Thanks to Patricia Spears Jones for sending me this information:

Events in May and June:

* Voices and Visions of New American Dreams w/ Farai Chideya, author and former host of NPR’s “News and Notes” and Lori Tharps, memoirist at the African American Pavillion of BOOK EXPO
* 2-4 p.m. at Jacob Javits Center 655 W. 35th Street, Meeting Room 1CO1/1CO2. for info: www.upsouth.org. ; This is organized by Malaika Adero for Up South, Inc.
* Vision Festival-annual gathering of “out” jazz artists/dancers/writers on the Lower East Side.
* June 14, performance with Jason Hwang, composer/violinist at Henry Abrons Center (smaller theater) at 6:30 p.m.
* info@visionfestival.org or www.visionfestival.org.

Some info on Jason:
JASON KAO HWANG/ SPONTANEOUS RIVER
Composer/Violinist Jason Kao Hwang?s Spontaneous River is an orchestra of over 25 string improvisers, including bassist Ken Filiano, along with drummer Andrew Drury. Both are also members of Mr. Hwang?s quartet, EDGE. It is only in recent years that so many string players have engaged in the art of improvisational music. Spontaneous River is an ensemble and a community that represents this emerging movement. The power of Spontaneous River is drawn from both the sonic unity of strings and the undeniable individualism of each musician?s ?voice.? Mr. Hwang?s compositions are often spontaneous architectures consisting of notated passages and guided improvisations, to express stories abundant with flora, fauna and dreams of the human spirit. This work was funded in part by the Composer Assistance Program of the American Music Center. — http://www.jasonkaohwang.com/