Diesel Dan Dan Oestreicher’s work is at its core an investigation into the unexplored possibilities of expression in low saxophones and unusual woodwinds, sometimes integrated with electronics. Dan seeks to prove that these sounds and practices remain relevant and essential regardless of set , setting, or the particular economics of a given musical situation. Daniel Oestreicher (aka “Diesel Dan” “Dieselrocket” “Uncle Dan”) was born September 30, 1982 in Pittsburgh PA, where he studied saxophone with Dr. James "Buster" Alston, Calvin Stemley, and jazz improvisation with Dwayne Dolphin. He attended Loyola University New Orleans from 2000-2004 studying saxophone with Tony Dagradi. He attended the SIM workshops in 2003 and 2004 in New York City. His private instruction includes studies with Dave Liebman, Jason Moran, Henry Grimes, Ellery Eskelin, Tim Berne, Ralph Alessi, and Matana Roberts. Since 2003, Daniel has been an active professional in the New Orleans music scene specializing in the rarely heard baritone and bass saxophones. His professional credits include Dr. John, James Singleton, Sir Earl Toon of Kool and the Gang, The Subdudes, The Iguanas, Jhelisa Anderson, Earth Wind and Fire, Smoking Time Jazz Club, Magnetic Ear, New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Naked Orchestra, Roger Lewis and Baritone Bliss, as well as his own project, the Diesel Combustion Orchestra. Since 2008, Daniel has been a full time member of Trombone Shorty and Orleans Ave. In this capacity, Daniel has performed live or on television on all six inhabited continents. These include performances at major festivals including Montreux Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Bonaroo, Cochealla, High Sierra Music Festival, and Lollapalooza among many others. Major television appearances include 2014 NBA All-Star game, 56th Grammy Awards telecast 2014, and most major talk shows, including David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel, Arsenio Hall, and multiple appearances on Conan O'Brien. Daniel's recording credits include Eric Clapton's 2010 self-titled release, Zach Brown Band's "Overnight" from the album "Uncaged", and Mark Ronson ft. Mystikal's "Allright" from the album "Uptown Special". Full length album credits with Trombone Shorty include “Backatown”, “For True”, “Parking Lot Symphony”, and “Lifted”. Other recording credits include work for Cee-lo Green, David Banner, Dianne Krall, and Leo Nocentelli of the meters. Dan’s more personal projects include his longest running group, Diesel Combustion Orchestra, an improvising large ensemble dedicated to deconstructing contemporary New Orleans musical practice, and Flaxan, a chamber horn quartet including Emily Mikesell, Byron Asher, and Emily Fredrickson. Dan maintains a practice of solo work, rotating small groups, and electro-acoustic work. Electro-acoustic work focuses primarily on integrating the saxophone with electronic guitar effects as well as modular synthesis.
Cyrus Nabipoor
Organizing sounds and telling stories. Cyrus Nabipoor’s unmistakable voice on the trumpet rings with honesty, warmth and lyricism. Melody reigns as Nabipoor balances focused clarity with daring exploration. Through his pairing of trumpet and electronics, Nabipoor bridges the conceived dichotomy of nature & technology, exploring new tonal possibilities.
Cyrus primarily leads an original quintet and performs solo effect loop sets. He is a member/frequent collaborator of Noruz, Korgy & Bass, Reb & The Good News, and more. Cyrus co-produces ‘Lore’, a multisensory storytelling and performance series, with visual artist Ida Floreak.
Born and raised in Portland OR, Cyrus Nabipoor began playing trumpet at age 11. He wanted to play trombone, but it wouldn’t fit on his bike. As an adolescent Cyrus was taught by Cynthia Plank and trumpeter Derek Sims. In high school he joined the Alan Jones Academy of Music. Cyrus holds a Bachelor of Music from Loyola University New Orleans, where he graduated magna cum laude and was awarded outstanding undergraduate in both Jazz and Brass. While at Loyola, he studied with Nick Volz, Tony Dagradi and Jimbo Walsh. Cyrus also spent a term at the Grieg Academy in Bergen, Norway studying with ECM legend Per Jørgensen and Martin Winter (Bergen Philharmonic). In 2015, Cyrus was awarded the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Scholarship.
Cyrus is endorsed by Edward’s Trumpets.
Barra Brown
It’s the rare artist from whose catalog a listener can pluck any song and instantly recognize who’s at the helm. Portland-based percussionist, composer and producer Barra Brown’s artistic restlessness has led him from avant-garde beat-based music as one half of Korgy & Bass to original acoustic jazz compositions with his Barra Brown Quintet – but it’s the thematic ambition of Brown’s releases and the fearless merging of electronics and improvisation that let his voice shine through no matter the genre. Within each of his compositions carries a form of experimentation, homage, play, joy, and critique and constantly leans into what’s next.
