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Neos
Neos is a new chamber ensemble featuring Matt Curlee (organ), Courtney Orlando (violin), Ted Poor (drums/percussion), Lawson White (mallets/percussion), and Ike Sturm (acoustic and electric bass). The repertoire is mostly brand new, written for the group by Ike, Ted, and Matt, and also by commissioned composers including David Cutler (Duquesne University Jazz Dept.), Jesse Krebs (a freelance jazz composer from Kansas), and Justinian Tamusuza (of Uganda, commissioned by Kronos Quartet for "Pieces of Africa"). While the music Neos performs is primarily groove-oriented and improvisatory, it is not, strictly speaking, jazz, although the influence is there, along with elements of classical music, ethnic forms, and modern fusion. In building the repertoire, the goal has been to include music that is complex and sophisticated enough to interest the musically astute, yet colorful and exciting enough to draw in the most general of audiences. Presenters and critics have described Neos' style of live performance as engaging and interactive, casting a wide net over diverse audiences with varied repertoire, yet uncompromising in musicianship and unity of programming. The ensemble's first album will be available in the late spring of 2004.
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