Jackson - Heinemann - Shead Trio at Bar Centro in Milwaukee on August 14, 2025

The Jackson-Heinemann-Shead Trio performed two sets of thoughtful and thrilling jazz at Bar Centro last August as part of a series of concerts promoting their new album Stinger on the Irritable Mystic label.

Keefe Jackson is a tenor saxophonist and clarinetist who moved to Chicago in 2001 from Fayetteville, Arkansas. He is often associated with the free jazz scene in Chicago but (like Josh Berman) seems to have arrived at free improvisation as a progression from a solid grounding in American post-bop jazz rather than from a "burn it all down" European perspective. His soloing is always tasteful and confident and his compositions complex and emotionally expressive.

Hailing from Madison, WI, Jakob Heinemann has recently moved to Los Angeles where he is busy teaching and performing in that growing jazz scene. 

Adam Shead is a busy percussionist in Chicago who leads the group Microplastique and who was featured on this blog with the Stein/Smith/Shead trio.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

JACKSON - HEINEMANN - SHEAD
2025-08-14
Milwaukee, WI
Bar Centro

Keefe Jackson: tenor sax, bass clarinet
Jakob Heinemann: bass
Adam Shead: drums

Setlist:
01 Dewey’s Tune (6:41)
02 Oles Anders (3:31)
03 Slant (6:40)
04 Yearning (7:16)
05 Silent Danish Girl (5:46)
06 Mushi Miyake (17:22)
07 Raija’s Bop (4:33)
08 God of the Fickle (9:56)
09 1 2 3 4 5 (6:37)
10 March for Mr A (3:22)
11 Unknown (7:13)
12 Unknown (4:43)
13 Easy (6:35)
14 Unknown (3:29)

Total time = 93:44

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Recorder: MixPre6ii
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads 

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16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (628 MB)

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video of the first part of this performance:

Tashi Dorji and Tyler Damon at Acme Records in Milwaukee on April 8, 2017

One of the early uploads to this blog was a late 2017 performance by Tashi Dorji and Tyler Damon at Acme Records. At that time I felt the need to explain who Tashi was and the story behind me discovering his music when he had only one or two releases to his credit. Nine years later, I don't have to educate folks about this Bhutanese free improvising guitarist.

This April 2017 show at Acme was my first chance to see Dorji perform in person, and I wasn't disappointed. This was a lengthy, intense, mind-shattering set of music, sixty-six minutes of free jazz spread over three pieces.

Purchase their music here.

Recording information:

TASHI DORJI

TYLER DAMON

2017-04-08

Milwaukee, WI

Acme Records

Tashi Dorji: guitar

Tyler Damon: percussion

Setlist:

01 Improvisation (16:29)

02 Improvisation (29:03)

03 Improvisation (19:44)

Total time = 65:16

Recorded with artist permission by Richard Hayes

Microphones: Church CA-14

Recorder: Sony PCM-M10 at 24/44

Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads 

(these will automatically download when you click them):

  

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (404 MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (160 MB)

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video of Tashi and Tyler in September 2017 in Bloomington, IN:

MANAS at Acme Records in Milwaukee on January 8, 2020

In the relative calm of the final few weeks before a novel strain of Coronavirus came to the United States, Bhutanese guitarist Tashi Dorji and Vietnamese-American percussionist Thom Nguyen traveled to Milwaukee as part of a short tour. Together they are MANAS, the name of which seems to be a reference to the Buddhist concept of the mind, specifically the thinking mind.

Dorji's last appearance on this blog -- a fiery 2017 set at Acme Records with Tyler Damon -- was also a guitar and drums duo. This presents an interesting chance to compare the duos.

Buy their most recent album here.

Recording information:

MANAS
2020-01-08
Milwaukee, WI
Acme Records

Tashi Dorji: guitar
Thom Nguyen: drums

Setlist:
01 First (4:45)
02 Second (23:12)
03 Third (12:11)

Total time = 40:08

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog 

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (247 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (121 MB)

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James McKain at the Jazz Gallery in Milwaukee on January 8, 2026

Back in January, Brooklyn-based saxophonist James McKain brought a quartet with him from the East Coast to the Milwaukee Jazz Gallery featuring Turkish-American pianist Ipek Eginli, bassist Evan Palmer, and percussionist Weasel Walter. The music was freely improvised and really benefitted from the textural approach each participant brought to the performance.

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

JAMES MCKAIN
2026-01-08
Milwaukee, WI
Jazz Gallery Center for the Arts

James McKain: tenor and baritone sax
Ipek Eginli: piano
Evan Palmer: bass
Weasel Walter: drums

Setlist:
01 One (17:40)
02 Two (21:24)

Total time = 39:04

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (214 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (102 MB)

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Jason Stein, Damon Smith, and Adam Shead at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on December 9, 2025

I've been a little behind in posting shows lately -- especially jazz shows from the last year. I'll do my best to get caught up with the backlog in the next few weeks.

This upload focuses on a superb trio featuring bass clarinetist Jason Stein, double bassist Damon Smith, and percussionist Adam Shead. Smith hails from St Louis and the other two are based in Chicago. They came to the Sugar Maple back in December as part of a short tour of the Midwest.

