Jon Hassell and Maarifa Street February 5, 2009

"It's difficult to think what contemporary music would sound like without his influence."—The Wire

Composer and trumpeter Jon Hassell has formulated a unique sound he dubs "Fourth World" or "worldly" music to reflect the balance he seeks between wide-ranging global influences and the traditions of jazz and classical music. His lush sound evokes magical transformation and mystery, inspiring such collaborators as Brian Eno, Björk, Baaba Maal, Ry Cooder, and Kronos Quartet. Among the forces shaping his work are studies with vanguard composer Karlheinz Stockhausen and ideas shared with minimalists Terry Riley and Philip Glass, as well as interactions with Indian vocal master Pandit Pran Nath that pointed him toward a new approach to the trumpet and a heightened appreciation for the variety of the world's music.

A longtime leader in exploring electronics, Hassell has been active abroad but absent from U.S. concert stages for over a decade. This tour marks his highly anticipated return with his band Maarifa Street in conjunction with a new release for ECM Records. Hassell's unique trumpet and keyboard sound will be supported by violinist Kheir-Eddine M'Kachiche, Peter Freeman on bass and laptop and live sampling from Jan Bang and Dino J.A. Deane.

Official Website: http://www.wexarts.org/pa/index.php?eventid=3559