Recorded live at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, NJ in 2001 by two time Grammy winner Tom Ruff OFFBEAT" features the poetry of John Lunar" Richey (Machine Gun), Jack Petruzzelli on guitar & keys (Rufus Wainwright, Fab Faux, Joan Osborne), Andre Cholmondeley on guitar & effects (Project Object), Tom DiEllo on bass and the late downtown drummer Lance Carter (Sonny Sharrock, Cassandra Wilson, Percy Jones). Also featured on the recording is special guest and original Mother of Invention, Don Preston, on moog & effects. The latest incarnation of the Ensemble welcomes Greg DiGesu on guitar and keys, Chris McKenna on drums, and Dave Dreiwitz (Ween) on coronet and percussion.
In his review of OFFBEAT" Gallanter writes, Lunar Ensemble is a great improv/rock band that backs [poet] John Lunar" Richey with a great groove and two or three inventive guitarists creating riveting textures and occasional solos. This was true of their earlier recorded gem for MuWorks, their live gigs and is still the case with the current version of the band found here... John Richey and the Lunar Ensemble do a fine job of captivating us with their version of a modern tale and create the scenery to match the images described within. Welcome back Lunar, you and your fine crew did it again!" Read Bruce Gallanter's entire review of OFFBEAT" and listen to selected tracks at Lunar Ensemble's MySpace page.
FULL PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:*
10:00 pm CLOCKWORK MERCURY: Eric Mingus (words/electric double bass), Catherine Sikora (tenor saxophone),
10:30 pm ARBELLA MAGAZINE LAUNCH readings by Dan Shot, Steve Dalachinsky, Beth Borrus, Tom Obzrut
11:00 pm LUNAR ENSEMBLE: John Lunar" Richey (words), Slugger (guitar), Greg Di Gesu (guitar/keys), Tom Diello (bass), Chris McKenna (drums), Dave Dreiwitz (coronet, percussion)
*Schedule and line up are subject to change
For more information contact Lisa Cooney Carter.