By Lookout Staff

June 25, 2024 -- The Soundwaves music series -- which has explored the boundaries of new music for eight years -- will conclude next month after nearly 100 shows.

The series presents the Present Quartet performing at Soundwaves' usual venue at the Main Library Martin Luther King Jr. Auditorium on Saturday July 6 at 3:30 p.m.

The quartet was organized by Series founder and bassist Jeff Schwartz in 2018 and combines his most frequent collaborators, flutist Ellen Burr and woodwind player Charles Sharp, both fellow core members of LA’s improvised music community.

Rounding out the quartet is a new partner, harpist Anne LeBaron, who is "better known as a composer" but has a "notable history as an improviser," concert organizers said.

LeBaron and Schwartz met in May 2016 when Soundwaves featured her music in the series' fourth concert.

"Originally intended as a one-time meeting," the Present Quartet’s debut show led to recordings for the Pfmentum and Edgetone labels.

The quartet has also performed at Coaxial, Kulak’s Woodshed, the Track 16 Gallery, ArtShare-LA, the International Society for Improvised Music conference and the Edgetone New Music Summit.

Soundwaves was created by Schwartz, a librarian/musician and composer, and Daniel Rothman in 2016 to present cutting-edge music at the Santa Monica Public Library.

The concerts have explored experimental elements across multiple genres, including classical, jazz, rock and noise.

Soundwaves has received grants from the Friends of the Santa Monica Public Library and the Amphion Foundation. Programs have included collaborations with the Angel City Jazz Festival, Piano Spheres, Jacaranda Music, Microfest, Cold Blue Music and the Dog Star Orchestra.

A complete list of shows, with many videos, is at soundwavesnewmusic.com.

All Library programs are free and open to the public. Parking is available underneath the Main Library, several bus lines and the Metro E line stop nearby, and there are bike racks.

The MLK Auditorium is wheelchair accessible. Please call (310) 458-8600 to request additional accommodations.