin next week. Their residency will include a performance Monday evening and a master class in Hales Gymnasium on Tuesday.

The duo's creativity and intimacy is something to behold. Their self released CD, Home Cookin' displays brilliance in the development of thematic material as well as their many other strengths as virtuoso players.

"I'm excited for both of them to come," said Conservatory junior Jason Brown. "Susie is an extraordinary musician and technician, and definitely one of the best living percussionists."

Ibarra studied under free jazz pioneer and master percussionist Milford Graves. Her riveting, inspired drumming has allowed her to make admirable headway in the world of creative improvisation. Awarded "Best New Talent of the Year" by Jazziz magazine in 1998, Ibarra has powered the rhythm section of William Parker's band, In Order to Survive, as well as The Little Huey Creative Music Orchestra. She also has added her talents to the David S. Ware Quartet, and more recently her own trio with pianist Cooper Moore and violinist Charles Burnham.

She has recorded, performed and toured with numerous musicians, including John Zorn, Pauline Oliveros, Wadada Leo Smith, Derek Bailey, Ikue Mori and Dennis Charles - all luminaries within the field.

In a genre overwhelmingly dominated by men, Ibarra has attracted some attention with respect to gender issues. Last spring Ibarra organized a month long series featuring jazz ensembles led by women. "I work with men 99 percent of the time, so I thought it would be nice to balance the equation a bit myself," said Ibarra in a New York Times interview.

Tsahar communicates through his music with a combination of extended techniques and vocal phrasing. "With his full throaty tenor spilling out rolling waves and driving torrents, he [Tsahar] is clearly developing his own voice on the horn," said Michael Rosenstein of Cadence magazine. Tsahar's growing discography includes releases on Eremite, Silkheart and the Ibarra/Tsahar label. He, too, has played with Parker's Creative Music Orchestra and In Order to Survive, and his own trio features Ibarra and Parker.

But this performance and workshop should not attract Conservatory students alone. Tsahar and Ibarra have an extensive knowledge of musical history, and reflect this in their work.

Ibarra and Tsahar will play Monday night at the Cat-in-the-Cream, and will be conducting a masterclass which is free and open to the public on Tuesday at noon in Hales Gymnasium.