May 17, 2026, 4pm

First Baptist Church of Medford

29 Oakland St, Medford, MA

with special guests Meryl Summers (bassoon) and Solon Gordon (piano)

The Improbable Beasts bass clarinet ensemble presents "We Rise," a program of music about coming together in the midst of adversity, and rising up in community. Beasts director Jonathan Russell will be joined by pianist Solon Gordon and bassoonist Meryl Summers in his compositional response to the dislocations and disruptions of our current moment called "We Reflect, We Grieve, We Rise." After this, the Beasts present two more of Russell's original compositions and close with a rousing rendition of the African American Spiritual and protest song "Down by the Riverside." Come join the Beasts for a memorable afternoon of moving and rousing music.