Culver City Observer -

The Santa Monica Public Library’s acclaimed Soundwaves concert series presents a free performance by The Smudges, on June 3, 2023 at 3:30PM, in the Pico Branch Library Annex in Virginia Avenue Park, at the corner of Pico and Cloverfield.

The Smudges are violinist Jeff Gauthier and cellist Maggie Parkins. They play new music which often incorporates improvisation and electronics. Each has a substantial history in Los Angeles creative music, with jazz and classical roots. Gauthier has collaborated extensively with Alex and Nels Cline, GE Stinson, Vinny Golia, Gregg Bendian, and Steuart Liebig, among other artists. He also created the Cryptogramophone record label and Crypt night concert series. Maggie Parkins is currently a member of the Eclipse Quartet, Brightwork New Music, and the Mojave Trio, performs solo, and teaches at Pomona College. She has also worked with Caetano Veloso, Anthony Braxton, Leonard Bernstein, Bjork, and many more.

Since 2016 Soundwaves has regularly presented free concerts of cutting-edge music at the Santa Monica Public Library, organized by librarian Jeff Schwartz and composer Daniel Rothman and supported by the Friends of SMPL and the Amphion Foundation, including collaborations with the Angel City Jazz Festival, Piano Spheres, Jacaranda Music, Microfest, Cold Blue Music, and the dog Star Orchestra. Soundwaves focuses on noncommercial music, drawing on Los Angeles’ large and complex history of experimentation in rock, jazz, classical, and uncategorizable creative music, bringing the underground back to the westside. Visit soundwavesnewmusic.com for more information, including videos of many past shows.

All library programs are free and open to the public. There are no tickets or reservations for this show. Free parking is available and the #7 Big Blue Bus stops at the park.