Caleb Curtis / Curtis+Garabedian+Sperrazza
Brooklyn, NY
Grant amount: $5,360
- The Hungry Brain. October 16, 2019. Chicago IL
- Merrimans’ Playhouse. October 17, 2019. South Bend IN
- Blue Llama. October 20, 2019. Ann Arbor MI
- University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance. October 21, 2019. Ann Arbor MI
Curtis+Garabedian+Sperrazza is comprised of Caleb Curtis (saxophone) + Noah Garabedian (bass) + Vinnie Sperrazza (drums). The band is entirely co-operative, leader-less, and non-hierarchical.
Curtis+Garabedian+Sperrazza began with sessions at Sperrazza’s apartment in Brooklyn, NY. (All three musicians are longtime-Brooklyn residents and very active in the NY music scene.) The three had been playing music in various combinations for a few years, and were sensing a growing simpatico.
As they began rehearsing, it quickly became as much about the time spent hanging, listening, and talking about music as much as the time spent playing. Arthur Blythe, Andrew Cyrille, Johnny Hodges, and Charles Tolliver became more than shared interests – they became touchstones. Their deepening understanding of each other was critical to their shared creativity, and was soon reflected in the group’s natural, not overly-complicated sound.
In October 2018, they recorded their debut album New Year, for the independent Outside In Music label. Released in May 2019, New Year has been called “A compelling slice of Brooklyn unburdened….music that’s as pure in spirit as it is honest to the improviser’s art” Dan Bilawsky of All About Jazz (4.5 starred review). Successful shows at Brooklyn venues The Owl and Threes Brewing soon followed, and shows are being booked for an October 2019 Midwest tour.
