Pioneer Valey Jazz Shares Presents: Hearts & Minds

Saturday, October 13, 2018, 7:30 pm
Hearts & Minds featuring Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Paul Giallorenzo on synthesizer and e pianet, Chad Taylor on drums.

Hearts & Minds, featuring tunes and structures by Jason Stein and Paul Giallorenzo, has existed for eight years, but only produced their eponymous debut in 2016. They are, “a band that overtakes any presumptions, shaking them up, not playing by the book, appealing to the intellect and getting us in the gut, writes John Corbett. “winning hearts and minds.” Drummer Frank Rosaly appears on the Astral Spirits recording.

Jason Stein, born in 1976 on Long Island, New York, is one of the few musicians working today to focus entirely on the bass clarinet as a jazz and improvisational instrument. He studied at Bennington College with Charles Gayle and Milford Graves, and at the University of Michigan with Donald Walden and Ed Sarath. In 2005, Stein relocated to Chicago and has since recorded for Leo, Delmark, Atavistic, 482 Music, and Clean Feed. He also leads the avant-jazz trio Locksmith Isidore, which continues to perform before arena-sized crowds as the opening act for Stein’s half-sister, comedian Amy Schumer. “Stein is exhilarating, a young master of his fiendishly difficult horn,” writes Chris May.

Originally from Long Island, Paul Giallorenzo is a Chicago-based improviser, composer, producer, and sound designer using keyboards and electronics in a diverse range of contexts with a wide array of musicians. His work can be found on Delmark Records, Astral Spirits, Leo Records, Not Two Records, and 482 Music. Paul is also a co-founder of Elastic Arts, producing hundreds of creative music concerts and art events in Chicago since 2001. “Giallorenzo is an under-the-radar presence within Chicago’s deep improvised music scene,” writes Peter Margazak, “but over the years he’s become a significant force both on and off the bandstand.”

Chad Taylor, born in 1973, is a composer, educator, percussionist and scholar. Originally from Tempe, AZ, Chad grew up in Chicago and has performed with Fred Anderson, Derek Bailey, Cooper-Moore, Pharoah Sanders, Marc Ribot, Peter Brotzmann, Malachi Favors and many others. Chad leads his own band Circle Down, and is co-founder of the Chicago Underground ensembles. “What is remarkable is that there is no wasted motion, no histrionics or grandstanding, as pure emotion is translated to superlative music making,” writes Michael Nastos.