DEAD JAZZ
Matt Hollenberg, Guitar and Soundscapes
Tom Spiker, Bass and Soundscapes
Grant Calvin Weston, Drums, Voice Soundscapes and Roland Drum Pads
Step into the electrifying universe of Dead Jazz, where metal, jazz, and eclectic improvisation collide in an audacious sonic journey. The Hollenberg, Spiker, Weston Trio delivers an instrumental tour de force that captures the raw energy, masterful interplay, and fearless exploration of three boundary-pushing musicians.
At the helm of rhythm and texture is G Calvin Weston, a legendary drummer and trumpeter with a career as groundbreaking as his performances. At just 17, Weston joined Ornette Coleman's revolutionary Prime Time band, contributing to three seminal albums that reshaped the landscape of jazz. Over the years, he has performed and recorded with icons like James Blood Ulmer and John Lurie’s The Lounge Lizards. With more than two dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, Weston’s relentless creativity thrives in projects like Free Form Funky Freqs, alongside Vernon Reid and Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Wail, with members of Stinking Lizaveta. His drumming on Dead Jazz is both propulsive and free, driving the music forward while carving out vast rhythmic landscapes.
Matt Hollenberg wields the guitar like a force of nature. Known as the blazing guitarist of Cleric and John Zorn’s Simulacrum, his musical realm spans avant-garde classical, free jazz, dissonant math metal, ambient, and world music. Originally from Philadelphia and now Brooklyn-based, Hollenberg composes intricate pieces that seamlessly fuse fiery solos with improvisational brilliance. Collaborations with luminaries like John Zorn and John Medeski have solidified his reputation as an innovator unafraid to push musical boundaries. On Dead Jazz, Hollenberg’s guitar erupts into a kaleidoscope of sounds—angular riffs, searing melodies, and abstract textures that defy expectations.
On bass is Tom Spiker, a producer, mixer, and instrumentalist whose deft touch provides the harmonic foundation for the trio’s dynamic explorations. Spiker’s dual role as bassist and recording engineer is pivotal in capturing the immediacy and intensity of the session. His rich, resonant bass lines anchor the chaos with precision, while his mixing—alongside Hollenberg—ensures every layer of sound shines. Spiker’s skill as a producer also brings a deliberate edge to Dead Jazz, making it as clear as it is unrelenting.
Dead Jazz is a bold statement of artistic freedom and collaborative invention. Released under Park West Records, the album invites listeners into a soundscape where improvisation is the driving force and the unexpected becomes the norm.
At the helm of rhythm and texture is G Calvin Weston, a legendary drummer and trumpeter with a career as groundbreaking as his performances. At just 17, Weston joined Ornette Coleman's revolutionary Prime Time band, contributing to three seminal albums that reshaped the landscape of jazz. Over the years, he has performed and recorded with icons like James Blood Ulmer and John Lurie’s The Lounge Lizards. With more than two dozen albums as a leader or co-leader, Weston’s relentless creativity thrives in projects like Free Form Funky Freqs, alongside Vernon Reid and Jamaaladeen Tacuma, and Wail, with members of Stinking Lizaveta. His drumming on Dead Jazz is both propulsive and free, driving the music forward while carving out vast rhythmic landscapes.
Matt Hollenberg wields the guitar like a force of nature. Known as the blazing guitarist of Cleric and John Zorn’s Simulacrum, his musical realm spans avant-garde classical, free jazz, dissonant math metal, ambient, and world music. Originally from Philadelphia and now Brooklyn-based, Hollenberg composes intricate pieces that seamlessly fuse fiery solos with improvisational brilliance. Collaborations with luminaries like John Zorn and John Medeski have solidified his reputation as an innovator unafraid to push musical boundaries. On Dead Jazz, Hollenberg’s guitar erupts into a kaleidoscope of sounds—angular riffs, searing melodies, and abstract textures that defy expectations.
On bass is Tom Spiker, a producer, mixer, and instrumentalist whose deft touch provides the harmonic foundation for the trio’s dynamic explorations. Spiker’s dual role as bassist and recording engineer is pivotal in capturing the immediacy and intensity of the session. His rich, resonant bass lines anchor the chaos with precision, while his mixing—alongside Hollenberg—ensures every layer of sound shines. Spiker’s skill as a producer also brings a deliberate edge to Dead Jazz, making it as clear as it is unrelenting.
Dead Jazz is a bold statement of artistic freedom and collaborative invention. Released under Park West Records, the album invites listeners into a soundscape where improvisation is the driving force and the unexpected becomes the norm.
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