118 Elliot Presents
Nu Mu 4: The Shade Tree
5 Weekends of Great Music to Beat the Heat
August 1 – August 30 2025
Five Weekends of Experimental Music, Jazz, Collaboration & Community Vibes
Nu Mu 4 ‘The Shade Tree’ is here! Nu Mu is a community oriented music festival that brings together well known jazz musicians and sound artists with local talent creating singular opportunities for collaboration and experimentation. Spanning five weekends from August 1 through August 31.
Nu Mu began in 2022 as an effort to highlight experimental and conceptual music that evolves from the 20th century jazz, classical and rock avant garde. Nu Mu presents a wide range of expression that ranges from ambient quietude to fractious sonorities.
Nu Mu started as a collaboration between acclaimed saxophonist Jeff Lederer, a long time resident of both Guilford, VT and Brooklyn, NY and John Loggia, co director of 118 Elliot who has a long standing interest in jazz and plays the drums. Jeff, who is Director of Jazz Studies and a professor of saxophone at Long Island University, first came to 118 Elliot in 2021 for a weekend residency and performed music from his album the ‘Eight Fold Path,’ a Jazz interpretation of the Buddhist tradition. Jeff’s nurturing and eclectic approach to Jazz found resonance in John’s multidisciplinary interest in the arts (filmmaker, painter, musician) and the mission of 118 Elliot to create community through arts and education.
Nu Mu is a festival of friends. Special guests are featured but the heart of the festival is the collaboration of those willing to explore new ideas and abandon themselves to risk. Attending, or participating in a Nu Mu event is entering an evolving sonic landscape yearning to be explored and leading to unknown places.
Each weekend features a different community of improvisational musicians. For more information go to 118elliot.com. All Events by Donation.
Festival Highlights
Week 1: August 1–3
Friday, Aug 1 – “Not a Word” Jam + Art Creation (5 PM)Create message-based art to live music, reflecting on this moment in history. Supplies provided.
Sunday, Aug 3 – Sunday Sounds (11 AM–12:30 PM)A peaceful, non-verbal community space with contemplative music.
Week 2: August 8–10
Friday, Aug 8 – World Premiere: Eric Dolphy Wind Sextet (8 PM)Plus works by Oliver Nelson and the spiritual-inspired Cruxifixion. Followed by NYC’s Married Knot live at Midnights, Brattleboro (9 PM).
Saturday, Aug 9 – Saxophonist Jeff Lederer and his marauding posse of aberrant musicians mix it up with Brattleboro’s Anarchoharmonia to play Jeff’s acclaimed 2024 Album “Guilty!!!” Most of the tunes feature spoken-word intros by some unwitting collaborators, such as “Buzzsaw,” where the manipulated voice of conservative Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeats the title. All of it sonically creates a sense of chaos reflecting a sense of chaos that intensifies throughout the album.
“Guilty”!!! is tremendously thoughtful, and absurdly funny, stirring and raucous. Downbeat Magazine
Sunday, Aug 10 – Sunday Sounds
Week 3: August 16–17
Saturday, Aug 16 – The Deep Listening Ensembles (7 PM) Featuring Vance Provey Quartet, and Brattleboro’s Lick the Earth crew.
7pm Lick the Earth: Scott Moore leads the Brattleboro Improvisers group that meets monthly at 118 Elliot. Steven Arnerich Johnny Gifford Nick Garder, Trevor Robertson, Joseph Conrad, Patric Alvarez,
8pm Vance Provey Quartet: Connecticut based trumpet player and master of legato phrasing, Vance Provey joined the Black Music Division at Bennington College in 1981, teaching alongside Bill Dixon, a pivotal influence on his artistic development. He has also performed with the Gunter Hampel New York Orchestra. Vance’s discography includes 2020’s Collective Expression with Bob Gorry and Paul Gunsberg and Motifs 2023 with Whit Dickey and Spin Dunbar. Joining Vance will be Eric ZInman piano and Glynis Loman Cello, both extremely accomplished musicians and who met Provey as students at the Black Music Division of Bennington College. John Loggia joins them on drums.
Sunday, Aug 17 – Sunday Sounds
Week 4: August 22–24
Friday, Aug 22 – Aron’s Hat (7 PM)NYC-based improvisers including Ayumi Ishito, Bonnie Kane, and Paul Austerlitz.
Saturday, Aug 23 – The Turbulence Orchestra: The Storms of Jupiter (7 PM)Conducted by sonic visionary PEK and featuring up to 25 musicians!
Sunday, Aug 24 – Sunday Sounds
Week 5: August 29–31
Thursday, Aug 29 – Masters of Sonic Liberation livestream (7 PM)Live from Holyoke Media, with link on 118elliot.com.
Friday, Aug 30 – Sonic Liberation continues (7 PM)Featuring a rotating cast of sonic adventurers including Bonnie Kane, Sandy Ewen & more.
Saturday, Aug 30 – Jam Party! (7 PM)Open jam with live drummers, crunchy beats, and community joy.
Sunday, Aug 31 – Sunday Sounds
Learn More & Join the Vibe
Location: 118 Elliot Street, Brattleboro, VTWebsite: 118elliot.comContact: 118Elliot@gmail.comAdmission: By donation
From world premieres to meditative Sunday mornings to late-night improvisations, Nu Mu 4: The Shade Tree offers a soulful, summer-long exploration of sound, community, and connection. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind Brattleboro experience.
