Mark Helias & Open Loose at the Raritan River Festival Saturday, September 30th (Free)

Renowned bassist and composer Mark Helias is pleased to announce his appearance at this year's Raritan River Festival in New Brunswick, New Jersey on September 30th.

Mark is also pleased to announce that he will be honored at the Distinguished Alumni Awards Banquet at Livingston College (Rutgers University) on October 14th at 6:00 P.M. The other honorees include acclaimed actor and professor Avery Brooks.

For More Info on this event visit: http://livingston.rutgers.edu/ alumni/distinguished_alumni.php

Mark Helias' new CD Atomic Clock (Radio Legs Music RL012)
Street Date: Oct. 1, 2006

“Helias pilots the group with a selfless spirit; his compositions walk a fine line between structure and freedom and any of the three instruments can take the lead or recede into the background at any time"--David Adler, AMG

Open Loose is a trio comprising tenor saxophonist Tony Malaby, drummer Tom Rainey and bassist/composer Mark Helias. This group blurs the lines between open-form improvisation and composed pieces. For the last ten years, these musicians have developed a common language and connectivity which allows for adventurous and cohesive improvising. The extensive repertoire by Mark Helias explores various strategies in small group interaction. Drawing from the great American tradition of Jazz and improvised music this trio constructs and deconstructs music in a truly spontaneous and creative manner. Atomic Clock was recorded after a 17 day tour of the US, during which the trio explored and reinvented these new pieces.