Chicago-France improvised-music exchange the Bridge taps into the city’s diverse venues for its final iteration

The Bridge has been connecting improvising musicians from France with their midwestern counterparts since 2013. Typically, the organization puts together a group of players from both places, who then tour either France or Chicago (with occasional gigs in other U.S. locales). Risk and opportunity are built in: Because the ensembles are assembled without regard for stylistic homogeneity, the players are more likely to be pushed out of their comfort zones, creating the potential for new, enduring partnerships to develop.

One of the Bridge groups this time around is ConstelNation, a quintet that includes two Chicagoans: multi-instrumentalist and singer Angel Bat Dawid and versatile bassist Nick Macri, who’s played with Ken Vandermark, Ibises, and C-Clamp. The lineup also features three French musicians: Magic Malik, who has a distinctly breathy approach to the flute and often blends jazz and pop elements; electric guitarist Richard Comte, who forgoes conventional technique in order to use his instrument as a pure sound generator; and Toma Gouband, a percussionist who applies stones and branches to his drum kit.

The group previously assembled in France in winter 2025, and these Chicago dates may be your last chance to see them. Due to funding cuts, this U.S. sojourn will be the final installation of the Bridge. Between October 30 and November 15, ConstelNation will play one gig each in Madison, Milwaukee, and Urbana, while spending the bulk of their time tapping into Chicago’s different communities, educational settings, and concert venues. In addition to performing as a band, they’ll participate in classes and workshops with students; subsets of the quintet will also break away to play with other musicians or give concerts on their own. Because Dawid won’t be available for the last five days, trombonist Jeb Bishop and singer and keyboardist Sharon Udoh will join for those dates, turning the group into a sextet.

ConstelNation Fri 10/30, 8:30 PM, Constellation, 3111 N. Western, $20.72 , $15 in advance, 18+ ConstelNation Tue 11/3, 6:30 PM, Julius Lewis Auditorium, Alliance Française de Chicago, 54 W. Chicago, $5 members and students, $15 nonmembers, all ages

ConstelNation Thu 11/5, 8:30 PM, Elastic Arts, 3429 W. Diversey #208, $10, all ages

Magic Malik, Toma Gouband, Lia Kohl, and Macie Stewart Sat 11/7, time to be determined, Intuit Art Museum, 756 N. Milwaukee, $20 (museum admission), free for members and anyone 24 and under, all ages

ConstelNation This lineup of ConstelNation does not include Angel Bat Dawid but adds Jeb Bishop and Sharon Udoh. Sat 11/7, 8 PM, Pro Musica Audio, 713 W. Wrightwood, free (with suggested donation), all ages

Magic Malik & Angel Bat Dawid Tue 11/10, 7 PM, Experimental Sound Studio, 5925 N. Ravenswood, free, all ages

ConstelNation Wed 11/11, 7:30 PM, Szold Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music, 4545 N. Lincoln, all ages, free

ConstelNation This lineup of ConstelNation does not include Angel Bat Dawid but adds Jeb Bishop and Sharon Udoh. Sun 11/15, 7 PM, Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th, free, all ages

The Bridge collective improvisation Two sets involving participants in the Bridge project and others. Sun 11/15, 9 PM, Hungry Brain, 2319 W. Belmont, $10 suggested donation, 21+

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