Wombat is an improvising trio that combines deep sonic exploration through experimental playing techniques, live signal processing, and instrumental preparations with a real-time compositional approach, creating engaging structural shapes and contrasting sections. The relationships between the three of us are in constant flux: merging into a single sonic entity, building contrapuntal textures, or letting one performer lead the trio as a soloist.
Improvisers Justin K. Comer (saxophones), Carlos Cotallo Solares (guitar/electronics), and Will Yager (double bass) formed Wombat in October 2017. Together they explore new sonic textures and instrumental techniques in concert halls, coffee shops, and backyards. Though the performances are never planned beforehand, the trio's music is influenced by their collective experience with contemporary art music, noise, jazz, metal, and drone. Appearances include the Oh My Ears Festival, the MOXsonic Missouri Experimental Sonic Arts Festival, Maximum Ames festival (Ames, IA), the University of Iowa Center for New Music, and the Feed Me Weird Things concert series. They have several recordings available on Bandcamp
Riley Leitch is a trombonist composer-performer. He regularly premiers new works for solo trombone, chamber ensemble and orchestra and is actively involved in the Chicago music scene as a programmer and administrator . His work deconstructs the trombone and various other instrument in combination with disparate disciplines (movement, visual art, eating, etc.) to create collaborative improvisatory situations.
Jack Langdon is a musician, filmmaker, and writer based in Chicago. He performs on a variety of keyboard instruments, with a particular focus on expanded
and extreme approaches to organ performance. For this program, Jack will perform material from his digital tonewheel organ & fuzz pedal studies.
Jack runs the record label and journal Empty Stage. His recordings have been released by Important Records, Sawyer Editions, and Lobby Art. His writings have been published by Sound American, Cacophony, and Shred Magazine. He is a founding editor, alongside Eli Namay and John Pippen, of Culture as Care Journal. He was raised in Keyeser, Wisconsin and is a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.