Improv Nights 2026: A Tribute to Derek Bailey (night 3), guest curated by Chris Cochrane — live event
Join us for the fourth annual three-night celebration of the late guitarist Derek Bailey, bringing together master improvisers to perform in rotating combinations. This year Roulette co-founder and former Artistic Director Jim Staley invited three guest curators to put together the lineups: Wendy Eisenberg (1.22), Chris Ryan Williams (1.23), and Chris Cochrane (1.24). Improv Nights was originally initiated by John Zorn, to whom Derek Bailey was a dear friend and mentor. Bailey’s passion for pure improvisation inspired generations of musicians from a wide variety of backgrounds. For these three nights we return to the Improv Night tradition that began as benefits for The Stone, and that have been, in many ways, inspired by Derek Bailey’s legendary Company Weeks. Each evening will present a rotating kaleidoscope of musicians, who will then divide into smaller improvisational units—each concert promising a unique experience. Thursday, January 22 // Curated by Wendy Eisenberg Eliza Salem drums Ryan Sawyer drums Kate Gentile drums Nora Stanley sax Emmanuel Michael guitar Charmaine Lee voice/electronics Patrick Holmes clarinet Wendy Eisenberg guitar Friday, January 23 // Curated by Chris Ryan Williams Zeena Parkins harpBooker Stardrum drumsNate Wooley trumpetKwami Winfield electronicsCaroline Davis saxophoneRyan Sawyer drumsAlexandra Buschman-Román electronics, vocalsPatrick Holmes clarinetAmir ElSaffar trumpetRafiq Batia guitarChris Williams trumpet Saturday, January 24 // Curated by Chris CochraneSam Newsome soprano saxDafna Naphtali electronics and voiceJames Ilgenfritz upright bassMike Pride drums and percussionAndrew Drury drums and percussionTheo Woodward electronics, tambura and voiceKa Baird vocalsSelendis Sebastian Alexander Johnson vibraphone and tromboneShoko Nagai piano, accordion and other keyboard and electronicsSarah Bernstein violin and vocals Chris Cochrane guitar
Starts: 2026-01-24T20:00:00Z
Ends: 2026-01-24T22:00:00Z
Where: 509 Atlantic Avenue, New York 11217, United States
Price: $25.0