Photo by Rachel Bernsen

This September, cornetist/composer Taylor Ho Bynum will embark on his “Acoustic Bicycle Tour,” a two-week, carbon-neutral concert tour of New England that celebrates both the interconnectedness of the region’s creative arts communities and alternative ways of thinking about our world. The tour, which begins September 10th at New Haven, Connecticut’s Firehouse 12, will feature stops in all six New England states at venues ranging from music clubs to colleges to art galleries to outdoor spaces such as state parks and a farmer’s market.

Along the way, Bynum will be performing with a diverse list of artists that includes saxophonist/composer Anthony Braxton, poet Magdalena Gomez, operatic soprano Lisa Saffer, and Boston jazz scene mainstays Mark Harvey and the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra as well as his own bands, the Taylor Ho Bynum Trio, the Taylor Ho Bynum Sextet and Positive Catastrophe. A complete itinerary of dates, venues and collaborators is forthcoming.

“As a native and recently returned New Englander (I grew up in Boston, went to college in Connecticut, and am newly settled in New Haven after five years in New York City), I’ve always been attracted to the topography of the area,” Bynum explains. “I’ve also long been an avid biker, and compositional inspiration often strikes me while I’m pedaling. So, the basic genesis of the ‘Acoustic Bicycle Tour’ arises from these primary pleasures: music, biking, and a love of the outdoors. I often feel a bit guilty when I fly to Europe for one or two gigs; while I love the opportunities to travel and perform, it seems an unfortunate use of resources. Here, I’ll literally be getting to every gig on my own steam.”

He adds, “As interest in the ‘local food’ movement continues to rise, I’d like to generate a discussion in a ‘local music’ movement. There are many extraordinary musicians throughout New England that rarely get the attention they deserve in their own communities, and I hope to generate interest and awareness for these artists as they come out to join me as part of this experience. And, for me there are clear analogies between choosing to travel by bike and choosing to pursue a career in creative music. The trip may be slower and more arduous, but it is ultimately more rewarding in its acoustic pleasures.”

Critics have called Bynum “a young brass master and compelling composer” (Jon Garelick, Boston Phoenix), “a remarkable writer, improviser and bandleader” (Troy Collins, AllAboutJazz.com) and “one of the most exciting figures in jazz’s new power generation” (Steve Dollar, Time Out Chicago). The Chicago Reader‘s Peter Margasak adds, “Taylor Ho Bynum cemented his reputation as one of the most compelling and progressive trumpeters and bandleaders currently active, at home in every corner of the creative-music map.”

His most recent releases as a leader/co-leader include Tomas Fujiwara & Taylor Ho Bynum’s Stepwise (NotTwo Records), Taylor Ho Bynum & SpiderMonkey Strings’ Madeleine Dreams (Firehouse 12 Records), Positive Catastrophe’s Garabatos Volume One (Cuneiform Records) and The Thirteenth Assembly’s (un)sentimental (Important Records). He is also an active member of numerous other ensembles and a busy organizer and administrator with such organizations as the Festival of New Trumpet Music (FONT Music), Firehouse 12 Records and the Tri-Centric Foundation. Learn more at http://www.taylorhobynum.com