Introducing The E.R.A.
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The E.R.A. is a New York City based project that was formed in June of 2007. The E.R.A. is a septet with the power of a trio dealing with a subtle sensibiliy, silence, harmony and texture. Since 2005, these seven musicians have each performed and recorded in various duos, trios, and quartets. Inspired by these smaller combinations, Chris Welcome, Johnathan Moritz, John McLellan and Shayna Dulberger composed and arranged music for this unique instrumentation. top |
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British saxophonist Marcus Cummins has been associated with the UK free and improvised music scene since the early 90's. He has worked extensively as a solo artist, in duo's and larger bands but is perhaps best known internationally for his involvement in Trevor Watts' 'Celebration Band'. Born in London his teenage years were spent playing music in fusion and ska bands. Then came the aural revelation of jazz, notably John Coltrane and Lol Coxhill. Barely 20 he joined the afro - jazz band 'The Hamptons' who he played with in bars and clubs around London and the south east. Cummins then studied music formally at Leeds City College of Music and Dartington College of Arts. During this time studying primarily jazz and Indian music (with the council of many masters such as Bobby Wellins; Evan Parker; Paul Dunmall and Dharambir Singh) he developed a personal style unlike that of any of his contemporaries. Cummins has always gravitated towards the idea of musical freedom but continues to fit perfectly into more conventional line ups and in fact thrives from working (albeit subversively) within more traditional musical structures. Consequently he has performed in a wide variety of arenas from traditional jazz clubs such as Ronnie Scotts, London to more 'improvised' music festivals such as 'Edgefest', Ann Arbor, Mitchigan. From 1999 to 2005 Marcus Cummins played and toured throughout Europe, Canada and America with Trevor Watts' 'Celebration Band' and the London based 'Rosie brown' group. He has performed on radio and television, won awards, bursaries and commissions and worked for the British Arts Council and the BBC. He currently lives and works in NYC (as an 'alien of extraordinary ability') while continuing to work with long time musical associates from Canada and Europe, ie. 'Snowcycle' based in Toronto (about to release debut album). Discography: |
Tenor and soprano saxophonist Jonathan Moritz (b. 1977) was born in Iran and raised in California where he received his B.F.A. in music performance from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) in 2000 studying with Charlie Haden and Vinny Golia. He began his studies at the Brussels Royal Conservatory of music in Belgium in 1995 and studied there 3 years. Since then he has recorded several albums under his name and other projects names (see discography below). Currently a band director and general music teacher for children Pre-K through 5th grade at P.S. 215 in Gravesend, Brooklyn, Jonathan is a candidate for an M.A. in music education from Brooklyn College. He and his wife have created one of New York's most intimate and welcoming performance spaces, the Prospect Series, a house concert series featuring innovative improvisers, Persian stew and a diverse audience. For more information you can visit www.jonathanmoritz.com and www.myspace.com/jonathanmoritz Current projects include: |
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Ryan Snow was born and raised in Stanford, California, and began playing trombone in the school band at age 10. He became interested in music while lying in bed as a teenager listening to John Coltrane records on repeat. He became interested in the possibilites of open improvisation while at Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio, graduating in 2005 and moving to New York to continue his studies. Ryan now lives in Brooklyn and is involved in numerous artistic collaborations. For more information visit ryansnow.net Current Projects include: |
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Chris Welcome is a guitarist and cellist living in Brooklyn, NY. He has performed with musicians such as Daniel Carter, Jack Wright, Blaise Siwula, Herb Robertson, and many others. He has received positive reviews in Cadence Magazine, All About Jazz, and from WNUR radio. In addition to performing regularly in New York, Welcome has toured the East Coast several times with Blaise Siwula and has toured the U.S. with the noise/rock/jazz group Mothguts. For more information please visit Chris Welcome's webpage on Empty Room Music or myspace.com/chriswelcome Current Projects include: |
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Shayna Dulberger is an upright bass player living and working in New York City. She has worked with William Parker, Ras Moshe, Daniel Carter, Joe Giardullo, Paul Flaherty and many other musicians. She has performed in the Vision Festival XII, CMJ Music Festival, Performa 07, Music Now, C.O.M.A. and The Phantom Ear Music Series. Shayna's albums have been reviewed by All About Jazz, Signal to Noise, Jazz & Tzaz, Cadence Magazine, WNUR and Downtown Music Gallery. For more information please visit www.shaynadulberger.com Current Projects Inlcude: |
