Pete Robbins (alto saxophone),
Sam Barsh (keyboards), Mike Pride(drums)

Pete Robbins: Alto Saxophone
www.peterobbins.com
www.myspace.com/peterobbins

”Pete Robbins is an innovator in addition to being an immensely talented musician...[He] is transforming the concept of jazz into a new medium...Pete Robbins is a bright new star.”
-Grady Harp, Amazon.com

Pete Robbins was born in New York in 1978 and was raised in Andover, Massachusetts. He moved to New York in 2002 after attending Tufts University and New England Conservatory, and immediately became a welcome presence on the creative music scene.
As a bandleader, Robbins composes for his groups “Centric,” “sILENT Z,” and the “Robbins/Pavone/Sorey Trio” and performs regularly at New York venues such as the 55 Bar, Cornelia Street Café, Barbes, the Tea Lounge, Bar 4, and others. His bands tour the U.S. and Europe regularly, including yearly appearances at the Copenhagen Jazz Festival. Pete has released three albums in his own name: “Do The Hate Laugh Shimmy,” “Waits and Measures,” and “Centric.”
In September 2004, The Village Voice recognized Robbins’ musical, promotional, and political efforts by naming him their featured Jazz Pick for the fall season. Robbins has also received multiple jazz composition grants from Chamber Music America, and has been featured in the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Washington Post, the Village Voice, The Boston Phoenix, Jazztimes and Jazzwise magazines, and National Public Radio.

”Pete can become a force. A real force. He's confident enough not to do what others might tell him.”
-Paul Bley - liner notes to “Centric”

”Mr. Robbins played hard and fluidly, landing heavily on unexpected notes to give his solos funk and shape....it was a band of equal shares, and they built the abrupt, shuddering, wriggling music together.”
-Ben Ratliff - New York Times


Mike Pride: Drums
www.mikepride.com
www.myspace.com/snugglestencil

"Drummer Mike Pride stokes the furnace with fire, while never stinting on finesse."
-Time Out NY

Percussionist/composer Mike Pride was born and raised in the Portland, Maine area. He has been playing & composing music since he was a child. While living in Maine, Mike studied with Les Harris, Jr., Bill Street and Matt Wilson, performed with legendary composer & jazz educator David Baker, & produced experimental, shock-rockers Ned Muffleburger & the DSL's. In 2000, Mike moved to New York City where he studied briefly with drum & bass master, Amir Ziv. Mike then began studying with the legendary percussionist/healer/teacher, Professor, Milford Graves. Since his move to NYC, Mike has performed and recorded throughout the U.S. and North America, Europe, Asia, & Australia with many wonderful musicians including: Anthony Braxton, Eugene Chadbourne, Nels Cline, Andrew d'Angelo, Milford Graves, Mark Helias, Fred Hess, Vijay Iyer, George Lewis, Frank Lowe, Mat Maneri, Tony Malaby, William Parker, Perry Robinson, Sonny Simmons, Chris Speed, Steve Swell & John Zorn. Pride has been featured on over 40 recordings, and has composed music for the MTV Production "Room Raiders," video games, radio jingles and independant film scores. He currently runs Funhole Live Recording in Brooklyn, NY, and is an active painter/visual artist/designer.

Sam Barsh (keyboards)
www.barshmusic.com
www.myspace.com/sambarsh

"Pianist with the gift of groove" -Nate Chinen, New York Times

Sam Barsh is a performer, through and through. Whether in dark and quiet trance-like ballads or explosive jams, Barsh's intensity and deep connection to music always come through. He grew up in the Chicago area, and has been playing music since the age of 4, starting on piano, and expanding to organ, synthesizers, vintage keyboards, and melodica. Barsh moved to the east coast in 1999 to attend William Paterson University's renowned jazz studies program on a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship.
Barsh has been based in New York City since 2001, but has traveled all over the world sharing his music and the music of others. His own group, the Sam Barsh Band, performs his funky blend of jazz, r&b and slick ambient grooves. Their debut record, “I Forgot What You Taught Me,” was released in early 2008.
From 2003 through 2006, Barsh was a member of the renowned Avishai Cohen Trio. With Cohen, Barsh recorded 3 albums and a live DVD, performed at many of the world's biggest jazz festivals and received much international acclaim.
Barsh has had the good fortune to perform with a diverse group of incredible artists throughout his career, including Cassandra Wilson, Jeff Parker, Boyz II Men, Bobby McFerrin, The Brand New Heavies, Robin Eubanks, Debbie Friedman, Branford Marsalis, Lonnie Plaxico, Christophe Schweizer, Dave Samuels (of Spyro Gyra), Ku'umba Frank Lacy, Kenny Wollessen, Curtis Watts, Nguyen Le, Ben Monder, Hans Glawischnig, Todd Carey and many others.

In case of rain, all outdoor events will be held at Carmen Verandah, right next to the Village Green.