Buffalo-based baritone saxophonist/improviser Steve Baczkowski performs solo, in trio with drummer Ravi Padmanabha & bassist Brian DeJesus (BPD Trio), and in frequent collaborations with guitarist Bill Nace, drummer Chris Corsano & bassist Brandon Lopez. A widely-acclaimed trio LP Mystic Beings (with Corsano & Nace) was released by Open Mouth Records in December 2018 and Old Smoke, a live recording with Corsano and Lopez was released on CD by Relative Pitch Records in April 2019. (https://relativepitchrecords.bandcamp.com/album/old-smoke) A new LP Open Door highlighting Baczkowski's 20-year duo collaboration with Ravi Padmanabha was recently released on Padmanabha’s Good Karma/Bad Karma Records and the Lopez Trio, with drummer Gerald Cleaver, will have it’s 2nd release on Relative Pitch in 2022.
Baczkowski has organized multiple ensembles over the years including the Buffalo Improvisers Orchestra, Buffalo Suicide Prevention Unit, Organ Donor and many others and he regularly performs with the BPD Trio, 12/8 Path Band, Buffalo Jazz Octet, Genkin Philharmonic and more. His 2021 performance with Lopez Trio at the 25th annual Vision Festival in NYC was selected as a “concert of the year” by NYC Jazz Record and in Spring 2022 he toured Europe with the renowned Brooklyn Afrobeat group Antibalas. Baczkowski frequently collaborates with improvisers from all over the globe and has performed in basements, clubs, DIY venues and festivals in the US, Canada, Mexico & Europe.
Ravi Padmanabha is a drummer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, improvisor and songwriter. He has spent many years studying and playing a wide variety of music including jazz, Indian classical, world music, experimental and improvised music. He has studied with several masters from India including Pandit Samar Saha, Pandit Sharda Sahai and Pankaj Misra.
Padmanabha is on many recordings and has led various musical projects such as My Nada Brahma, Bul-Bul Tarang Gang and Transindental Karmacist, and he frequently performs with Americana Raga, 12/8 Path Band and the Genkin Philharmonic. He has performed in duo with saxophonist Steve Baczkowski for over two decades and released many albums. Ravi has performed with many others including; Robert Dick, Willam Parker, Peter Kowald, Pauline Oliveros, Daniel Carter, Adam Lane, Blaise Siwula, Steve Swell, Bern Nix, Cooper Moore, Wilbert de Joode, Juini Booth, Sabir Mateen, Douglas Ewart, Arrington DeDionysio, Rob Wasserman, Peter Evans, Paul Flaherty, Tomchess, Brandon Terzic, Yang Jin, and Alex Glenfield. More info at: www.ravip.net
Brian DeJesus is a musician based in Buffalo, NY who plays electric and upright bass. A versatile musician, Brian has quickly become a ubiquitous presence on the thriving Buffalo music scene and beyond, and can be found playing in groups that span a variety of sounds and styles from around the world. Current groups include Fredtown Stompers, Baczkowski/Padmanabha/DeJesus, and John Victor's Divi Romi. DeJesus has also performed with Cages, Buffalo Jazz Octet, Western New York Chamber Orchestra, El Batey of Buffalo, NY, Carol McLaughlin, and many more.
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