Aside from the alto saxophone and flute of Kurt Hill Iselt, the quintet features Bill Brimfield, a veteran Chicago trumpet player who has been heard on numerous classic recordings including Joseph Jarman's free jazz classic "Song For" and some of Fred Anderson's best albums. The most recent addition to the band is upright bassist Dan McNaughton who leads the Spider Trio throughout the Chicago jazz circuit. Stu Greenspan, the guitarist, plays in a wide range of contexts including the noted reggae band Waterhouse and teaches music theory at Columbia College. The trap drummer Bonbonfera Tim Keenan, a life-long rhythmatist, has studied with masters of traditional West African music as well as leading his own "Critic's Choice" winning ensembles. All were part of the new album's main unit. On the debut album, Darius Savage played upright bass, Alexander Duvel played flugelhorn and Jamie Topper played percussion. On the band's 2003 recording, Vytis Nivinskas played upright bass, Paul Hartsaw played tenor and soprano sax, Alexander Duvel played percussion on two tracks and flugelhorn on one, Hesino Paul Spata played congas on two tracks, Kosi Keith Eric contributed vocals to two tracks and Gynna Kray contributed vocals to one track. On the upcoming album, Alexander Duvel contributed flugelhorn on one track and percussion on two, Gynna Kray contributed vocals to two tracks and Kosi Keith Eric contributed vocals on one track.
Influences
Thelonious Monk; Prince; John Coltrane; Led Zeppelin; Miles Davis; Bob Marley; Fele Kuti; Radiohead; Sun Ra; Aretha Franklin; White Stripes; Ornette Coleman; David Bowie; Eric Dolphy; Otis Redding, Alice Coltrane; Nicole Mitchell, et al. Damn it! There's a lot of great music out there! No room for it all.
Sounds Like
It can go a number of ways but probably most like something heard on mid '60s Blue Note records by Don Cherry, Grachan Moncur and Wayne Shorter. At least this is the hope and dream. There are certainly a number of tracks that completely lead off the beaten path. Basically, the creative doors are fully open and anything is possible. Though I think Alice Coltrane might wander in on occasion.
The aSTraL-teRRa Trapeze Unit is the life-long artistic project of Kurt Hill Iselt. The project features his musical compositions which are inspired by the 1960's jazz avante-garde: Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra, and The Art Ensemble of Chicago to name a few. The phrase "aSTraL-teRRa" represents the artistic idea of reaching for the stars while staying rooted to the earth; in other words, opening oneself to all the creative possibilities while staying true to one's artistic voice. The word "Trapeze" represents the idea that the music, like the trapeze artists, should swing from one extreme to the other so as to draw the audience into the performance's drama. Kurt Hill Iselt began his artistic work in Nashville after college. With the aid of mentors such as Jeff Coffin (now with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), he wrote Trapeze's first music and led the first incarnation of the project on gigs at local venues. After moving to Chicago in 1997, Kurt played in various music projects and studied with Ken Vandermark. It was the summer of 2000 when he re-assembled The Trapeze Unit. In September of that year they ventured into the studio for the first Chicago recordings. Several shows followed at venues including the Empty Bottle, the Hungry Brain, the Nervous Center, and the Rogers Park Jazz Festival, as well as a live performance and interview on WNUR. The band spent 2002 in Residence at Phyllis Musical Inn honing their collective skills for recording sessions in Spring 2003. Kurt also spent this period studying with the excellent Chicago saxophonist Jim Gailloreto. The result of those efforts are heard on the group's second studio cd, released in September 2003. A cd release show was held at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge followed by an Empty Bottle show in December. The Trapeze Unit took a sabbatical in 2004 to develop new material and then, in 2005, again became active on the new music scene. A third studio album was released in 2007 and some of that album is featured in the short film "box one forty-seven" by Christopher M. Jones and Jesse S. Robinson.
The AstraL-teRRa Trapeze Unit's Friend Space (Top 12)
hey there how z it? good to hear from you i hope you are well! i keep forgetting to ask for the address... i will send it soon! big hugs to you all... love laugh and dream g
A big thanks to all my friends... I just went over 10,000 listens on my player. I've added a fifth tune to my player, an arrangement of Scott Henderson's "Harpoon", the leader and guitar player of Tribal Tech.
Hey There! I am sorry I haven't written in awhile, Things have been moving forward and keeping me out of trouble...For the most part!
Have a fantastic day and I wanted to let you know I appreciate our friendship and your support!
Divine music is a curative virtue; it is a gift from God that brings healing and comfort to the soul. This music can uplift one's spirit up to a higher dimension of being that is filled with peace and joy. Divine music is the sound of true life, wisdom, and bliss. This music transcends geographical boundaries, language barriers, age factors; and whether educated or uneducated, it reaches deep into the heart and soul, sacred and holy, like an Infinite sound of glory entering the Lord's sanctuary.
I'm sorry I haven't been able to visit your site lately. I've been away at the US Army First Sergeant Course. But I'm back now, and can't wait to get busy hearing all the great music and reading about everything you've been creating.
What the hell is up man!!!?? I haven't seen you in years. I hope life is treatin' you well. The music sounds good. I'll try to catch up with you next time I'm in the Chi.
I just finished listening to all the songs on the CD. Terrific music! I am still somewhat a prisoner of more conventional forms, and melodic themes, but what you have done is really captivating. As I listened, I was asking myself, "which is my favorite?" I'm still not sure, but I think I like Building Greech Norro best. Keep it up. More CDs soon!
--Hank
yo mon...been missing you, also i missed u during my 3 day tour of chicago for xmas (most time was with family)...thanks for housing my toys, hope tha drum kit gets used, i guess i'll see ya next time in town, hopefully for a paid gig, or else vacation. peas and hominy...
I'm really glad to discover your music. It's inspired. I'm hoping to make it to Chicago next spring and maybe I'll have a chance to check you out. I look forward to hearing more of your music. Take care, Tor Snyder
"The way to find out about happiness is to keep your mind on those moments when you feel most happy, when you are really happy not excited, not just thrilled, but deeply happy. This requires a little bit of self-analysis. What is it that makes you happy? Stay with it, no matter what people tell you. This is what is called following your bliss.
-Joseph Campbell
ka-plosive! extralutionary! far out! this is the sound of all my saturday nights turned to sunday. love it. hey, let me know if i can help at all with the recording process....
Hahaha, wow you actually remember that far back huh? Unfortunatly it didn't work out. The guy that got stuck training me didn't think too much of females boxing so he didn't pay attention to me. I ended up leaving after a few months. I found some new talents that I'm getting into though. =D How about you? Looks to me like your music really took off in the direction you wanted it to. How is that going for you?