Barra has toured the continental United States and Alaska with bands including the Shook Twins, Ages and Ages, Alameda, and Morning Ritual performing at notable venues including The Fillmore West and Red Rocks Amphitheater. While at home, he composed and released two albums of original compositions as the Barra Brown Quintet (BBQ) on Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble Records (PJCE). In the Fall of 2017, the PJCE commissioned Barra to write a piece for their twelve-person large ensemble. “Down at Buckskin Lake” premiered at the PJCE Ten Year Anniversary Celebration.
In 2019, following an impressive catalog of releases under his belt, Brown co-composed the album “Remote” — a sonic journey from industrialization to the modern-day tech industry — with his project Korgy & Bass in collaboration with NOLA trumpeter Cyrus Nabipoor. In 2020, Barra & Co. released “Agrocrag” — a bombastic and genre-transcendent album — that includes a collaboration with Oregon Poet Laureate Anis Mojgani. This creative beat-making exploration culminated into a multisensorial performance in the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry (OMSI) Kendall Planetarium.
The diversity of Brown’s musical experience is the driving force of his newest full-length LFT:RT (released March 5th, 2021). The album’s title represents Brown’s attempt to break down the binary thinking so often used to sort complex human life into simplified categories. KMHD Radio premiered the album and stated: “An adventure of an album with Brown’s ear for creative rhythmic structures and immaculate production front-and-center, “LFT:RT” inspires listeners to let go of their expectations and just listen.” -KMHD Jazz Radio. And Jazz Revelations called it “something undoubtedly unique.”
Barra has shared the stage with Ani DiFranco, Gregory Alan Isakov, Robert Glasper, and Makaya McCraven among others. He has worked with Tucker Martine, Michael Curry, OMSI, PNCA, Alan Jones, and the Portland Jazz Composer’s Ensemble.
QUOTES:
“There are seemingly infinite amounts of up-and-coming musicians in Portland, but it’s very rare to find a universally talented musician with such promise. Barra Brown and his quintet stand more of a chance for longevity than the average indie rocker or electronic artist that we’re seeing pop up with increasing frequency.” -Portland Mercury
“Barra Brown delivers a flawless and natural jazz/hip-hop fusion album seen from the jazz side of things, with excellent results.” -Living Life Fearless
“The overall musicianship on the album is exemplary” –Living Life Fearless
“An adventure of an album with Brown’s ear for creative rhythmic structures and immaculate production front-and-center, “LFT:RT” inspires listeners to let go of their expectations and just listen.” -KMHD Jazz
“Brown is a chemist, bringing together different musical worlds and mixing unlikely influences to create something refreshingly unique.”-Vortex Music Magazine
SAMPLES
Barra Brown Trio Live at Fremont Recording
Korgy & Bass collab with Anis Mojgani (Oregon Poet Laureate)
LFT:RT new album co write with Cyrus Nabipoor
Mike Gamble
Mike Gamble is an adventurous guitarist and multi-instrumentalist whose work with electronic modes of composition are integrated endlessly into his setup. Gamble has spent the last 20 years immersed in the creative jazz, experimental rock and improvised music scene primarily in NYC, with close ties to New Orleans, Burlington, Boston, San Francisco and now the Pacific Northwest. He has had the pleasure of recording over 50 albums and has been touring the states, Canada, and Europe with his critically-acclaimed guitar trio The Inbetweens, Mike Gamble Solo,, and alongside doom-metal originators Earth. His more recent collaborators include Bobby Previte, Todd Sickafoose, Nels Cline, Wayne Horvitz, Esperanza Spalding, Matt Chamberlain and Lori Goldston.
Since relocating to Portland, Mike Gamble has dived into the jazz and experimental, Pop, Indie Rock, and electronic/modular scene and gigs 4-7 times a week. He currently holds a position as an Audio Production instructor at Oregon State University, and a guitar teacher at both Willamette University and Reed College and is the Artistic Director of Portland’s long standing experimental music organization, The Creative Music Guild.
Quotes
“He has a brain that seems to work faster than other human brains – maybe more like a hummingbird or a spider. Music comes flying out. You just sit and listen to what he thinks of next” Todd Sickafoose
“Mike Gamble is dangerous in the best way” Nels Cline
“Mr. Gamble knows his way around a drone, but he also puts a lot of shifting harmony and texture in his one-man sketches, some of which — like “I’m on Your Side,” with its abstracted trip-hop beat — come across as thoughtfully developed compositions” Nate Chinen NY TIMES
WEBSITE:
https://mikegamble.bandcamp.com/