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Juan Pablo Carletti was born in may 1973 in Buenos Aires. His father was a percussionist and his mother used to listen to R&B all the time. He began studyng drums with famous drummers from Argentina; Fernando Martinez, Quintino Cinalli and Pepi Taveira. He studied piano and harmony with Adrian Laies and Enrique Norris, performed with many bands. His main interest was playing improvised music and mainstream jazz. He studied with Barry Altschul when he visited Argentina, played with some of the most important musicians , like Argentinian jazz elder Hernan Merlo, (with whom realesed a CD in trio with Lucio Balduini) starting a small label dedicated to new music, and a year later produced Enrique Norris' solo piano Logomaquia. He has performed in every jazz venue in Buenos Aires and played with improvisors from around the world (le quan ninh, bohb rainey, david haney). Through a close relationship with percussionist and dancer Diego Chamy, He participed in collaborations with Contemparary music composer Gabriel Paiuk. He has performed with evey major jazz musician in Buenos Aires as a sideman and in open jams, including one of his big influences, Enrique Norris. In 2005 he traveled to NYC to play with the David Haney group which included one of his early heroes, drummer Andrew Cyrille. During this time, he was able to study with Tim Berne, Mark Helias, Tom Rainey, Gerald Cleaver, Nasheet Waits, Mat Maneri and Tony Malaby who encouraged him to move to NYC. In 2006 he performed with his own groups including Rodrigo Dominguez, Jeronimo Carmona and Paula Shocron, and participated and recorded in the big electric combo Datrebil directed by guitar wizard Wenchi Lazo with Franco Fontanarrosa and Lobi Meis. In 2007 he moved to NYC and began playing with some of the most adventourus players from the scene. He is a former student of Randy Peterson. For more information please visit myspace.com/juanpablocarletti |
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JOHN McLELLAN (b. 1968), born in San Juan, Puerto Rico and raised in Massachusetts, has a resume that is expansive and varied, including work with Joe and Mat Maneri, Roswell Rudd, Bern Nix, Roy Campbell, William Parker, Ken Vandermark, Denman Maroney, Ben Monder, and the Either/Orchestra. He has performed at festivals throughout the country, including the Newport Jazz Festival, the Iowa City Jazz Festival, and New York's Vision Festival. John‘s inventive drumming can be heard on his duo record with saxophonist Joe McPhee, Grand Marquis on Boxholder records and Mat Maneri’s latest release on Thirsty Ear Records, Pentagon. Current projects include: John McLellan selected discography |
Featuring Jonathan Moritz & Marcus Cummins on saxes, Ryan Snow on trombone, Chris Welcome on guitar & cello, Shayna Dulberger on acoustic bass and Juan Pablo Carletti & John McLellan on drums. I only recognize a couple of the names here like the young bassist Shayna Dulberger from her work with Ras Moshe and William Parker and John McLellan fom his work with Joe McPhee. I do recognize a few of the faces from being at the store as well. Considering that this ensemble consists of seven members with two saxes, two drums and trombone, guitar and bass, they do sound quite focused without everyone playing at the same time. Actually four of the members have contributed songs, so that this is not just a free-form fight. The first piece "Into Pieces" sounds as if it was conducted and is chamber-like. The layers of parts consist of different subgroups coming together with different harmonies glowing simultaneously. Each piece employs a different strategy of structure, although the pieces often unfold organically. "Septagon" sounds as if it is flows in slow motion. The under-recognized but great new bassist, Shayna Dulberger, sounds especially strong throughout this disc. Her piece, "Year of the Pig" swings, swirls and goes in and outside all in the space of six minutes. The thing I dig most about this disc is that everyone who contributed a piece, did something quite different. "Salome" features dreamy sax harmonies, elegant guitar and nice brushwork. A good deal of thought and preparation went into organizing this disc, hence there are a number of quiet and odd surprises in store. The E.R.A. is a most talented collective of individuals that shouldn't be ignored, since their time has certainly come. - BLG*"Introducing The E.R.A." is available at Downtown Music Gallery at 342 Bowery [between E. 2nd & E. 3rd Streets], New York, NY 10012-2408 or downtownmusicgallery.com
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for booking, mailing list, and or album releases please email chriswelcome at att dot net |
