GAF TRIO: Will Greene, Ishmael Ali, Lily Finnegan

GAF Trio, comprising Chicago-based improvisers Will Greene (saxophone and guitar), Ishmael Ali (cello and guitar), and Lily Finnegan (drums), brings an evening of exploratory music to Rhizome DC. Their sound is defined by restlessness and sonic curiosity, ranging freely between sonorous melodies, atonal outbursts, and tilted grooves. Greene’s saxophone work moves from melodious phrasing to jagged ruptures; Ali’s cello oscillates between textural articulation, idiomatic gestures, and rhythmic patterns; and Finnegan’s percussive approach spans pliant, groove-oriented dialogue to fractured, pointillist soundscapes. Together they create a dynamic, visceral, and capricious conversation. The performance is presented by Transparent Productions.

When: Monday, August 10, 2026 — doors at 6:30 PM, music begins at 7:00 PM.

Showtimes: One evening set starting at 7:00 PM; doors open at 6:30 PM.

Tickets: $20–$30, available on a sliding scale.

Lineup: Will Greene (saxophone, guitar) — a former member of Brooklyn’s music communities now based in Chicago, active in avant-thrash outfit TRIGGER, italo-prog orchestra TREDICI BACCI, and leader of the CHICAGO MICROBES; Ishmael Ali (cello, guitar) — a dynamic improviser and composer who leads or co-leads projects including Hearsay, Ensemble Ziraph, and Akjai, and co-curates the Thursday night Improvised Music Series at Elastic Arts; Lily Finnegan (drums) — a 2026 Next Jazz Legacy awardee, Chicago Reader “Chicagoan of Note,” and Sun-Times “Next Generation of Jazz Musicians,” leader of the quartet Heat On (debut album on Cuneiform Records), member of the Catalytic Sound Collective, and co-curator of the Option Series.

Run time: Not specified; performance likely lasts approximately 1.5–2 hours based on typical concert format.

Ages: Not explicitly noted; likely all ages unless stated otherwise.

Venue: Rhizome DC, located in Washington, DC.

Note: The evening is part of an ongoing series of improvised and avant-garde music events. Tickets are available at the door or in advance via the event’s ticketing link.