Guitar is but a small part of Paul Steven Ray’s creative palette. Percussion, composing for various aggregations including operas, and video also provide outlets for his restless inventiveness. His latest recording MAPS, by Paul Steve Ray’s BlueBlack Dream (one of his many projects), includes guitar, both played and attacked, samples, Theremin, sung and spoken vocals. It is a work of texture and mystery inspired by a wide range of musical influences thoroughly absorbed.
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Spotlight: Lucas Brode
Polyrhythmic two-hand tapping, atmospheric loops, flowing fusion lines mixed with skronky noise—Lucas Brode does it all. This native of New York’s Hudson Valley, is a guitarist and composer who performs solo, leads his own jazz-fusion group, Spying, co-leads the Post-Rock/Math-Rock hybrid Hannibal Montana, and is an active performer and improviser in the New York City and Hudson Valley experimental music scenes.
Spotlight: Mike Sopko
Born, and currently residing in Cleveland, Mike Sopko made his name in the San Francisco/Oakland area, where, for 13 years, he took part in some of the region’s most exciting improvised projects. He has played and recorded with Bill Laswell, Mike Watt, Dosh, Thomas Pridgen, Tyshawn Sorey, and more. A founding member of Sopko/Laswell/Pridgen, Glimpse Trio, Big Band, and Cascading Liquid Rainbows, his playing ranges from lyrically pastoral, to raging cascades of sound.