Environ (Loft)

Environ was a performance space that was influential during the Loft Jazz scene of the mid-1970s in NYC.^[1][2][3][4] It was located on Broadway in SOHO and close to two other noted Loft Jazz venues: RivBea and Ali's Alley.^[5] Environ was established by Darius, Danny, and Chris Brubeck, sons and band mates of noted jazz musician Dave Brubeck;^[6] the space was managed^[7] and named^[8] by John Fischer, with assistance by staff Mark Forman^[1] and Brian Olewnick.^[9]

Environ offered performance space to many Loft Jazz musicians, dancers, and other performance artists.^[10] Dave Holland, Anthony Braxton, Charles Tyler, Hamiet Bluiett,^[5] David Murray, Lester Bowie, Joseph Bowie, Chico Freeman were some of the many free jazz artists that performed there.^[10] James Siegfried, who was later to become better known as James Chance and the Contortions (part of the No Wave scene in NYC), had his debut there.^{[citation needed]} Environ attracted many of the future avant-garde jazz and No Wave musicians to its stage and audience.^[10] Muhal Richard Abrams, one of the founders of the AACM, practiced there regularly on the house piano.^[1][11]