NO COVER 4:30pm Show
Wisconsin-based pianist Matt Blair will play two sets with drummer Toby Ramaswamy (Eric Mayson) and bassist Pat Keen (Humbird).
Matt Blair is a pianist, composer, multimedia artist, and educator living in Madison, WI. His work draws upon diverse musical traditions such as jazz and improvisation, sound art, minimalism, and electronic music. Blair’s recent releases have included Shadow Sets, a collection of compositions for solo piano that was produced by Dave King (The Bad Plus, Happy Apple); Post Rock Lately, the debut record of Collector, an improvising trio featuring Jakob Heinemann on bass and Devin Drobka on drums and electronics; and Flights and Poor Health Good Spirits, both by Big Thanks, a Minneapolis-based trash house trio featuring Miles Allen on saxophone and clarinet and Jack Lussenden on drums. Other recent releases have included After Party (out on Dinzu Artefacts), the debut record of Yins, an electronic duo with Devin Drobka, and Resorts (out on Shifting Paradigm Records), a piano trio featuring Devin Drobka’s compositions with Aaron Darrell on bass.
As a player and producer, Pat Keen brings his jazz roots into experimentation across all genres, challenging folk narratives and reshaping traditional instrumentation. Keen’s improvisational influence and extended techniques shine through his ensemble work, finding comfort in mixed meters, sophisticated harmonies, and inventive instrumental manipulation. Regardless of what he’s doing, he exudes a contagious enthusiasm while performing.
Toby Ramaswamy is a composer, drummer, and producer based in Minneapolis. He has been fortunate enough to work with and learn from a diverse group of Minneapolis musicians and artists in a wide range of genres. As a drummer, he plays regularly with artists including Tabah, rice, Barlow, Jo Kellen, Tram, Eric Mayson, Wheel Eternal, and CB.
