The first Sunday of every month, FreeSessions will unite to host a free improv opening set and jam session on Zoom in collaboration with the Racer Sessions of Seattle. Each month’s opening performer will choose a social justice organization that we will learn more about and direct donations toward for the month.
We’re excited that our second session of the season will be with Nick Dunston of Brooklyn, currently based in Berlin, Germany!
Nick Dunston is a composer, improviser, and instrumentalist. An “indispensable player on the New York avant-garde” (New York Times), his performances have also spanned a variety of venues and festivals across North America and Europe. He’s performed, toured, and recorded professionally with bands led by artists such as Vijay Iyer, Marc Ribot, Ches Smith, Imani Uzuri, Ingrid Laubrock, Tyshawn Sorey, Anna Webber, Amirtha Kidambi, Amir ElSaffar, Allison Miller, and Darius Jones.
Nick will be presenting new music on his Electro-Acoustic-Theremin (EAT) Banjo. This will be his first “performance” with that instrument, as he steps deeper into the world of instrument-building.
Nick has chosen the amazing Third Wave Fund as this month’s organization of focus! Third Wave Fund is an activist fund led by and for women of color, intersex, queer, and trans people under 35 years of age. They work to ensure that young folks are decision-makers at the cutting edge of philanthropy where they are commonly absent.
For more information on Nick: http://www.nickdunston.org
For more information on TWF: http://www.thirdwavefund.org/index.html
ZOOM AUDIO SETTINGS SUGGESTIONS: (These instructions are tailored to the latest version of Zoom as of 9/5/2020 — you may want to check that your software is up to date!)
0) TURN ON ORIGINAL SOUND! (details below)
1) Use a laptop if possible (not a phone or a tablet)
a. Use headphones when playing with other people
b. Use external mic if available
2) Settings → Audio
a. Turn OFF: Automatically adjust microphone volume
b. Adjust microphone level
c. Optionally: turn ON “Enable stereo” (this options needs to be activated first on your zoom account)
3) Settings → Audio → Advanced
a. Turn ON: ‘Show in-meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” from microphone’
b. If you are using headphones, turn ON: ‘Disable echo cancellation’
c. If you are using an ethernet cable, turn ON: ‘High fidelity music mode’
4) Turn on Original Sound!
a. Turn it on in the top left of the meeting; if it’s on, it should read “Turn off Original Sound”
5) If possible, connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable, not WiFi
ZOOM AUDIO SETTINGS SUGGESTIONS (for older version):
0) TURN ON ORIGINAL SOUND! (details below)
1) Use a laptop if possible (not a phone or a tablet)
a. Use headphones when playing with other people
b. Use external mic if available
2) Settings → Audio
a. Turn OFF: Automatically adjust microphone volume
b. Adjust microphone level
c. Optionally: turn ON “Enable stereo” (this options needs to be activated first on your zoom account)
3) Settings → Audio → Advanced
a. Turn on: ‘show in-meeting option to “Enable Original Sound” from microphone’
b. Disable: both Background Noise options
c. Echo Cancellation: Auto
4) Turn on Original Sound!
a. Turn it on in the top left of the meeting; if it’s on, it should read “Turn off Original Sound”
5) If possible, connect to the internet with an Ethernet cable, not WiFi
