Billy Fox: Director/composer. Billy has performed as a drummer and percussionist on numerous jazz, Latin, and pop recordings. His debut as a leader/composer, featuring Mark Dresser, is available on Portugal's Clean Feed Records. He was commissioned by Daisuke Kurata to compose two concert series in Japan. He has received grants from the Puffin Foundation and the American Composers Forum (as a McKnight Visiting Composer), and he was selected first alternate to the 2006 Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission's Creative Artists Fellowship. Billy's compositions are featured in the soundtrack of the short film Rhyme Animal, directed by Phil Roc (producer of Sony Music's Made in Heaven--The Making of Kind of Blue).

Yayoi Ikawa: Piano. Yayoi switched from classical to jazz and other improvisational styles upon moving from Tokyo. Yayoi has performed with a host of legends: Reggie Workman, Charlie Persip, Butch Morris, Frank Lacy, Roy Campbell, Jr., and Billy Bang, among others. She recorded the album Angel Eyes for Nippon Crown Records, and recently released The Color of Dreams.

John Savage: Flute. An Alberto Vilar Fellow in the PhD Program in Music Performance at New York University, John has performed with Reggie Workman and is a featured soloist on Andrew Hill's A Beautiful Day. He performs with his jazz trio, The Savage 3, and Cartridge, a lap-top and woodwind duo.

Yoshi Waki: Bass. Since moving from Fukuoka, Yoshi has worked with Hal Crook, Phil Wilson, the Nashua Symphony Orchestra, Fosse National Tour Company, Grammy winner Dan Zanes and Friends, Ben Monder, Bill Ware Vibes, Travis Sullivan's Bjorkestra, and legendary trumpeter Shunzo Ohno.

Christopher Hoffman: Cello. Christopher performs with Velour artist Ryan Scott, and Pagoda (on Thurston Moore's Ecsatic Peace label). He appears on Manuel Valera's Melancholia; has recorded and performed with Israeli saxophonist Harel Shachal's Anistar; and has worked with Henry Threadgill's 3+3 Ensemble, Butch Morris, and Otomo Yoshihide's Portable Orchestra.

Arei Sekiguchi: Percussion. Tokyo native Arei Sekiguchi has recorded and performed with electro-acoustic chamber group Oratai, and Sony Japan artist JUJU. He works steadily with groups such as Uma Karkala's Pjuma Ensemble.

Gary Pickard: Clarinet, bass clarinet. Gary has toured with the Lonnie Plaxico Group and recorded with Cassandra Wilson and Steve Coleman. He has performed with jazz icons such as Junior Mance, Marian McPartland, and Sam Taylor. He is a member of Jay Vilnai's Vampire Suit and leads his own groups nevereven and The Groove.

Tim Collins: Vibraphone. Tim has performed with John Abercrombie, Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Antonio Hart, Helio Alves, Miguel Zenon, Ingrid Jensen, and Buster Williams. He has served on the faculty of the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, the Larchmont Music Academy, and the Manhattan School of Music (preparatory division). His debut as a leader on Arabesque Records, Valcour, was just released.

Return to our home page.