Fabricius Front and Center and in Southampton
Live From Southampton Arts Center, a concert series organized by Claes Brondal, a musician who hosts the Thursday night Jam Session at Bay Burger in Sag Harbor, continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. with the Martin Fabricius Group.
Mr. Fabricius is a Danish vibraphonist and composer of animation and documentary scores including “En Anden Pige” (“Another Girl”) and “Sidste Nat” (“Last Night”). His albums as a bandleader include “When Sharks Bite,” “The Speed of Why,” and “Out of the White.”
Joining him on Saturday are Mr. Brondal, who is also from Denmark, on drums, Brad Shepik, a guitarist who has performed with Carla Bley and the late jazz greats Paul Motian and Bob Brookmeyer, and the bassist Steve Swallow, “a legend in his own right,” Mr. Brondal said, who has also performed with Ms. Bley, Keith Jarrett, and Pat Metheny as well as Motian and the late Jimmy Giuffre and Art Farmer.
Mr. Fabricius creates lush, dreamy soundscapes that may include classical and electronic elements. “His style is very much of the Nordic sound,” Mr. Brondal said last week. “Big soundscapes, emotions, harmonies. He has that in his blood.” Mr. Brondal likened his music to that of the vibraphonist Gary Burton, the pianist Chick Corea, and Steps Ahead, a group founded by Mike Mainieri, a vibraphonist, and that of Mr. Swallow and Mr. Shepik to the German independent label Edition of Contemporary Music, or ECM, which is characterized by defiance of genres and musical boundaries and has itself issued many soundtracks.
Mr. Fabricius is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with Mr. Burton. He and his trio have performed worldwide, including throughout Europe and in China.
Mr. Brondal and Mr. Fabricius have been acquainted for some 25 years, the former said. “We met at a summer jazz camp back in 1992, and have played together over the years.” One collaboration was with Lou Soloff, the late trumpeter and composer, Mr. Brondal said. “Now we’re picking it up again, starting with the concert at Southampton Arts Center with the special guests Steve Swallow and Brad Shepik.”
The series will continue on May 5 with a Cinco de Mayo concert featuring tango, boleros, and jazz, with Oscar Feldman on saxophone, Mr. Brondal on drums, and Walter Perez and Sandra Antognazzi, who are Argentinean-born dancers, among other performers. The concerts are recorded for later broadcast on WPPB Peconic Public Broadcasting, at 88.3 FM.
Tickets for the Martin Fabricius Group performance are $20. In a new feature for the series, a $10 ticket price is now offered to students. Tickets are available at southamptonartscenter.org, by calling 631-283-0967, or at the door, subject to availability.
Doors will open at 6:30, and complimentary sangria and snacks from Union Cantina in Southampton and rosé from the Wolffer Estate in Sagaponack will be offered.