“Miles Davis said that the only question for a musican was, ‘Do you have ideas and can you project them?’ For Snowblind, the answer is, “at all times.” –Phil Hey
When none less than virtuoso Twin Cities drummer/educator Phil Hey proclaims his admiration for an ensemble, one needs to pay attention. The brass-laden quintet Snowblind has easily earned this distinction, which has been apparent since they first debuted at the Dakota nearly five years ago. Given the busy schedules of the musicians, these days the band plays only a few dates per year, so you have to make the most of it. The next opportunity comes this week at the Artists Quarter in St Paul, February 23rd.
The founding musicians of Snowblind came together in 2005 through their connections to the University of Minnesota, where all the original members had been students. Four of the original quintet remain: Tenor saxman and Chicago native Shilad Sen, who completed his doctoral studies in computer science, contributes horn arrangements as well as original compositions. With performance credits including Danilo Perez, Ron Blake, Rufus Reid and Dennis Diblasio, Sen was runner-up in the 1996 North American Saxophonist Alliance Collegiate Jazz Competition. He can also be heard with the edgy ensemble Ingo Bethke.
Once a student of Tiny Baker, trombonist Scott Agster is also a doctoral candidate in jazz performance at the U of M and an alum of the famed University of North Texas One O’Clock Lab Band. His eclectic chops are featured locally with Salsa del Soul, the New Orleans band Jack Brass, hip hop group G8, blues band Davina and the Vagabounds, and the Bella Gala Big Band. A veteran of international jazz festivals, Agster has performed with Slide Hampton, Nicholas Payton, Phil Woods, Benny Golson, Dave Douglas and more. He's currently an instructor at the MacPhail Center for Music.
Drummer/educator Reid Kennedy has provided his timekeeping skills to such luminaries as Joe Lovano and Gunther Schuller. The Winona, MN native has studied percussion with Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton, Dave Weckl and Phil Hey, as well as vibraphone with Steve Yeager. In addition to performances with chamber and symphony ensembles, Kennedy has also appeared with Phil Woods, Shelly Berg, Bob Florence and the Disney All American College Band. Locally he has performed with Doug Little and Chris Lomheim, and leads his own trio with Chris Lomheim and Graydon Peterson; he released Reflections in 2009.
Graydon Peterson joined Snowblind in 2007 when original bassist Mark Drehmann moved to New York. Graydon graduated with a degree in music composition from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. As a member of the Down Beat award-winning UWEC Jazz Ensemble I, he performed with such guest jazz artists as Lewis Nash, Ingrid Jensen, Jason Marsalis, Chris Botti, and Christian McBride. In Minneapolis, Graydon is a first-call bassist for area vocalists, including Christine Rosholt, Debbie Duncan and Connie Evingson, has toured with the Mary Louise Knutson Trio, and with Jay Epstein and Park Evans, performs as Firebell. A composer as well as performer, several of his compositions appear on the 2009 release from the Reid Kennedy Trio.
According to the musicians, “We have a variety of influences and backgrounds that we mix into our compositions and performances. You might hear some old school elements in one chart mixed with more modern deconstructive elements. We also infuse some of our music with humor.” Notes Twin Cities drum king Phil Hey, “Their approach and sound is their own, yet firmly rooted in the tradition of Max Roach’s late 50s/early 60s groups with Booker Little, Charles Mingus’ various piano-less groups and Dave Holland’s recent quintets…They can play ‘rag-time to no-time’ and are well versed in hip-hop, funk and Latin music in addition to swing and bop.” And adds Twin Cities trombone master Dave Graf, “It all coheres into a quirky, melodic group sound, full of unexpected turns and infused with a refreshing sense of playfulness." Snowblind released their first recording in late 2005, aptly titled Arctic Fury, a set combining original tunes and covers of jazz classics. A year later came Taking Shape, a diverse set of all original tunes contributed by each of the original band members.
I usually find brass ensembles to be among the most enjoyable configurations in modern jazz. Snowblind combines the key ingredients to the success of this instrumentation—diverse rhythms; multi-hued harmonies; interesting arrangements that highlight virtuosic solos and telepathic interactions. Snowblind seems to be more than just Taking Shape. Rather, this band is well on its way to defining—or redefining--the modern brass jazz ensemble. They reach back to their traditional roots while simultaneously reaching ahead to their own shapes and sounds.
Brass will be the main course at 9 pm on Wednesday, February 23rd at the Artists Quarter, 408 St Peter Street in downtown St. Paul. Come early for Steve Kenny and the Bastids at 7 pm. www.artistsquarter.com
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