Tortoise 2.0

Tortoise has never been afraid to get weird. Currently, the long-running local band, alongside Thurston Moore and Beck, can be seen re-creating Yanni’s New Age epic Live at the Acropolis at beck.com. In one track, a sampled loop of the hokey Grammy-nominated Greek proclaims, “I don’t like a lot of noise around.” After which, of course, the collective septet smashes through an avant-punk typhoon.

Screeching dissonance is to be expected when throwing any band in a room with a member of Sonic Youth, but Tortoise is better known for navigating more tuneful vistas. Guitarist Jeff Parker and percussionist John Herndon both gig regularly in our city’s vibrant jazz community. With that in mind, the Department of Cultural Affairs commissioned the group to kick off this year’s edition of Made in Chicago: World Class Jazz. For the occasion, Tortoise has bulked up to a ten-piece, bringing on standbys of the local improv scene including enigmatic pianist Jim Baker, versatile cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm, visionary flutist Nicole Mitchell, powerhouse saxist Greg Ward and 8 Bold Souls reedist Ed Wilkerson.

It’s yet another chance for the instrumental polyglot to flex its considerable muscles. When asked what fans should expect, guitarist-bassist Douglas McCombs says the brand-new compositions are “denser sounding, with a lot more harmony and melody.” The quintet’s been busy cramming for this show, with an intense run of last-minute rehearsals—not that any of them would miss even a beat. Remember, this is the same group that helped break in Pritzker Pavilion back in 2004, followed by a rainy noontime set two summers ago. This monster tentet set marks a massive homecoming.

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