About the Album
This group was conceived in the recording studio on October 30, 2013. Anthony, Nathan and I showed up to record for a studio engineering class taught by Mike Harvey at American University, not knowing exactly what we would be doing.
I brought along some sketches of new music I had been working on since returning from the Banff International Jazz and Creative Music Workshop and we recorded those pieces and some free improvisations. Soon after, we played at the Capitalbop Loft, followed by an appearance at SEEDS in Brooklyn. For that performance I invited drummer/composer Allison Miller to join us.
When planning the recording I decided to add Erika Dohi to the line-up and she became a permanent member of the ensemble. We met again during the 2015 DC Jazz Festival as a quintet with both Erika and Allison, opening for The Bad Plus Joshua Redman at The Hamilton.
The music we have performed and recorded is the sum of all of our parts. I provided a loose framework for most of the pieces, suggested standards such as "Violets For Your Furs" and "This Nearly Was Mine", and welcomed compositions by Erika. Each offering is a group collaboration and it would be impossible to create without the voices of Anthony, Erika, and Nathan.
"Then it grew into a deeper, more intense and enveloping rhythm-section groove."
Ben Ratliff, New York Times
Recent Press
Album Credits
Recorded at The Brink in Centreville, VA on December 20, 2014
Engineered, mixed and mastered by Mike Reina
"Lines" (original trio version) recorded on October 30, 2013 at American University in Washington, DC under the instruction of Mike Harvey.
Cover painting "Ghost of Captain Cutler" by Nial Spencer
Artwork and Design by Matt Rippetoe at Sideman Creative
Produced by Brad Linde
Bleebop Records #1911
Brad Linde - tenor saxophone
Anthony Pirog - electric guitar and effects
Erika Dohi - piano, prepared piano, and Rhodes
Nathan Kawaller - bass