Cross Modulations Series: Rempis/Hall Duo + Where Were We

While the saxophone/drum duo has a deep history in the realms of jazz and improvised music, this pairing of Chicagoan Dave Rempis and Detroiter Ben Hall puts a new spin on the possibilities.  After Hall’s jaw-dropping set with Damon Locks at the 2022 Catalytic Sound Festival, utilizing a low-end concert bass drum and tympani setup that could best be described as an homage to the blown-out trunk rattle bass ubiquitous in urban areas across the US, he and Rempis spoke at length about the possibilities inherent to that sound. And the two decided to come together to explore those frequencies further with a concert and recording session in Detroit in summer 2023. With Rempis also focusing on the low-end of his arsenal, the two vibrate rooms in some truly heavy ways. July’s concert at Color Club will be their first Chicago performance.