Four Flea Circus
Four Flea Circus, led by trumpeter Charles Ferris and accordionist Marie Abe, plays frenetic odd-meter gypsy tunes, angular folk-rock fusions, and dense groove-influenced originals. By turns macabre, playful and raucous. Charles, trumpet; Marie, accordion; LM, bass; Jason Levis, drums. The Fleas have their own website with mp3s and concert dates:www.fourfleacircus.com
Go-Go Fightmaster
Go-Go Fightmaster is Aaron Bennett's Ornette Coleman-meets-Black Sabbath noise-grind-improv band. With Aaron, saxophones; John Finkbeiner, guitar; LM, bass; Vijay Anderson, drums. Visit the Go-Go Fightmaster myspace page for mp3s.
Aaron Novik Projects
Kipple
Aaron's minimalist psychedelia band Kipple draws on influences from Steve Reich, electric Miles Davis, and Fela Kuti, filtered through the unmistakable rhythmic angularity, outer space textures and dense layering of the Novik sound. Kipple's current lineup is Mitch Marcus, keyboards; John Finkbeiner, guitar; Lisa Mezzacappa, electric bass; Vijay Anderson and/or Tim Bulkley, drums; and Aaron, electrified clarinets. Kipple's debut CD, Flashes of Irrational Happiness was released in 2006. Visit www.aaronnovik.com for mp3s.
Floating World
Floating World is Aaron's quirky instrumental folk-pop project, informed as much by early 70's music as by Deerhoof and Stereolab. This body of music by Aaron is gorgeous, sometimes nostalgic and lyrical and at other times brutally tense. With Aaron, clarinets; Katy Stephan, vocals; Henry Hung, trumpet; Rob Reich, keyboard; Sarah Jo Zaharako, violin; Lisa Mezzacappa, bass; Jason Levis, drums.
Citta di Vitti
Citta di Vitti is Phillip Greenlief's new trio with him on alto saxophone, Jason Levis on drums and me on bass. This winter, Phillip wrote dozens of melodies while watching Antonioni films with the sound off. He's orchestrated the melodies into a series of quirky-poppy-jazzy tunes written espeecially for this trio. We make our debut this spring.
Jason Levis Chamber Groups
Jason Levis has a few different improvising chamber ensembles performing his original music as well as arrangements of 20th century compositions, including the groups Heftpistole and the Walnut Chamber Ensemble, I play bass in all of these at the moment. Heftpistole recently played a live soundtrack to F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu drawing on Jason's arrangement of Arnold Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire. Visit www.jasonlevismusic.com
Joseph's Bones
Joseph's Bones is Jason Levis' trombone reggae band. We just recorded a new record of Levis originals in January 2007, and our live shows also include arrangements of classic Bob Marley, Augustus Pablo, the Paragons, Black Uhuru and others. With oh-so-sweet horn harmonies and a sick rhythm section. Scott Larson, Naomi Siegel and Rob Ewing, trombone; Marc Bolin, tuba; John Finkbeiner, Myles Boisen and John Schott, guitar; Lisa Mezzacappa, bass; Jason Levis, drums. Visit Jason's website for mp3s and outdated concert info: www.jasonlevismusic.com
Clevenger 3
Nathan Clevenger (guitar) has a very nice trio with me and Aaron Novik (clarinets), partially inspired by the Jimmy Giuffre Trio of the early '60s, with Steve Swallow and Paul Bley. The music floats and soars and there's a lot of listening and lovely open improvisation. Visit the trio's myspace page for some live mp3s.Stay tuned for more projects brewing spring 2007 ... with Ross Hammond! ... Rob Ewing! ... Cory Wright!...