Artist description An exploration of beauty and silence that is thematic in nature, the music features the electric bass set against alternately lush and stark ambient textures and rhythms. "Elegant and precise melodic permutations that highlight the sharp contemplative focus at the root of improvisation". - Doug Harvey, The L.A. Weekly

Music Style Ambient Jazz

Musical Influences Miles Davis, Stravinsky, Paul Chambers, El Shankar, Jack Bruce, Beethoven, Willy Dixon, John Coltrane, Zakir Hussain, Johnny Hartman, Steve Roden

Similar Artists None

Artist History In 1994 the first release, "Mary Ann's Dream", charted in CMJ, was top 20 jazz on Los Angeles' KCRW, and was featured in the PBS special "The United States of Poetry".The second record, "Songs for Susan", was released in 1996 and received widespread college and international radio play. This generated a series of live performances and positive reviews from The Los Angeles Times, Bassics Magazine, and The L.A. Weekly. The music from the latest release, "The Floor of the Forest", was premiered at the first Los Angeles "Beyond Music Sound Festival" in 1998. Other recent performances include Los Angeles' experimental music festival "Earjam".

Group Members Jeffrey Roden, electric bass and synthesizers. Additional musicians include Steve Roden of in be tween noise, Jennifer Hardaway of The Clear, and Brandon Labelle.

Instruments "Mary Ann's Dream": electric bass & synthesizers (Jeffrey Roden), sounds, loops, vocals, & electronics (Steve Roden of in be tween noise). "Songs for Susan": electric bass & synthesizers (Jeffrey Roden), sounds, loops, vocals, & electronics (Steve Roden of in be tween noise). "The Floor of the Forest": electric bass (Jeffrey Roden), drums (Brandon Labelle), vocals (Jennifer Hardaway of The Clear), sounds, loops, and electronics (Steve Roden of in be tween noise)

Albums "Mary Ann's Dream" 1994, "Songs for Susan" 1996, "The Floor of the Forest" 1999

Press Reviews "MARY ANN'S DREAM": "'Mary Ann's Dream' is an almost minimalist journey through sparse atmospheric textures dominated by Roden's electric bass soloing and thematic playing. Roden's work is extremely focused and conceptually pure - the emotional impact of his music is consistently the same fabric throughout this disc." - Cadence Magazine "Introspective and quiet, this recording respects silence and its use in musical composition. A wonderfully haunting must have for all electric bass players and fans." - Hears Music "SONGS FOR SUSAN": "Jeffrey Roden's release 'Songs for Susan' exudes warmth, beauty, and an uncommon subtle intelligence." - Richard Ellis, buyer, Aron's Records, Los Angeles "On 'Mary Ann's Dream' and 'Songs for Susan', Jeffrey Roden creates an experience of sound and texture that is as vast as it is intimate. His warm nimble adventurous bass lines glide across a land of headphone delight. Ear candy while listening to a sonic painting." - Liza Richardson, radio programmer, KCRW Los Angeles "THE FLOOR OF THE FOREST": "First-rate collection of serious music. It is a great album." - Bradley Smith, Billboard Magazine "Unique and beautiful. Reminds me of the 'Obscure' releases of the seventies with pieces by Jan Steele and some John Cage piano pieces like 'in a landscape'." - Robert Rich, composer/performer

Location Los Angeles, CA - USA

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