The Alex Coke and Carl Michel Sextet perform October 20, 2021 at 7:30pm in KMFA’s Draylen Mason Studio. The composers will be the first jazz group to play in the radio station’s beautiful, newly inaugurated studio which is the centerpiece of the Station’s new facility in east Austin The program features music from their newly released CD entitled The Emissary, inspired by artist Christopher Hynes whose artwork graces the CD’s cover. Included are original compositions by saxofonist/flutist Alex Coke and guitarist Carl Michel, along with the music of  Paul Motian, Hildegard von Bingen, and Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly).

The group includes Austin Symphony principal harpist Elaine Barber, pedal steel player Bob Hoffnar (Liminal Sound Series), double bassist James Suter, and percussionist Carolyn Trowbridge on vibes. This unique ensemble, with origins in jazz, classical, folk, extended technique, and improvisation, is an outgrowth of Coke and Barber’s popular weekly Driveway Concert Series that ran from April 2020 through June 2021.