Recording: Public Library

Artist: Public Library

Songs: To Cut [composer: Patrick O'Reilly] + Look [excerpt] [composer: Liz Anthonisen]

Recorded at Wenona Lodge (Track Could Bend #119), August 4, 2026.

Public Library - To Cut

Public Library with Roa Lee - Look [excerpt]

This special evening at Track Could Bend was co-conspired with bassist Mira Riselli as a special oppurtunity to delve into her love for graphic scores. She brought along her group Public Library (Elisabeth Dorion, voice/clarinet; Liz Anthonisen, voice/keys; Patrick O'Reilly, guitar; Jackson Welchner, bass; Robert Diack, drums) as fellow explorers — and to expand on the idea of different kinds of musicians interacting with the scores, we invited Roa Lee (gayageum) and Alison Melville (bass recorder, baroque flute). Most of the band members brought along a score to investigate, ranging from Riselli's comic strip to Dorion's linoprint to Anthonisen's axial time-loopage to one of O'Reilly's selections from Richard Serra's "Verb List", all leading to a satisfying variety of sonic outcomes.

You can check out all the pieces and collaborations over on youtube:

[Track Could Bend will be back ay Wenona tonight (September 1st with sets from Dave Grenon's Indistinctive Gait w/ Ayesha Lye and Caution Wet Floor Signs.]

Recording: Gill/Homzy/Ng/Pitt/Riselli

Artist: Tania Gill/Aline Homzy/Karen Ng/Brittany Pitt/Mira Riselli

Songs: Blue Nile [composer: Alice Coltraine] + Lament [composer: Mira Riselli]

Recorded at Sellers & Newel (International Women's Day), March 8, 2026.

Tania Gill/Aline Homzy/Karen Ng/Brittany Pitt/Mira Riselli - Blue Nile

Tania Gill/Aline Homzy/Karen Ng/Brittany Pitt/Mira Riselli - Lament

This special IWD quintet was convened, I am given to understand, by saxophonist Brittany Pitt and saw her joined by Tania Gill (piano), Aline Homzy (violin), Karen Ng (alto sax), and Mira Riselli (double bass). No mere blowing session, this was a chance to hear some ad hoc arrangements of pieces by all the players, as well as works by Alice Coletrane and Carla Bley.

[I, myself, have been remiss in not hitherto taking in any of the fine shows put on at Sellers & Newel. Many of the this blog's faves are doing cozy gigs in the space and you should attend some! Keep an eye on their list of shows, or sign up for their email list.]

Recording: Kamra

Artist: Kamra

Song: Absolute Ardor

Recorded at East End United Church (Burn Down the Capital, Venus Fest and The Music Gallery present), December 13, 2025.

Kamra - Absolute Ardor

It's a joy to see an opening act that is clearly thrilled to be sharing a bill with their heroes as much as Kamra Abdul-Hakim, fronting their namesake band, was on this night. With shared concerns around emotional care and nurturing (as well as some poetically-declaimed vocals), there was a natural overlap. Backed by people|places|records' Andrew Noseworthy and some associated locals, this filled up the big church with some poignant resonances.