Spin Cycle

Since arriving in New York City in 1988, drummer, composer, bandleader and educator Scott Neumann has been involved in a diverse and creative mixture of musical experiences. Scott leads and composes for his three acclaimed bands, Spin Cycle (Sound Footing Records), Neu3 Trio(Origin Records) and Osage County(Chicken Coup Records), whichperform music from very different corners of the jazz spectrum. As a performer, Scott has toured Europe, South America and Asia with such luminaries as David Liebman, Grady Tate, Madeline Peyroux and the Woody Herman Orchestra. Since moving to New York City he has performed on over 70 CDs as a sideman. Scott’s versatility as a player found him touring for nearly a decade on the Jam Band/Electric Bluegrass scene with the Tony Trischka Band and the Jazz Mandolin Project. Scott has also performed in the orchestras of over twenty Broadway productions ranging from the classic shows Cabaret and 42nd St. to the more modern productions of Avenue Q and Xanadu. As an educator, Scott has participated in university and school workshops throughout the United States, South America and Europe. Scott has been on the faculty of Lehigh University as the director of drum studies since 2005. Scott is an exclusive artist/educator for GMS drums, Sabian cymbals and Aquarian drumheads. www.scottneumannmusic.com www.facebook.com/scottneumannmusic All Music Guide describes saxophonist and woodwind specialist Tom Christensen as having “the goods to be a major force within the global modern jazz arena.” A mainstay in the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra since 1996, Tom has also recorded and performed with jazz masters Joe Lovano, Paquito D’rivera, Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, Don Sebesky, John Hollenbeck and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Tom’s solo project, New York School (Playscape) was named one of the Top Ten Albums of the year by All About Jazz. Tom can be heard with Cecile McLorin Salvant on her most recent project Ogresse, on Rufus Reid’s Grammy nominated CD Quiet Pride, David Liebman’s A Tribute to Wayne Shorter, and Ryan Truesdell’s Grammy nominated The Gil Evans Project-Lines of Color. He is the author of several books on jazz pedagogy, co-founder of Sound Footing Records, co-leads the band Spin Cycle and teaches jazz at New York’s prestigious Fieldston School. Jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for 25 years. Whirlwind Recordings has just released his fifth CD, Range, which earned a 4.5-star review from DownBeat Magazine. A sought-after sideman from duos to big bands, he has played guitar on over 100 CDs. McCann has performed and/or recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, Patti Austin, Brian Blade, Grace Kelly, Bobby Previte, the Mahavishnu Project and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Texas and teaches at City College of New York and the New School in New York City as well as the Maine Jazz Camp. Matt Pavolka is, like, a dude who plays the bass. Some people think that he's totally awesome. He started out as a trombonist but couldn't take the derision. He thought chicks would dig him if he played the bass. He had it confused with the guitar. He is a redneck from the State of Indiana. He was born in Muncie. His parents went to college there with David Letterman. He grew up in Bloomington. Not far from there is a town called Raccoon, and another one called Needmore. He went to Berklee College of Music in Boston, mostly to get the hell out of Indiana. He played a lot of music there. He met many of the musicians that he works with to this day. He met his future wife. He wrote some music. He won some awards. He drank lots and lots of coffee, smoked lots and lots of cigarettes, ate bad pizza and didn't sleep much. He's much healthier now. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York with his beautiful and talented wife Akiko. He makes a lot of great music with amazing musicians in New York City and abroad. He occasionally makes mediocre music with mediocre musicians, for money. He has a band that plays sporadically in the New York area, called “The Matt Pavolka Band”. They have one album out on Tone Of A Pitch Records, entitled "Something People Can Use". If someone gives them some money, they may make another one at some point. He has another band, called “The Horns Band”. It is kind of like the first band but the music is different. And the musicians. And there are horns (including him on trombone from time to time). And they perform more frequently, at Smalls and other places. They have a record out on Fresh Sound New Talent Records entitled “The Horns Band”. Soon they may do another. weblinks: http://www.mattpavolka.net/