Max Bessesen, saxophone.
Ethan Philion, bass.
Devin Drobka, drums.

$20 cover charge; byob.
Students, $10.
For a reservation, call the shop at 415-586-3733.

Love Call has been together since the lock down, when bassist Philion and saxophonist Bessesen coped with their lack of performance opportunities by exploring adventurous new repertoire and free improvisation together. When restrictions were lifted, the duo reunited with longtime-collaborator Devin Drobka and the unit began to collaborate on new music and to perform this material publicly.

Love Call has been performing several times a year since 2021, despite the fact that the group members live in different cities (Bessesen in New York, Philion in Chicago and Drobka in Milwaukee). The trio has a distinctive musical approach marked by a congenial sense of trust and a unique, intuitive group language. Their performances feature free improvisation and compositions by each member of the group. Love Call was selected for a 2024 residency at Avaloch Farms and have performed in NYC, Chicago, Baltimore, Washington DC, Cleveland, Ann Arbor, Madison, and more.

Philion performs with Ernest Dawkins, Mark Feldman, Greg Ward, Jon Irabagon, and more. He is praised for his “astounding musicality” by the Washington Post.

Bessesen has performed with Ron Miles, Darcy James Argue and more, is described by JAZZIZ as “pushing boundaries without being abstruse…stirringly emotive.”

Drobka has worked with a wide variety of artists including Joe Lovano, Mario Pavonne, Greg Osby, and Cecil McBee. Chicago Reader describes his music as “pithy …There isn’t much that sounds like this today.”