Zubatto Syndicate EPK

Zubatto Syndicate 2 Press Release

The Zubatto Syndicate is a 13-piece ensemble under the direction of composer and guitarist Andrew Boscardin. This exciting group — a highly original take on the Big Band and jazz orchestra traditions — made its debut in 2009 at Town Hall Seattle. Featuring a unique synthesis of reed instruments and electric sounds, brass and electric guitar and bass, Zubatto targets the musical place where Maria Schneider meets the Mahavishnu Orchestra, and the Roots meet Radiohead by way of Mingus. The music combines detailed arrangements and inventive harmonic ideas with rhythmic settings and idioms atypical of the jazz orchestra, as realized by the some of the top improvising musicians in Seattle.

Zubatto Syndicate is:

  • Evan Woodle — drums
  • David Marriott, Jr. — trombone
  • Chris Credit — bass clarinet and tenor saxophone
  • Francine Peterson — bassoon
  • Jim Sisko — trumpet
  • Janet Putnam — oboe and English horn
  • Tim Carey — bass
  • Tim Kennedy — keys
  • Steve Tressle — alto saxophone
  • Jim DeJoie — baritone saxophone
  • Beth Fleenor — clarinet
  • Andrew Boscardin — guitar
Email:
zs at zubattosyndicate dot com
Phone:
206.409.4495
Web:
http://www.zubattosyndicate.com

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  • "Zubatto Syndicate is an utterly contemporary jazz big band — which is happily not as much a contradiction in terms as it might first appear. In fact, they're so modern – they might as well be from the future."
    – Andrew Dubber, Bandcamp Album of the Week (Dec 12, 2011)
  • "The self-titled debut by Seattle's large jazz ensemble, The Zubatto Syndicate, proves that big band jazz can be as modern and daring as anything carved out by a smaller jazz combo and follows in the tradition of Gil Evans, the Carla Bley Big Band or some of Frank Zappa's oeuvre...The Brecker Brothers may have coined the term heavy metal be-bop, but The Zubatto Syndicate makes the expression a whomping reality."
    – Doug Simpson, Audiophile Audition (Jun 21, 2011)
  • "Big-band music hasn't sounded this hip or vital in decades."
    - Keith Goetzman, Utne Reader Music Sampler (Jun 01, 2011)
  • "A big band unafraid to foray into the modern pop idiom."
    - Jonathan Zwickel, Seattle Times (Jul 16, 2010)
  • "The Seattle music scene is known for many genres of music, most notably grunge, indie-rock, and hip-hop. Zubatto Syndicate gives Seattle a good reason to add big band jazz to this list. Whether you're a jazz novice or enthusiast, Zubatto Syndicate's mass musical influence and improv talent will get you dancing and appreciating this local twist on traditional big band jazz."
    - Suzi Pratt, Seattle Show Gal (Apr 12, 2010)
  • "Music that's solid and involving. On guitarist/leader Andrew Boscardin's compositions—which lay down intricate patterns and odd-hued harmonies—the band delivered some great soloing, especially from alto player Clark Gibson. This is a band that deserves a hearing."
    - Mark D. Fefer, Seattle Weekly (Apr 14, 2010)
  • "It's really up-tempo. It's not the kind of thing you're going to want to listen to sitting down and watching. (Not) a sleepy jazz show where you sit down and have your drinks."
    - Hugo Kugiya, The Seattle Times (Apr 13, 2010)
  • "Big band the way you've never heard it before. Go so you can tell all the Johnny-come-latelies you heard it first. Editor's Pick"
    - Brangien Davis, Seattle Magazine (Oct 30, 2009)
  • "If you feel like dancing to Zubatto Syndicate, it'll be because you can't resist a snaky bass riff. In fact, if all goes well, you'll want to drop your pants. Boscardin's arrangements unfold in surprising ways... The solos are uncharted territory."
    - Michael Baker, The SunBreak (Oct 19, 2009)