Trio Tragico

Trio Tragico (click here for CD) is a chamber jazz ensemble of clarinet, trumpet, and bass. The Colorado incarnation of the group includes trumpeter Ron Miles and bassist Kent McLagan. The New York version is Dave Ballou on trumpet and Drew Gress on bass. The group plays a wide variety of Biskin compositions, from tightly-structured miniature tone poems to open-ended improvisatory forms.

"Sounds like the clarinetist with the agile mind and wry humor is investing in the sullen side of things. His new outfit is deemed Trio Tragico, but I bet its chamberesque setup — trumpet Dave Ballou and bassist Drew Gress are his workmates — allows room for a smirk or three."
— Jim Macnie, Village Voice

"Mr. Biskin, the clarinetist — a builder of melodically coherent, ear-pleasing jazz miniatures — is an idea person. You can hear it in the particular assignment he was giving himself. In the past he has worked with a New Orleans-style frontline, and with the songs of Stephen Foster, among other things; now he's trying out a trio with clarinet, bass and trumpet. The lack of a drummer leads to openness; it can be a fertile valley to explore."
— Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

Andy Biskin Quartet

The Andy Biskin Quartet (click here for CD) includes Pete McCann (guitar), Chris Washburne (tuba and trombone), and John Hollenbeck (drums). The group plays Andy's original compositions as well as his unusual reworkings of Stephen Foster tunes.

"The clarinetist, known for his own quirky pieces, has gone in another direction entirely, focusing on the melodies of Stephan Foster-fresh ground for jazz, to say the least."
— Gary Giddins, Village Voice

"Jazz musicians have put their hands to country music, blues and gospel. But by and large they haven't done much with Stephen Foster, who was one of the major synthesists of American culture. Tonight, a quartet of adventurous young musicians led by Andy Biskin corrects that."
— Ben Ratliff, The New York Times

Goldberg's Variations

View two Quicktime samples of "Goldberg's Variations" Quicktime is required; a free download is available here.

Goldberg's Variations is a suite of twelve classic Rube Goldberg inventions, brought to life with new video animations and original music. The piece is scored for a sextet of two clarinets, trumpet, trombone, bass, and drums.

Biskin has animated and composed music for twelve classic Goldberg cartoons, including "Self-Operating Napkin," "How to Signal Your Bridge Partner," "Solution for Growing Hair on Balding Men," "A Self-Scrubbing Bath Brush," "Outboard Motor That Requires No Fuel" and "Automatic Sheet Music Turner."

Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) created his famous inventions between 1915 and 1935. They reflect the popular fascination with technology and gadgetry that began with the Machine Age and is still very much with us today. They also sharply comment on our uncontrollable urge to overcomplicate, unpredictably juxtaposing causes and effects from physics, engineering, botany, and human and animal psychology. But most of all, Rube Goldberg's inventions delight us with their unforgettable characters, absurd logic, and brilliant cartoonery.

In the tradition of the silent film era, Goldberg's Variations is performed live in a darkened theater. The animations are projected on the silver screen as the band provides live musical accompaniment and instrumental interludes.

Goldberg's Variations was commissioned by New York City's Symphony Space, where it premiered in May of 2003. The piece has been performed at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art, and most recently at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, where it was presented in conjunction with the museum's Albert Einstein exhibit and also as an educational program for elementary school students. "Goldberg's Variations" was featured live on WNYC-FM's "Soundcheck" on May 13, 2005 — click here to listen to the show.

The Performers
     Mike McGinnis (clarinet and saxophone) is a member of the four bags, his quintet Between Green, OK|OK and DDYGG. He also performs with the Loser's Lounge and the Lonnie Plaxico Group. He has recorded one CD as a leader for RKM Music and three for NCM East with the four bags and DDYGG.
     Dave Ballou (trumpet) is a member of Mat Maneri's Quintet, Denman Maroney's Fluxations, Michael Formanek's Northern Exposure and Kevin Norton's Change Dance. He also works regularly with the big bands of Maria Schneider, Andrew Hill, Dave Leibman and Kenny Wheeler. He has recorded five CDs as a leader for SteepleChase Records.
     Bruce Eidem (tombone) has worked with Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Wayne Shorter, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. He has recorded with Mario Bauza's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and the New York Trombone Conspiracy, and currently plays in the orchestra of the Broadway production of "Gypsy."
     Dave Phillips (bass) is leader of the quartet Freedance, featuring Rez Abassi, John O'Gallagher and Tony Moreno. Their latest CD, "Prayer," was released in March 2003 on the Sound Street label. Along with trumpeter Ron Horton, he is a member of accordionist's Will Holshauser's trio.
     John Hollenbeck (drums and percussion) works with a diverse group of musicians including Fred Hersh, Kenny Wheeler, David Krakauer, Meredith Monk, Theo Bleckman, Bob Brookmeyer, and Pablo Ziegler. He also composes with his own his groups Quartet Lucy and the Claudia Quintet, whose most recent album, "I Claudia" on Cuneiform, has received widespread acclaim.

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The Andy Biskin Quintet

Led by composer/clarinetist Andy Biskin, the quintet also features the following musicians:
     Ron Horton (trumpet) recently released his debut recording, "Genius Envy," on Omnitone Records. He is currently performing with the Andrew Hill Sextet and appears on Hill's much-praised recording "Dusk."
     Bruce Eidem (trombone) has played with Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's. He's recorded with Mario Bauza's Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra and the New York Trombone Conspiracy.
     Ben Allison (bass) has recorded three albums for Palmetto Records with his group Medicine Wheel. He is co-leader of the Herbie Nichols Project and founder and artistic director of the Jazz Composer's Collective.
     Matt Wilson (drums) is one of the most sought-after drummers in jazz today. He currently plays in bands led by Dewey Redman, Cecil McBee, and Lee Konitz among others, and tours and records with his own quartet.