Jul 30th 2025

Tonight we celebrate with the project Whisker as they release their new album Trips on Chicago label Amalgam! The duo will be joined for this performance by Chris Corsano, Lia Kohl, and Norman Long in two sets of duo/trio formats.

Ben Baker Billington and Andrew Scott Young are Whisker. Their newest record Trips celebrates the duo’s long-standing musical collaboration and unique sound, this time joined by fellow Chicago luminaries Lia Kohl, Norman W. Long, and recent-NYC-transplant Chris Corsano, throwing an entirely new mix into the duo’s sonic landscape.

Started in 2019, Whisker consists of Billington on electronics and modular, and Young on double bass. Their musical collaboration goes back over fifteen years as two pillars in the legendary underground Chicago free jazz band Tiger Hatchery. They have since honed their duo collaboration over the years, and shortly after pandemic, began inviting other folks to join the madness at live sets.

Trips is a studio document that accurately captures the unpredictability that spawns from throwing outside-but-adjacent forces into Whisker’s already-established sound; a conglomeration amongst improvising artists who are true friends, colleagues, and collaborators who all greatly respect and understand each other’s work. The result is a wild fever dream of density and sensitivity, an important document and snapshot of a younger generation of Chicago improvised music that continues to push the boundaries.

Ben Baker Billington – Synthesizer

Andrew Scott Young – Bass

Chris Corsano – Drums, percussion

Lia Kohl – Cello, electronics, piano

Norman Long – Synthesizer, electronics

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