About Dapp Theory
ÒDapp Theory strives to link the
essence of jazz with hip hop
and other forms of musical expression.Ó — Andy Milne
á
Dapp Theory
is a quintet that blends Òcontemporary funk, groove and hip-hop into jazz with
such seamless, casual precision itÕs almost freaky.Ó (LA Weekly) Awarded the Chamber
Music America ÒNew
WorksÓ commission in 2006
and voted ÒRising Star KeyboardistÓ by Down Beat Magazine in 2004, leader, Canadian-born
pianist/composer, Andy Milne is one of the most important and respected young voices in jazz
today. With Dapp Theory, Milne combines the talents of percussive poet John
Moon, saxophonist Loren
Stillman, bassist Chris
Tordini and drummer Kenny
Grohowski, collectively
helping to re-draw and extend the boundaries of jazz.
Milne formed the band in 1998 as a vehicle to Òtell passionate
stories, promote peace and inspire collective responsibility towards uplifting
the human spiritual condition.Ó Since then, the band has evolved and built a loyal following, in
large part due to their commitment to grass-roots touring, an ideology more
often associated with rock ÕnÕ roll bands. Dapp TheoryÕs style is undefinable
yet highly recognizable, blending influences ranging from Joni Mitchell &
KRS One to Thelonious Monk & Van Halen. Their last CD, ÒYÕall Just
DonÕt KnowÓ (Concord
Records), released in
2003 included an ambitious collaboration with folk-rock icon Bruce Cockburn. Their next release, scheduled for 2007,
features all new Milne compositions which blend various instrumental textures,
infectious grooves, layered with lush harmonies and poignant lyrics.
á
Pianist/keyboardist
Andy Milne has toured
and recorded with Ravi Coltrane, Ralph Alessi, Carlos Ward and Carla Cook and has collaborated with a range of artists including Sekou
Sundiata, Avery Brooks, Bruce Cockburn, Geri Allen, and Dianne Reeves. Milne moved to New York in 1991 when Steve
Coleman, his teacher at
the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, invited
him to join his core unit Five Elements. Enthusiasm for the young pianist was shared by M-BASE
associates Cassandra Wilson and Greg Osby, who also invited him to perform with their groups. Milne
recorded 12 CDs with Coleman and remained an integral member of all of his
projects until 1997. Before making the move to New York, Milne spent a year in
Montreal, picking up valuable sideman experience with Sonny Greenwich, Joe Lovano, Archie Shepp, and Ranee Lee. Often compared to innovators like Herbie
Hancock and McCoy Tyner, MilneÕs original style places him among the young
pianists poised to continue that legacy of inventiveness.
á Praised by the New York Times and National Public Radio as one of todayÕs truly creative voices,
saxophonist Loren Stillman has been gaining recognition on the New York scene since his
teens while still in high school. A semifinalist in the 2002 Thelonious Monk
Saxophone Competition, he
has performed with Charlie Haden, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Carla Bley, Michelle Rosewoman, and John Ambercrombie. StillmanÕs most recent recordings as a
leader, The BrotherÕs Breakfast (2006, Steeplechase) and It Could be Anything, (2005, Fresh Sound) have received
critical acclaim, including four-star awards from BBC Jazz Review and Downbeat
Magazine. Raised in Westchester, NY, Stillman began playing at age seven when
his early teachers included Ted Nash, Dick Oats and Dave Liebman. He has received 2 Outstanding
Performance awards and a Rising
Star award from Down
Beat Magazine as well as scholarships from both The
Manhattan School of Music
and New School University. His influences range from Lee Konitz to David Lynch. Stillman
has toured throughout Europe, North America and Japan as a leader and sideman
and leads an active career in New York as an improviser and composer.
á
Vocalist/percussive
poet/MC John Moon uses
sound and visuals to change the way people interpret what they hear. Inspired
equally by Salvador Dali and Ornette Coleman, he spits rhymes of collage; half
painter, half poet. A graduate of DCÕs Duke Ellington High School for the
Arts, Moon has shared his
experiments with sound in performance with the Free Style Union, Amphibians Collective and the Avant-God Vi_lence. He regards the Òcurrent state of
despair in the worldÓ as
his ultimate inspiration for creating beauty in the world.
á
At 22 years
of age, bassist Chris Tordini is rapidly becoming an in-demand bassist in New York's creative
music community. He graduated from the New School University in May 2006 and soon after was asked to
join Dapp Theory and play on the band's upcoming CD. While attending school,
Tordini performed professionally with a number of his teachers, including Rory
Stuart, Ari Hoenig, George Garzone, and Andy Milne. He has also performed with some of
today's most compelling musicians, including Dafnis Prieto, Mark Shim, John Ellis, and Rich Perry. Tordini performs frequently with other
talented, like-minded young musicians like Mike Pinto, Tommy Crane, Logan
Richardson, Frank Locrasto, Greg Ruggiero, Collin Killalea, Tyshawn Sorey, and
Becca Stevens, all of whom lead their own bands and are determined to make
their mark.
á
Brought up
in a musical household in Miami, 24-year-old drummer, Kenny Grohowski has been performing since the age of 14.
His rich musical background is demonstrated through the growing list of his
collaborators, including Vernon Reid, Peter Cincotti, Bobby Sanabria, Bill T.
Jones, Rory Stuart, Cassandra Wilson, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Giovanni
Hidalgo, John Benitez, Domingo Quinones, and Bobby Valentin. Grohowski has been
a member of bassist Lonnie PlaxicoÕs band since 2003 and performed in the
2007 Latin Grammy Awards with the award winning group RBD. He has appeared on
several recordings, including Plaxico's hit ÒSo AliveÓ [Sony, Japan].
Grohowski is also a composer and member of the Orchestra of St.
LukeÕs Young Composers Symposium Development Program, who premiered his string quartet in
2005. The New York Times
praised the piece as Òinsightfully combined dark Shostakovich-like harmonies
with an edgy rhythmic drive.Ó He is currently working on a solo CD ÒSecond Last MinuteÓ, which blends a multitude of influences
ranging from Weather Report, Allan Holdsworth, Meshuggah, Miles Davis, Gonzalo
Rubalcaba NS Brand X. Grohowski is currently endorsed by Latin Percussion and Factory
Metal Percussion.
Contact
General Info & Bookings
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Concord Records Promotions
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Andy Miline (570) 296-4848 Tel |
Joel Amsterdam |