For the last decade, Walt Davis has been quietly enriching the cultural life of Triangle residents–an accusation he would humbly shrug off. Davis, who is moving to New Zealand, headed the Alliance for Improvised Music, organizing scores of free jazz, multimedia and border-crossing events. Metropolitan areas like Chicago, Davis’ original home, claim the deepest jazz heritage. But Davis’ work made the Triangle a stopping point for traveling tours of the headiest improv–Wadada Leo Smith, Steve Lacy, Georg Graewe among others–and inarguably strengthened the local improv scene.
For Davis’ send-off, organizers have put together a free show at the ArtsCenter in Carrboro Friday, Aug. 26 with a roster that reads like a who’s who of local improvisers. Many are members of the Micro-East Collective, the large ensemble that participates in AIM events and coordination. Trumpeter Mondre Moffett, newly a Greensboro resident, will lead a group through interpretations of Ornette Coleman numbers and other improvisations. Other performers include oboist Carrie Shull, cellist Chris Eubank, bassoon player Todd Hershberger; Crowmeat Bob, Chuck Johnson, tuba player David Morris and drummer Mike Isenberg. The Unstable Ensemble opens.
The show starts at 8 p.m. and is free.