Stein is perhaps best known at the moment as part of Natural Information Society, but he has been a stellar part of the Chicago jazz scene for decades. Smith has worked with many significant names in jazz including Marilyn Crispell, Henry Kaiser, Alvin Fielder, and Roscoe Mitchell. For many years he has run a wonderful record label named Balance Point Acoustics. Shead is perhaps a bit less known than either, but he has been participating in several impressive local groups including Microplastique and his quintet.

Buy their most recent album here

Recording information:

JASON STEIN
DAMON SMITH
ADAM SHEAD
2025-12-09
Milwaukee, WI
The Sugar Maple

Jason Stein: bass clarinet
Damon Smith: double bass
Adam Shead: drums

Set list:
01 Set One (30:57)
02 Set Two (26:13)

Total time = 57:10

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF in front row
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (347 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (190 MB)

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video of the first set:

John Dikeman, Thomas Florin, and Nicolas Field at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on May 3, 2024

John Dikeman is an American saxophonist who grew up in Wyoming and currently lives and works in Amsterdam. His recent collaborations have included projects with Hamid Drake, William Parker, Joe McPhee, Jeb Bishop, and many others. He brought a trio featuring pianist Thomas Florin and drummer Nicolas Field to the back room of the Sugar Maple last May for two sets of fiery improvised jazz. 

Purchase his most recent album here.

Recording information:

JOHN DIKEMAN

2024-05-03

Milwaukee, WI

The Sugar Maple

John Dikeman: tenor sax

Thomas Florin: piano

Nicolas Field: drums

Setlist:

01 Improvisation One (34:50)

02 Improvisation Two (33:31)

Total time = 68:21

Recorded with artist permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF and a Shure SM58 in the piano

Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

Software: Audacity, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (410MB)

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320 kbps mp3 files (193 MB)

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video of the trio at Black Mountain College a few days after this concert:

Nate Wooley, Chris Corsano, and Ches Smith at the Sugar Maple in Milwaukee on July 6, 2025

Nate Wooley brought his improvising trio called Folk Music to the front room of the Sugar Maple in July as part of a short tour which included Washington, Dc and Pittsburgh among other cities. Percussionists Chris Corsano and Ches Smith round out this unusual group.

The trio makes completely improvised music with a nice blend of acoustic and processed sounds. As Wooley says on his website, "After years of conceptual and compositional projects, Wooley put together a trio dedicated simply to free music without boundaries. Why 'Folk Music?' The name stems from the idea of making something from scratch using the full life-experience and creativity of the musicians, a story that changes with each re-telling, that progresses each time the musicians come together to tell it again. It is music as legend or myth. Folk songs -- strange, but true."

Purchase Nate's latest album here.

Recording information:

FOLK MUSIC
2025-07-06
Milwaukee, WI
Sugar Maple

Nate Wooley: trumpet and electronics
Chris Corsano: drums and electronics
Ches Smith: drums and electronics

Tracklist:
01 First Improvisation (35:45)
02 Second Improvisation (20:08)

Total time = 55:53

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

Microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF in front row
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (362 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (157 MB)

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video of this performance by the BRAG Milwaukee YouTube channel:

Elijah McLaughlin, Caleb Willitz and Tommaso Moretti at Thawed Out Fest in Chicago on April 26, 2025

Chicago jazz musicians Elijah McLaughlin and Caleb Willitz were last showcased on this blog soon after their amazing performance at the 2024 Milwaukee Psych Fest. Once again they brought fierce percussionist Tommaso Moretti with them for their set at the 2025 Thawed Out Fest. The results were nothing short of exceptional.

Purchase Elijah and Caleb's most recent album here.

Recording information:

ELIJAH McLAUGHLIN
CALEB WILLITZ
TOMMASO MORETTI
2025-04-26
Chicago, IL at the iO Theater
2025 Thawed Out Fest
Outside Stage

Elijah McLaughlin: guitar
Caleb Willitz: piano and trumpet
Tommaso Moretti: drums

Setlist:
01 Improvisation One (25:08)
02 Improvisation Two (5:05)
Total time = 30:13

Microphones: Beyerdynamic MC930 in ORTF
Recorder: Sound Devices MixPre3 at 24/96
Software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (182 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (84 MB)

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Josh Berman at the Jazz Estate in Milwaukee on October 10, 2025

Josh Berman brought his trio (consisting of Jason Roebke on bass and Chris Corsano on drums) to the Jazz Estate in October for two sets of new material. The music presented was expressive yet polished with plenty of tunefulness to complement his energetic freedom. These thoughtful new compositions were grouped into four medleys. I did not see the point in trying to split these medleys into their components so they are presented below as they were performed.

Buy Josh Berman's most recent album here.

Recording information:

JOSH BERMAN TRIO

2025-10-10

Milwaukee, WI

Jazz Estate

Josh Berman: cornet

Jason Roebke: bass

Chis Corsano: drums

Setlist:

01 Observers - Anthology - Scale - Property

02 Sixes - Hangups

03 Wanda - Your Uncle - The Blues

04 Associating - Nines - Tens

Total time = 61:16

Recorded with permission by Richard Hayes for this blog

microphones: Line Audio CM3 in ORTF at stage lip

recorder: Sound Devices MixPre6ii at 32/96

software: Audacity, Fission, xAct

downloads:

16bit, 44.1 kHz FLAC files (402 MB)

these lossless files can be burned to CDR, if you are into that sort of thing

320 kbps mp3 files (218 MB)

highest quality lossy mp3 files possible 

 video of Josh performing at the Sugar Maple in 2023 with Tim Daisy: