The Jazz Gallery Presents: Elliott Sharp 70th Birthday Celebration

Photo by Andreas Sterzing, courtesy of the artist.

A current exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York documents the explosion of new music in the city in the early 1980s, across styles and communities. One of the exhibition’s photo galleries features two portraits of Elliott Sharp, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser who exemplifies the era’s drive for eclecticism and experimentation. Throughout his career, Sharp has collaborated with the likes of Kronos Quartet, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Jack DeJohnnette, and Blondie’s Debbie Harry, cultivating a unique practice that encompasses music of all kinds.

To help celebrate his 70th birthday, Sharp will convene his trio Aggregat at The Jazz Gallery for two sets on February 25. One of Sharp’s more jazz-grounded projects, Aggregat has released 3 albums with shifting personnel, including 2016’s Dialectrical (Clean Feed), featuring drummer Barry Altschul.

At the Gallery, Sharp will be joined by bassist Brandon Lopez and drummer Don McKenzie, working through Sharp’s ever-morphing compositions.

Elliott Sharp’s Aggregat Trio plays The Jazz Gallery on Friday, February 25, 2022. The group features Mr. Sharp on saxophones & bass clarinet, Brandon Lopez on bass, and Don McKenzie on drums. Sets are at 7:30 and 9:30 P.M. E.S.T. $25 general admission ($10 for members), $35 reserved table seating ($20 for members) for each set. Purchase tickets here.