After the End of the World Coretet reunion
The experimental quartet After the End of the World Coretet reunites at Bird & Beckett for a rare performance featuring four veteran Bay Area improvisers who've helped define the region's adventurous jazz scene for decades.
The quartet brings together trumpeter and composer Jon Birdsong, known for his innovative work across multiple instruments including trumpet, tuba, and baroque cornetto. A founding member of Brass Monkey, Birdsong has collaborated with Beck, Beth Orton, and Victoria Williams while building a reputation as one of the Bay Area's most versatile creative musicians. His experience extends from chamber music to free improvisation, and he's been featured internationally with groups like Black Flower, where he's known to switch from cornet to conch shells mid-performance.
Saxophonist and flutist Annelise Zamula adds her expertise on tenor saxophone, flute, and clarinet. A Berklee-trained musician who performed extensively with the Billy Tipton Memorial Saxophone Quartet across the US and Europe, Zamula brings decades of experience in avant-garde and experimental jazz to the group.
Bassist/composer Bill Noertker leads his own ensemble Noertker's Moxie and has composed over 175 pieces inspired by visual artists like Paul Klee, Salvador Dalí, and architect Antoni Gaudí. Since the late 1980s, he's been a key figure in the Bay Area's jazz and avant-garde scene, with eleven albums exploring everything from his extended "Blue Rider Suite" to film scores.
Percussionist Dave Mihaly rounds out the quartet with his versatile approach to drums and percussion. A music educator with over 35 years of teaching experience, Mihaly has toured extensively across the US, Canada, Europe, and the South Seas, appearing on recordings by Jolie Holland, Sean Hayes, and his own Shimmering Leaves project.
The After the End of the World Coretet originally released two albums — "Quaternity" on Crystal Egg Records and "13" on AEWC Records — capturing their unique blend of free improvisation, experimental jazz, and avant-garde composition. This reunion promises to revisit that distinctive sound while exploring new directions shaped by years of individual artistic growth.
Expect an evening of fearless musical exploration where structured composition meets spontaneous invention, bringing together four musicians who've spent decades pushing the boundaries of creative music in the Bay Area and beyond.