Sylvan Street’s artistry and intensity captivate audiences wherever they appear. Their music transports listeners on an emotional ride through tribal funk grooves, bittersweet love ballads, Latin jazz, and electronic innovation. They are a "band of brothers" who do what they love, love what they do, and whose friendship and life stories span decades of musical collaboration.
With its powerful rhythm section and versatile horns, Sylvan Street is an eclectic ensemble of eight accomplished musicians performing a unique blend of jazz, rock, Latin, and funk music called “jazz fusion."
As the word implies, “fusion” is a musical tradition mixing funk, rhythm and blues, electronic effects, complex compositions, group improvisations, and a high level of instrumental technique--a melting pot of sound and innovation.
Fusion trailblazers Miles Davis, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana, Talking Heads, and others, influence Sylvan Street’s sophisticated sound. An iTunes review commented that, “Sylvan Street's rich diversity blends to create a sound that is swingin’, funkin’, rockin’, groovin’, sultry, and soulful." Each song is expertly crafted, sometimes lyrical, and filled with opportunities for improvised solos by every member of the band.
Frost Professor Jay Rees is the bassist, composer and leader of the band. He formed Sylvan Street in 2008, assembling a group of his favorite musicians to present his unique collection of original jazz compositions.
The trumpet section includes Kenny Smukal a former featured soloist of the U.S. Air Force Airmen of Note, and Chad Shoopman, who tours internationally with Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band and is a Powell Signature Trumpet artist and designer of the “Shoop” lead mouthpiece for Warburton Mouthpieces.
Powering the rhythm section are Rees, Los Angeles guitarist Frank Browne, and Chicago drummer Andrew Hix. Rees and Browne met in 1982 as students at UM’s Frost School of Music, and began playing with Hix soon after.
Sylvan Street also features Kelland Thomas, saxophone/composer, and Evan Rees, piano/keyboards/composer. Doug McCullough appears as guest artist on percussion.
Sylvan Street’s debut appearance at Festival Miami 2015 coincides with the release of the group’s newest Summit Records CD entitled Feedback Loop. Their two critically acclaimed albums The Perfect Leaf and Here In America were released in 2009 and 2011, respectively.
In an Arizona Daily Star review of their music, jazz critic Chuck Graham wrote, “Sylvan Street has Latin and some elements of pop, but what you remember most is a big fat band sound full of muscular energy, devouring silence with its massive appetite.”
For their concert, Sylvan Street will perform songs from their new album, and reprise many fan favorites.
To learn more about Sylvan Street, visit their website at www.sylvanstreet.com.
To order tickets to their Festival Miami concert, visit www.festivalmiami.com
