Il nuovo direttore artistico sarà Matt Mehlan e lavorerà in coppia con Jamie Burns, direttore esecutivo: ma il cambio della guardia alla testa del Roulette a New York non avverrà prima di aver celebrato come conviene i 45 (!) anni di guida da parte del suo fondatore - inizialmente con David Weinstein, Dan Senn e Laurie Szujewska - e infaticabile artefice, il trombonista e compositore James S. Staley. Oggi gran festa di gala in suo onore, con attestati di stima e riconoscenza da parte di tutti: tra i musicisti presenti ci saranno sicuramente John Zorn, Zeena Parkins, Ikue Mori, Yuka Honda, Nels Cline e Henry Threadgill, amici e compagni di innumerevoli avventure. Grazie Jim!
Jim Staley has become an iconic staple in shaping and forever changing the experimental music scene of New York City. However, many don’t realize that Roulette’s origins began well before its founding in his Tribeca loft. After graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Staley enlisted in the U.S Army, where he spent three years playing trombone in military bands. While stationed in Berlin from 1971 to 1973, Staley became inspired by the collectivist, envelope-pushing spirit of the German avant-garde music scene; Slide Hampton had a particular influence on Staley while he played in Hampton’s band abroad. After his service period, he returned to Champaign-Urbana, where he was tasked with caretaking for a family property. Staley immediately turned the property into a space where artists and students could live, create, and experiment at little to no cost - affectionately coined “Staley Manor” - and where he ultimately met Roulette’s co-founders before moving to New York in 1978 and establishing Roulette. In 1991, Staley founded Einstein Records.
Since those early days, Roulette has not only survived, but modernized and thrived under Staley’s care. What began as a small experiment in his home has evolved into an internationally recognized venue, presenter, and producer of experimental work by some of today’s most extraordinary minds. He received the 2005 Susan E. Kennedy Memorial Award, the 2012 ASCAP award, and was named a 2018 Champion of New Music by the American Composers’ Forum for his years in support of artists. And yet, he has never been honored here, at his home, by the people he’s amassed around him over the past 45 years. Now is that time. As Roulette looks to the future, for the first time in its history, Roulette’s Board of Directors, co-founders, staff, and community invite you to join us in honoring James S. Staley for his 45 years of visionary leadership at Roulette. The evening commemorates an incredible milestone, as Staley will be stepping down from his post as Artistic Director at the end of the season. Come celebrate him with us on this special day.
https://roulette.org/history
https://roulette.org/staff-and-leadership
https://roulette.org/gala