Striking Features:
Paul Motian meets KC and the Sunshine Band. Bill Evans meets your Chakra. A water buffalo meets its end. We play improvised music oriented in the tradition of theme and variation. Sometimes it is tonal; sometimes atonal. Sometimes it is in time; sometimes out of time. There are no rules, no areas off limits. Happy, sad, scary, inspiring, depressing, all emotions are fair game. The involvement of farm animals is encouraged, as well as obscene hand gestures and slide whistles.
Creatures:
I met Phil Doyle in September of 2001. We played duo, free music, in a practice room with the lights off at the University of Miami. It was pure, real, raw, and very intuitive. I am Landon Knoblock; I play piano. Phil plays saxophone, and at the time he played a lot of soprano. This was the first of a few poignant encounters with Phil playing improvised music.
I also know Austin McMahon from the University of Miami; he was the “amazing†drummer at school. Perfect swing feel, huge ears, gorgeous cymbal sound. And a super nice guy. Austin and I played a lot of music together: jam sessions, school classes, the occasional top 40 gig. We developed a piano trio that really formed a strong bond, musically and personally.
I share a connection with Austin and Phil that is unique. It exists on some intangible plane. It is a place that the performer and the listener can be transported to with the right mix of chemistry, attitude, and humor.
