• Date: Friday, May 2, 2008
• Time: 8pm
• Location: Toy Eaters Studio - 143 Christopher Columbus Dr, Jersey City
• Cost: $12; $10 students/seniors at door

“Home Field Advantage - Experimental Jazz in Jersey City” will present Jersey City-based musicians performing cutting-edge improvised music in their hometown every Friday in May. The festival is organized by Jersey City resident and musician James Keepnews.

JC Resident and saxophonist Tony Malaby’s Tamarindo — with William Parker on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums

“Within the last decade the tenor and soprano saxophonist Tony Malaby has earned a reputation as one of New York’s stalwart improvisers, through an array of sideman appointments and some rigorously rewarding albums. As a leader he favors trios, working often with bass and drums. On “Tamarindo” (Clean Feed) the bassist is William Parker, and the drummer is Nasheet Waits, and both musicians bring a driving purpose to the task. Meanwhile Mr. Malaby, simmering as often as he squalls, coherently pushes the music forward. Clearly this band, which has occasionally billed itself as Tony Malaby’s Exploding Heart, should continue working…” — Nate Chinen , New York Times

Leading off this year’s “Home Field Advantage” festival will be the celebrated saxophonist and composer Tony Malaby and his trio Tamarindo, featuring avant jazz legend William Parker on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums.

Saxophonist Tony Malaby, originally from Tucson , has quickly developed a reputation as one of the most prolific and versatile players in New York . When he’s not playing in bands led by Fred Hersch, Charlie Haden, Paul Motian and other greats, he’s leading a growing number of his own groups. Able to tackle anything, from the edgeiest avant-garde to the most melodious standard, Malaby comes to the table with an enormous tone, focused and compelling improvisations and a deep commitment to listening.

Some of Tony’s best work is with trios. Consider Open Loose with Mark Helias and Tom Rainey; or Tone Collector with Eivind Opsvik and Jeff Davis; or Malaby/Sanchez/Rainey, featuring Tony’s wife, the marvelous pianist Angelica Sanchez. At the festival, he’ll present yet another, with bassist William Parker and drummer Nasheet Waits. Together the three have released a gripping new album on the Clean Feed label called TAMARINDO.

William Parker is an major icon of the free jazz movement who unveils one fascinating project after another, the latest being CORN MEAL DANCE and THE INSIDE SONGS OF CURTIS MAYFIELD. Nasheet Waits, of Jason Moran’s Bandwagon, can play with streamlined purity behind Fred Hersch one night, then unleash torrents of sound with Peter Brotzmann the next. Put Malaby, Parker and Waits together and anything can happen.