It doesn’t seem right to think of him as an elder statesman, but pianist and composer Marc Copland, now 74 years old, has been spinning out sounds like no other pianist since the mid-1970’s. His output as a leader is staggering: over 40 critically acclaimed CDs, in solos, duos, trios, quartets and quintets. The albums, recorded for over ten different labels, feature major jazz voices of the past and present: John Abercrombie, Ralph Alessi, Joey Baron, Mike Brecker, Randy Brecker, Dennis Chambers, Mark Ferber, Billy Hart, Dave Liebman, Victor Lewis, Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, Gary Peacock, Bill Stewart, Robin Verheyen, Ken Wheeler, and others. But if you were thinking of Copland as an older musician who has slowed down, stopped developing, and simply resting on his laurels---you couldn’t be more wrong. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” says saxophonist Robin Verheyen. “He’s an inspiration, coming up with new ideas and new sounds all the time. It’s the kind of energy and growth you’d expect from someone in the prime of their creative life. And he’s not only a major voice with such a distinctive sound and approach---you won’t find a better accompanist anywhere.” After years of recording for many of the world’s finest labels (Challenge, ECM, Hatology, \Nagel-Heyer, Pirouet, Savoy, Sketch, Soul Note, etc.), Copland took the plunge in 2016 and started his own label. The pianist’s foray into the record business has grown every year, bucking the general downward trend of CD sales. His latest release, John (illusions / mirage), has received Down Beat magazine’s “Editor’s Pick”, CHOC from Jazz Magazine (France), “CD of the Month” from Stereoplay (Germany), and five stars from both Rondo (Germany) and Neue Zuricher Zeitung (Switzerland). Dan McClenaghan of allaboutjazz.com put it succinctly: “Copland is a genius...he creates the loveliest of sounds.” The respected blog jazzstation awarded him “ #1 Acoustic Pianist of the Year” for 2020.
Born in Chicago in 1955, Grammy award-winning violinist Mark Feldman is a unique figure in the history of jazz, a violinist with impeccable classical technique and a unique modern style. In addition to his own projects, his 230-plus album credits and touring history are impressive in their breadth: he’s worked with John Abercrombie, Muhal Richard Abrams, the Basel Symphonetta, Paul Bley, Uri Caine, Johnny Cash, the CBS Television Network Orchestra, Cheryl Crow, Placido Domingo, Dave Douglas, Billy Hart, Carole King, Manhattan Transfer, the Nashville Philharmonic, Willie Nelson, the Netherlands Radio Symphony, Chris Potter, Diana Ross, the WDR Big Band, and John Zorn. And with over a couple of hundred recordings, that’s obviously just a small sample. In 2007 He was awarded the Alpert Award Prize in Music. His own projects include “What Exit” (ECM) and “Music for Violin Alone” (Tzadik). A composer, his works have been commissioned and performed by the Kronos Quartet and the WDR Radio Orchestra. He premiered the Violin Concerto of Guus Janssen as soloist with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. Feldman’s intuitive approach to his instrument, and his lightning-fast ears, enable him to engage in improvised counterpoint and interplay with Copland at an extremely high level. No two performances of this band are exactly alike.
With decades of experience under his belt, it wouldn't be hard to argue that bassist Drew Gress is one of the most gifted, versatile, and innovative players on his instrument today. He's been a longtime companion of pianist Copland in trios, quartets, and (lately) in duo as well. But Copland's got a lot of competition; Gress's credits in recent years read like a "who's who in jazz" --- John Abercrombie, Ralph Alessi, Tim Berne, Don Byron, Ravi Coltrane, Jack deJohnette, Dave Douglas, and John Hollenbeck. And did we mention pianists? Copland's not the only one who relies on Gress: there's Uri Caine, Bill Carrothers, Sylvie Courvoisier, Fred Hersch, Randy Ingram, and many others. He's adept at playing all varieties of jazz, and demand for him shows no sign of slowing down. Drew is also a gifted composer, as one can hear on the beautiful “Figment” from Copland's "And I Love Her" (Illusions/Mirage). A bandleader in his own right, Gress's output includes Heyday, 7 Black Butterflies, and Irrational Numbers, all of which garnered raves from the press (5 star ratings on view at allmusic.com). Critic John Fordham of the Guardian described a performance by Gress's group as "one of the great jazz performances in Britain this year." In 2004, the UK's BBC Radio and the Guardian selected his quartet's live broadcast as "Jazz concert of the year." A respected educator, Gress has taught at the Peabody Conservatory and Western Connecticut State University. He has been artist-in-residence at University of Colorado-Boulder and Russia's St. Petersburg Conservatory.
Anthony Pinciotti is a dynamic, innovative drummer well versed in jazz, rock, and world music. Based in New York City, Anthony performs and tours extensively with many of the most vital and forward looking musicians on the scene today. Some of the notable musicians Anthony has worked with are: James Moody, Dr. Lonnie Smith, John Abercrombie, Joe Lovano, Randy Brecker, Ira Sullivan, Kenny Werner, Mose Allison, Lew Tabackin, John Patitucci, Jim Hall, Bob Mintzer, Renee Rosnes, Anat Cohen, Stacey Kent,George Garzone, Frank Foster, Benny Golson, George Mraz, Houston Person, Toninho Horta, Jerry Bergonzi, Lynne Arriale, Gary Bartz, Rufus Reid, Vic Juris, Dave Liebman, Kenny Barron, and Sheila Jordan to name a few.