BUG

The Miley Brothers, pianist James and guitarist Jeff, showcase their driving rhythms and unique melodic sense in a quintet that includes saxophonist Peter Epstein, bassist Roger Shew and drummer Brian Hamada. This modern jazz chamber ensemble crafts a sound filled with "long, loping melodic lines, intuitive ensemble interaction, striking soloing, and gorgeous colorations"(Audiophile Audition). The complex and the simple, the dense and the sparse, the yin and the yang - it's a balancing act in their music that they pull off with aplomb. In bug's world, melody is king (in both the compositions themselves and in the improvising), which is why these 5 gentlemen are able to consistently present music that is both challenging and attainable, allowing them to "pull the listener along by creating a moment of curiosity at each turn" (All Music Guide). Influences on the bug sound range far and wide (the band owes as much to Bela Bartok and Steve Reich as it does to Wayne Shorter, Ornette Coleman and Thelonious Monk). You can hear these influences unfold in their multilayered melodic and harmonic statements. Infectious grooves laid down by the rhythm section draw equally from their jazz, rock, and funk influences, and are played with the deepest sense of groove and swing. Finally, and most importantly, bug is perhaps best described as a journey among friends, always striving to create and communicate that which is greater than the sum of it's parts.

 

James Miley (Piano)

James Miley, recipient of the IAJE/Gil Evans Fellowship in Jazz Composition, is currently Director of Jazz Studies at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. A versatile composer and pianist comfortable in both the jazz and classical idioms, he has written music for a variety of chamber and choral ensembles in addition to his work for jazz orchestra. In 2006 he made his Carnegie Hall debut as a composer with “After the Water, the Clouds,” premiered by the James Logan Wind Symphony under the direction of Ramiro Barrera. He has appeared as a guest composer and director at numerous festivals and universities, including the University of Kansas, University of Michigan, University of Nevada, University of Oregon, the New Mexico All State Honor Jazz Band, CSU Northridge, and the Monterey and Reno Jazz Festivals. Recent commissions include new works for the California All-State Honor Jazz Band, the ‘Monterey Jazz Next Generation Festival, the Colorado All-State Jazz Band, and a new extended chamber work for the kandinsky trio. His catalog of compositions and arrangements is available through Walrus Music and UNC Jazz Press. Dr. Miley holds degrees from Occidental College, the University of Arizona, and the University of Oregon, with additional graduate work in jazz improvisation and composition at California Institute of the arts. www.jamesmiley.net

Peter Epstein (Sax)

Saxophonist Peter Epstein is Director of Jazz and Improvisational Music Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. He began his career in 1984 in Portland, Oregon where he apprenticed with resident musicians like Nancy King and Glen Moore. After four years of studying jazz and various world music genres at California Institute of the Arts he moved to New York City (1992 - 2002). Throughout his career he has appeared on over 30 recordings and has toured in more than 20 countries with such notable artists as Bobby Previte, Brad Shepik, Ralph Alessi, Michael Cain, Miroslav Tadic, Medeski Martin & Wood, Mike Stern, Steve
Coleman, Jim Black, Ravi Coltrane, Uri Caine, Kadri Golpalnath, and many others. As a leader, Peter has released four albums for MA Recordings. His most recent solo album for MA, Old School, features Peter Erskine on drums and Scott Colley on Bass. Even more recent is “Boats”, the latest release from resident University of Nevada, Reno faculty ensemble, “The Collective”. Peter received a BFA in Jazz Performance from Cal Arts in 1992 and a Master of Music from UNR in 2004. www.peterepstein.com

Jeff Miley (Guitar)

Jeff Miley, has been featured in Guitar Player Magazine (winning that magazine's "Spotlight Award"), Jazzwise Magazine (U.K), and Gendai Guitar Magazine (Japan) to name a few. He maintains a busy recording and performing schedule, appearing on numerous recordings as a leader or a sideman. In addition to his work with Bug, Jeff can regularly be heard with jazz- vocalist inga Swearingen, multi-media performance ensemble "Vox Lumiere", and the trios “Code 3” and "Altered”. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree from California State University, Northridge in 1988, with an emphasis in classical guitar. Jeff is a faculty member at Cuesta College, in San Luis Obispo, California, teaching guitar in the applied music program. He divides his time between Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, and the east coast. www.jeffmiley.com

Roger Shew (Bass)

Bassist Roger Shew holds a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies/Bass Performance from Western Michigan University. He has studied under such acclaimed musicians as Rufus Reid, Tom Knific, Billy Hart, Darek Oles and Robert Hurst. Roger is based on the los angeles area, and performs across the southland with musicians Joe Bagg, Matt Otto, Bill Cunliffe, Josh Nelson, Stacy Rowles, Eric Dries, Les Hooper, Club Django, Evan Stone, Jeff Elwood, Bruce Babad, Joe Jewell and many others. Through travels across the country, he has also had the opportunity to perform with the NY Voices, Sunny Wilkinson, Billy Hart, Bob Brookmeyer, John Abercrombie, Bruce Foreman, Kenny Werner and Dominique Eade. In 2001, Roger placed third
in the jazz division at the International Society of Bassists worldwide competition. As an educator, Roger splits his time between Fullerton College, where he teaches applied bass, History of Jazz and Rock classes, and as the Head of the Jazz Department at Laguna Beach High School, where he runs the LB Jazz Orchestra and Combo program.

Brian Hamada (Drums)

Brian Hamada—closet cowbell enthusiast, drummer and jazz educator—has performed with many jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, Ernie Watts, Bob Mintzer, Jeff Lorber, Tim Ries, Michael Davis, Bobby Shew, Lanny Morgan and the inestimable Don Ho. As a member of the legendary CSU Fresno Jazz Band 'A' he toured Japan, Korea and Europe, and performed at the Northsea and Montreux International Jazz Festivals. in 1983 he was the recipient of the DownBeat jazz soloist award. He has been an active clinician and adjudicator throughout California & Nevada for nearly 20 years, teaches drums and percussion at California state university, Fresno, and currently holds down the drum chair for both the Fresno Jazz Composers Orchestra and the Armen Nalbandian Trio. www.brianhamda.com


More info
http://www.bugtet.com

 

 

 

 

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