Michael Sarian Esquina / Dave Ballou and the for-tet

On Thursday, September 10, 2026, Rhizome DC hosts a double-bill evening of trumpet-led creative music, presented by Transparent Productions. The night pairs two distinct improvisation-minded ensembles: Michael Sarian’s Esquina, which draws on the trumpeter’s Armenian heritage and Argentine upbringing while pushing contemporary jazz through electronics and graphic scores, and Dave Ballou’s for-tet, a loosely convened quartet of Baltimore and Richmond improvisers committed to making compositional structure in real time. The program promises a wide-ranging survey of approaches to the trumpet, ensemble interplay, and open-form music.

Michael Sarian’s Esquina is rooted in the influence of Miles Davis’s later electric explorations, particularly the spirit of *Bitches Brew* updated for the 21st century. Sarian builds the group’s performances from loosely structured compositions and graphic scores, weaving in melodic and rhythmic elements from his Armenian roots and Argentine background. The band emphasizes collective interplay, with each performance shaped spontaneously by the group rather than by fixed arrangements. Esquina released its debut album on Greenleaf Music and has toured extensively across North America; its sophomore album, *In This Desert*, is scheduled for release in August 2026 on Burning Ambulance Music.

The second ensemble, Dave Ballou’s for-tet, is a quartet featuring Dave Ballou on trumpet, John Dieker on bass clarinet, Adam Hopkins on bass, and Mike Kuhl on drums. The group was originally assembled for a one-off performance at Rhizome DC on July 3, 2024, with the intention of performing Ballou’s compositions without rehearsal or any discussion of structure. That concert proved memorable enough to inspire a recording for Shiny Boy Press. As Ballou describes it, each piece provides the context, and the musicians create the structure in the moment.

When: Thursday, September 10, 2026

Showtimes: Doors open at 6:30 PM; music starts at 7:00 PM.

Run time: The event is scheduled from 6:30 PM to 10:00 PM, with the music portion beginning at 7:00 PM.

Tickets: $20–$30.

Lineup: Michael Sarian’s Esquina and Dave Ballou’s for-tet.

Venue: Rhizome DC, Washington, DC.

Note: Presented by Transparent Productions.