Beartrap is a local leaderless quintet that formed over the singular purpose of making good music. With an equal focus on composition and improvisation, the group regularly straddles between the contemporary and the tradition. Influences include Ornette Coleman, The Bad Plus, The Brian Blade Fellowship, The Dave King Trucking Company and many more. Tristan Cappel...Read More

The trio of Molly Jones on flutes and saxophone, Jaribu Shahid on bass, and Nathan Flanders on piano will present original tunes by Molly along with pieces by Alice Coltrane, Nicole Mitchell, Ornette Coleman, and others.Read More

Neal Anderson, a Detroit-based trumpeter, improviser and composer, self-released his debut album in 2015. “Parallel Fifths” which features all original music. The Neal Anderson Quintet is known for continuous performances weaving melody with improvisation. Neal Anderson earned a BFA in Jazz Studies from the University of Michigan, where he studied improvisation, composition, and performance with...Read More

“Imagine David Bowie producing a show featuring Sam Cooke songs as played by the Dirty Projectors.” Translated from Sanskrit, Maitri (”my tree”) is an unconditional friendship and acceptance of yourself that extends outward to the world. This group was formed by Caroline Davis (voice/woodwinds) to embrace both the hardship and ecstasy of life through song,...Read More

Fresh from a summer European tour, including a performance at the Ambria Jazz Festival, and a new recording project, the Alex Levine Quartet returns to Cliff Bells. ”Guitarist Levine, saxophonist Marcus Elliot, double bassist Ben Rolston, and drummer Stephen Boegehold are a group mind. The elements are in perfect balance in their musical universe. The...Read More