On Monday, February 23rd, David Dove – the Houston-based improviser, composer, and trombonist – makes his Los Angeles solo debut at Human Resources.

Via drones, heavy and deep, Dove will tap into the architectural resonances of Human Resources with Subwoofer Trombone, his improvisational project that explores sub-bass frequencies using trombone, pitch shifters, effect pedals, and… subwoofer.

Starting with his refined palette of ‘bone timbres, Dove moves between jazz inflections and minimalist abstractions, feeding into a system that slackens time and stretches sound into a slow-moving expanse. This low-frequency undercurrent opens a space where Dove can explore further resonant interplay and even weave in passages of others’ repertoire, sparking subtle dialogues across time and tone.

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This Monday evening sound salon will also feature a set from LA-based musician and composer Mattie Barbier, and a trio set from double-bassists Sam Rowell and Georgia Bell, with saxophonist Wilson Shook.

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Based in Houston, Texas, David Dove is a trombone player, composer, improviser, facilitator, and curator. Dove has focused on acoustic playing for most of his career, developing a style that draws influence from jazz, 20th-century composition, electronic music, and free improv among other sources. A devoted improviser, Dove has collaborated with scores of artists over the decades, including his mentor Pauline Oliveros, Joe McPhee, Carmina Escobar, Tom Carter, Thomas Lehn, Jawwaad Taylor, and Lucas Gorham. Venues where Dove has performed include The Arches in Glasgow, Scotland; DOM Cultural Center in Moscow, Russia; Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas; and the Menil Collection in Houston, Texas.

Dove is also the founder of Nameless Sound – a crucial Houston arts organization that – for 25 years – has presented adventurous musicians from around the world, fostered the local experimental music community, and remained focused on a mission to educate through creative music practice. The organization and its artists work directly with young people in public schools, community centers, and homeless shelters to promote creativity, diversity, and improvisation.

On March 5, the Meara O’Reilly Vocal Ensemble performs new works 2220 Arts + Archives at a concert staged by UPEND.

At this special hometown show, LA-based vocalists Mingjia Chen, Linnea Sablosky, Jodie Landau, and Eliza Bagg bring to our ears two new pieces for four voices by this inventive composer, whose music plays with perceptual and unique compositional techniques to explore new modes of vocal expression.

The program will also feature Mingjia Chen and Linnea Sablosky performing Hockets for Two Voices—O’Reilly’s touchstone work from 2019—as well as another set of hockets, originally written for two flutes and newly adapted for this vocal duo.

Alan Wyffels opens the night with a solo keyboard set.

Poster by Robert Beatty