TriBeCaStan, New York City’s multi-cultural and polystylistic ensemble, is one of the most exciting and diverse in contemporary music. They use instruments from all over the world to create an exotic array of sounds and melodies. TriBeCaStan is described by The New York Times as “genre-bending Jazz and World-Music” and The Washington Post as “an international jazz festival unto themselves, fusing Balkan and Middle Eastern musical elements to bold, dazzling effect.” The Village Voice describes the band as “New York cool”, “explorer energy, and outer-space vibes”. In the middle of New York’s urban bustle lies a sound oasis where the sounds of Africa and New York loft jazz mix with Appalachian Bluegrass and traditional Afghan melodies with old-fashioned American rock and roll. Folk instruments from around the world co-exist harmoniously (and mayhem), alongside banjos and mandolins, wailing Reeds, and brass. It might be difficult to understand the diverse culture of TriBeCaStan, especially since the band aims to break down barriers between American music and world jazz. However, the end result is a virtuosic collaboration between some New York’s best jazz and world musicians. Many of these musicians have collaborated with legends such as Ornette Coleman and Mahavisnu Orchestra, Sting and Carlos Santana. Long-time fixtures of the band feature co-founders/multi-instrumentalists John Kruth and Jeff Greene, along with Claire Daly (New York’s baritone sax goddess), Kenny Margolis (keyboard and accordion with Willy DeVille) Premik Russell Tubbs on saxes and lap steel guitar (John McLaughlin, Sting, Carlos Santana) and Ray Peterson (bassist with jazz legend Eddie Harris), along with recording guest stars, including Steve Turre (renowned trombonist and shell master), Badal Roy (Miles Davis’ percussionist), and Bachir Attar (Master Musicians of Jajouka). TriBeCaStan’s music is not pure or homogeneous, and it may be a mystery to some. Jeff Greene says that music is ultimately about cross-fertilization. We get to experience firsthand the amazing ways that American traditions and cultures mix with the world’s cultures. There is nothing more exciting to us.” Recent live performances included high-profile shows at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art and Le Poisson Rouge. Also, DROM sold out a sold-out album launch show. Festival and club shows were held in Germany, France, Spain, and the Czech Republic. A jam-packed two-week tour of California was also planned. The Wall Street Journal hailed their March 2014 SXSW showcase in Austin as one of the best destination gigs at the conference. from http://tribecastan.tv
