RADICAL RIFFS: Contemporary Music Series, a project of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, presents a solo performance by internationally acclaimed musician Lori Freedman of Montreal. Lori is one of the world's preeminent clarinetists in the fields of improvised & contemporary classical music. She has developed a language all her own: at turns graceful, fluid, and wildly expressive. The concert also features a special improvised trio performance with Pittsburgh musicians Ben Opie (reeds) and Tracy Mortimore (bass violin).

$8 suggested donation, $6 suggested student donation.

Lori Freedman is known internationally as one of Canada’s most provocative and creative performers. Her work includes contemporary, improvised and electro-acoustic music and she frequently collaborates with dance, theatre and visual artists. Over thirty-five composers have written solo bass clarinet music for her and her work has been recorded on 24 CDs. Her first solo cd “Huskless!” (Artifact) received the Freddie Stone Award for the “demonstration of outstanding leadership, integrity and excellence in the area of contemporary music and jazz” and won her the nomination for the Prairie Music Award 2000 as the “Most Outstanding Classical Recording. “Her second solo album, “À un moment donné” (Ambience Magnetique), has been receiving critical acclaim since its release and was nominated for Best Recording of Musique Actuelle by the Prix d’Opus 2003. Lori teaches contemporary and improvised music internationally and at McGill University in Montreal. For more info see www.lorifreedman.com

Tracy Mortimore is originally from Toronto but now lives in Pittsburgh. He specializes in Baroque, Contemporary Classical, and Improvised music and has performed throughout Europe, Asia, the United States, and Canada. He is a member of Syrinx Ensemble and Pittsburgh improvisational music group Dust & Feathers.

Ben Opie is a twenty-year veteran of Pittsburgh’s creative music scene. For a decade he was leader of the critically acclaimed group Watershed 5tet. He is director of OPEK, a large Pittsburgh creative music ensemble specializing in the music of Sun Ra, and is active with avant-jazz group Thoth Trio, Dust & Feathers, and the Syrinx Ensemble. Ben teaches music and computer technology at CAPA and Carnegie Mellon University.

“Clarinet never sounded so human - wildly curious, deeply soulful, swooping, swooning naked intimacy” — Juan Rodriguez, The Montreal Gazette

“Musical to the bone, Freedman is an artist who is in your face and you’re glad of it” — David Jaeger, producteur, CBC radio, Toronto