Yes, we are free-jazz.

Yes, we are world.

Yes, we are industrial.

Yes, we are punk.

Yes, we play folk music.

Yes, you can come tell us what you think…

Benjamin Perkins is an innovative surbahar and rudra veena player. These rare instruments, essentially a bass sitar and a tube zither with two large resonators, were traditionally used in North Indian mystical traditions and have a history of modification to push them to reach the range and subtleties of the human voice. Ben moves forward with the tradition of modification by consistently altering both instruments to suit the needs of his ability to explore communion and communication—utilizing these instruments in new contexts and in ways that are nontraditional in their departures from tonal centers and even the deeply acoustic nature of their wood, gourd and pumpkin resonators. Ben explores the use of acoustic and digital feedback as an instrument in itself as well as building and shattering sonic environments through looping and extended bowing and picking techniques.

Brian Murray is a percussionist that uses both acoustic and electronic sound to build rhythmic audio collages. This is often done by using the Darbuka and Dohla (Goblet Drums) as a starting point, then applying traditional and extended techniques to add layers from there. Brian's sampling and mixing approach creates real-time means of tapping into the immediacy of his collaborators' sounds.