"Janel Leppin is a picture of versatility. Not only has she been a pillar of Washington, D.C.’s cre- ative music community for the last 20 years, but the cellist, composer, arranger, and singer has made significant marks in other scenes as well. She’s contributed cello arrangements to the Messthetics, played with punk outfit Priests, and records art-pop under the Mellow Diamond moniker. Leppin leans into a jazz-centric vision on the majestic and occa- sionally abrasive Ensemble Volcanic Ash, which affirms her place as a boundless musician who constantly leaves the listener intrigued. It’s a puzzle in which jazz, chamber music, contemporary classical, and punk seamlessly coalesce with bracing results." - JAZZTIMES

Over the past two decades, the cellist and multi-instrumentalist Janel Leppin has worked steadily to become one of the most compelling composers and improvisers of her generation. With her beloved Washington, D.C. scene as her home base, she has earned renown among fans of new and experimental music worldwide. Her astonishing range of projects includes Janel and Anthony, the duo she shares with her spouse, Messthetics guitarist Anthony Pirog; the extraordinary pop-tinged singer-songwriter music she makes as Mellow Diamond; and music with Marissa Nadler, PRIESTS, Rose Windows and many others. Now at the peak of her powers as both a bandleader and a solo performer, she’s released two new projects of staggering beauty as well as vast personal and political insight. This special performance features Janel performing solo.

Animal, Surrender! features bassist Peter Kerlin (Sunwatchers, Chris Forsyth Solar Motel Band, Bent Arcana, Everloving) and drummer Rob Smith (Gray/Smith, Rhyton, Pigeons). Kerlin's spidery and melodious 8-string electric bass pushes the expected language of that instrument into terrain more often inhabited by lutes or pianos, and begs to interweave with a drummer like Smith who slyly punctuates, hisses, and propels against the grain. The duo's often wordless music is spun from threads of lost folksongs and polyrhythms into hypnotic, latticework compositions whose melodies and beats shift like cat's-cradles strung between their constantly moving hands.

Jason Sloan is an electronic musician, composer, video and sound artist practicing in Baltimore, Md. He has released over twenty solo studio albums, and has been included on multiple various artist collections. Sloan is Chair of the Interactive Arts and Sound Art program and a professor teaching sound, electronic music, video and interactive media at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD.

This show is sponsored by Sunday Soundtracks, Richmond’s premiere monthly live electronica music showcase, spotlighting top talent and emerging artists.

With only 107 seats, shows at Révéler are intimate and immersive. A romantic venue with exquisite sound and dreamy vibes, Révéler offers a unique selection of cocktails, wines, beers, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our kitchen delivers small plates crafted with care.