Microscope is pleased to present an evening of live sound with New York-based band Uzupis formed by Dalius Naujo, Will Shore, and Kenny Wollesen, who will be joined for the occasion by Laima Griciute for a program of free improvisation building upon original compositions by Naujo, Shore and Wollesen.
“Uzupis is a band with Kenny Wollesen on vibraphone, Will Shore on electric vibraphone and Dalius Naujo on drums, electric drums & vocals. The band was formed in New York City in 2014 at one of songwriter Jesse Harris’ infamous house parties in Soho. Uzupis has since performed in many New York venues including Nublu, Manhanttan Inn, The Stone, Trans-Pecos, and Bar Lunatico. They were also featured at the 2017 Peronas Jazz Festival in Vilnius.
Laima Griciute, a good friend who has previously performed and recorded with Uzupis, will join the band again on percussion and drums for this concert at the gallery.
The sound of Uzupis is unique and fertile and other-worldly, yet at the same time accessible, earthy and fresh. Much like the the band’s namesake: the city/state of Uzupis in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Before forming Uzupis, Wollesen, Shore and Naujo had played for many years together, honing their musical skills in a variety of bands, including the avant-garde marching bands Himalayas and Stone Clouds, as well as the performance happenings of Wollesonic Labs’ “Sonic Massages,” and many of Butch Morris’ ensembles, where they learned the art of “conduction” from the master himself.
Jonas Mekas has been a huge inspiration to the band and has been often featured as vocalist in the group. Uzupis performed at his birthday party at the agnès b. performance space in NYC in 2017.” - Uzupis
The artists will be available for Q&A following the performances.
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Laima Griciute is a vocalist and percussionist based in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Drummer and percussionist Dalius Naujo was active in the experimental music scene in Vilnius, Lithuania in the 80’s before moving to New York in 1995. At Anthology Film Archives he befriended filmmaker and poet Jonas Mekas and there he regularly put on innovative solo percussion performances. Naujo also scored music to four of Mekas’s films and played in several Nervous System performances by legendary filmmaker Ken Jacobs. Naujo continues to be active in the New York downtown scene and creates his own bands throughout New York & Europe.
Will Shore is a performer, producer, composer, and one half of the avant-pop electronic duo Tmboy. He has a solo album out on Brooklyn label Mister Saturday Night Records, DJ’s a monthly show on The Lot Radio, and has played vibraphone for Nels Cline’s LOVERS, Arto Lindsay’s Noise Quartet, and The Dave Harrington Group. You can find him at willshore.com.
Kenny Wollesen has been a ubiquitous presence on the New York downtown music scene for over two decades, having played with everyone from Tom Waits to John Zorn, Bill Frisell to Sexmob, and David Byrne to Bebel Gilberto. Wollesen has played on hundreds of recordings and builds his own one-of-a-kind musical instruments known as “Wollesonics”.