:beta collective at Negative Space

Presented by the Local 4 Music Fund.
Free and open to the public.
Negative Space Gallery: Asian Town Center
1541 E 38th St 2nd floor warehouse, Cleveland, OH 44114
Copies of the new album will be available for purchase as hi-fi vinyl, CD or digital download
Local 4 Music Fund COVID-19 Policy
All audience, staff and performers must show proof of to be admitted to any Local 4 Music Fund event. Acceptable documentation may be a physical or digital copy of a COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or other proof as permitted locally that can be matched with your driver’s license or state ID. Masking is required for all audience members, staff and technical personnel.

Dan Bruce’s :beta collective continues to push boundaries with their second album, Time to Mind the Mystics. Bruce describes the album as a collection of thought experiments on the intertwined future of humanity and technology. Bruce explains, “At the core is the idea that our embrace of technological innovation cannot come at the sacrifice of generational knowledge and ancient wisdom”.
The group’s debut album was released in 2017 to critical acclaim, garnering multiple 4 and 4.5 star reviews. Ron Schepper of Textura recounts, “A better illustration of the marvelous balance Bruce and company strike between improvisation and compositional form would be hard to conceive”. Troy Dostert of All About Jazz describes, “…a generous, accessible sound with an exploratory edge, Bruce brings a finely-polished technique that is at the same time subtly discontent, searching for new expressions and willing to take some chances along the way”.
Bruce’s growth as a composer is immediately evident on Mystics. The ensemble has expanded since the debut, adding vibraphone, trombone, synthesizers, and more horn doubles including bass clarinet, melodica and vocoder. The players bring a level of risk and spontaneity that ultimately shapes each composition in live performances. Dan explains, “The approach on this album is similar to the last; write music with specific people in mind and leave enough space in the music for them to stretch out and make it their own”. The result is an album brimming with excitement and full of surprises. Bruce’s compositional palette provides the backdrop, creating a cinematic soundscape set to distinctive and forceful grooves.