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| Matt Darriau at The Cornelia Street Cafe Friday August 18, Matt Darriau And Paradox Trio (Brad Shepik, guitar;Rufus Cappadocia, cello, compositions;Seido Salifoski, percussion) performed at The Cornelia Street Cafe, NYC. New York based Paradox Trio creates original music inspired by Eastern European, Balkan, Gypsy and downtown traditions. In the last seven years the quartet has toured and played major festivals throughout the U.S., Europe and Canada. The group's dynamic performances and approach cut across stylistic and geographic boundaries creating an unusual and eclectic sound, redefining the concept "world beat". Gambit, their fourth CD, is now out on the ENJA label (Munich)and features the Bulgarian kaval virtuoso, Theodosii Spassov. Their third Knitting Factory Records CD, Source, explores the common ground between Balkan and Klezmer music. Their second CD, Flying at a Slant is regarded as a work that gives voice to a truly organic fusion of several idioms - unifying the high energy, complex rhythms and oriental modes of Balkan and Rom (gypsy) music with jazz composition and improvisation. Their 1st CD Paradox Trio was nominated for the prestigious 1996 German critics prize. The group features Matt on two unique and lyrical Bulgarian instruments, the Kaval (end-blown flute, like the Arabic ney) and the Gaida (bagpipe) as well as saxes and clarinets. With Brad Shepik on guitars, Rufus Cappadocia on cello and Seido Salifoski on dumbek, Paradox Trio has written and performed live music scores for the silent films Battleship Potemkin (Eisenstein), Un Chien Andalou (Bunuel/Dali) and Isaac Babel's Benya Krik about a famous Jewish gangster in Odessa in revolutionary Russia. They have also created music for independent films and a PBS documentary on Dashiel Hammet. Saxophonist, clarinetist, ethnic-woodwind specialist and composer Matt Darriau has made several innovative contributions to the New York music scene. His background in the fertile and eclectic milieu of the New England Conservatory of Music's Third Stream Program in the early 80's, and the continued practice of Balkan, Klezmer and Celtic folk idioms, have helped shape his esthetic and passion for creating new and unusual music. He is active as composer-musician in the Klezmatics, the new celtic band Whirligig, Roberto Rodriguez Septet(Tzadik), Frank London's Klezmer Brass Allstars and his recently formed Ballin' The Jack (early swing septet - 2 CD's on KF records as well) and the Recycled Waltz Orchestra. He has been awarded grants and commisions from the NEA, Chamber Music America (2005) and is a regular in New York's downtown jazz scene. Originally from Seattle, guitarist Brad Shepik has toured the world and recorded with Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band, Joey Baron's Killer Joey, Pachora, Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio and Simon Shaheen. He leads his own group, The Commuters (2 CD's on the Songlines Label) and a trio with accordion virtuoso Yuri Lemeshev. Other musical associations include performances and/or recordings with Carla Bley's Escalator Over the Hill, Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra, Yuri Yunakov's Bulgarian Wedding Band, Tim Berne, Kenny Werner. Brad is a prolific composer and several of his prices are featured in Paradox Trio's repertoire. In recent years he has added Turkish Saz, and Portuguese guitar to the groups sound. Canadian-born cellist Rufus Cappadocia is much sought after in the downtown new music scene with his unique approach on his self- designed 5-string electric cello, employing extended bass and cello techniques. He plays regularly with Dave Fiuzcynski, renowned Greek instrumentalist Ross Daly's Labyrinth, the new dance/music hit Urban Tap with Tamango and Keba Cissoko's Guinean griot group Tamalalou, he is also featured artist with the Black Rock Coalition's Tribute to Jimi Hendrix. Macedonian-born percussionist and dumbek virtuoso Seido Salifoski plays music from his Rom (Gypsy) lineage and Balkan traditions. He is the foremost dumbek player in the New York area and has performed extensively for the past 12 years with leading Eastern European and N.Y. artists including Bulgarian clarinetist Ivo Papazov, Omar Faruk, Tarkan and has recorded and toured with Yuri Yanakov (Bulgarian wedding band). His multiple percussion has been featured on numerous Balkan, klezmer and new music recordings and he is a regular teacher at the Balkan Music and Dance Workshops around North America. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |