BANDS
  
BISHOP/CLEAVER/FLOOD has been working as a trio for over ten years although they released their debut recording in 2005 with Time & Imaginary Time. While the group mostly features the writing of saxophonist and clarinetist Andrew Bishop, the three instrumentalists each contribute equally to the group's sound and aesthetic. Not quite third stream nor free-blowing cacophony, Bishop/Cleaver/Flood exists in the deceptive middle ground between formal composition and free improvisation, moving from one to the other with exceptional ease and musicality.
BLOSTEIN/SPERRAZZA It was a similar set of musical ideals that led Matt Blostein and Vinnie Sperrazza to seek an outlet for merging their individual artistic visions. Having met in the summer of 2002 while attending the Banff Summer Jazz Workshop, Matt and Vinnie pursued a musical collaboration upon returning to New York City. Both are seen regularly on the NYC jazz circuit, along with the other B/S members, and have performed at venues including Birdland, Smoke, the 55 Bar, Smith’s, Cornelia Street Cafe, Marie’s Jazz Club and the Knitting Factory. In 2003 and 2004, they completed East coast tours with the band, making stops in Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Toronto. Their jazz festival appearances include the Cape Cod, Utica and Clarion Jazz Festivals. In 2007, they released their debut Ursa Minor on envoi.
BOTTOMED OUT is a collaborative quartet featuring Dan Bennett and Andrew Bishop (Ann Arbor) on saxophones, Ryan Mackstaller (Brooklyn) on guitar, and Alex Trajano (Detroit) on drums. Although now geographically scattered, the group originated when all four where living and performing in the Metro Detroit area. 2006 marks a year of reunion for Bottomed Out with the release of its debut recording, Push, on envoi recordings. The group continues to perform on the East Coast and the Midwest and currently features Dan Bennett (Ann Arbor) on saxophone alongside Bishop.
HANK WILLIAMS PROJECT Inspired by his childhood in Kansas, The Hank Williams Project was founding in 1997 by composer, saxophonist, and clarinetist Andrew Bishop along with Paul Elwood on banjo, Tim Flood on Bass, and Matt Wilson on drums. The group was expanded in 2002 to its current configuration, which now includes Andrew Bishop (soprano and tenor saxophones, clarinet), Andy Kirshner (voice and soprano saxophone), Steve Trismen (violin), Katri Ervamaa (cello), Paul Elwood (banjo and percussion), Ryan Mackstaller (guitar), Tim Flood (bass), and Gerald Cleaver (drums). A virtual “dream team” of musical eclectics, the Hank Williams Project is devoted to breaking down the barriers of musical style and genre, notions of high and low art, and blurring the distinctions between composition and improvisation.
ARTISTS
  

ANDREW BISHOP (tenor & soprano saxes, clarinet) is a composer, improviser, saxophonist, and clarinetist in highly diversified musical idioms. He has received over 20 commissions from professional organizations and universities, numerous residencies, and recognition and awards from the ASCAP, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Hewlett-Melon Foundation, and a nomination from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His debut recording as a leader, Time and Imaginary Time (Envoi Recordings) and his unique concept recording Andrew Bishop’s Hank Williams Project (Envoi Recordings) have received acclaim from the New York Times, Cadence Magazine, All About Jazz-New York, the Detroit Free Press, the Detroit Metro Times, among others.He has performed alongside artists including Gerri Allen, Reid Anderson, Karl Berger, Sandip Burman, Kenny Burrell, Eugene Chadbourne, Ray Charles, Gerald Cleaver, Drew Gress, Jerry Hahn, Chris Lightcap, Mat Maneri, Tony Malaby, Hank Roberts, Jacob Sacks, Craig Taborn, Clark Terry, Matt Wilson, and John Zorn among others.

MATT BLOSTEIN (alto saxophone) has been performing music with family, friends and professional musicians since the age of four. He joined his father’s band at the ripe age of eight, playing keyboards and working several gigs a week for the next several years. The saxophone became his focus when he began lessons in elementary school. Jazz gigs around Pittsburgh continued to nurture his creative pursuits, and in 1998, Matt moved to New York after being awarded a scholarship to attend Manhattan School of Music. In 2002 he was invited to perform at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland as a competitor in the White Foundation Saxophone Competition. In 2004 Matt toured with the Maynard Ferguson Big Bop Noveau and in 2005 he toured with the Tim Collins Group featuring Ingrid Jensen. Matt has worked with internationally known artists including Dave Liebman, Danilo Perez, Bob Mintzer, Dick Oatts, Mark Turner, Kenny Werner, and New York musicians such as Jacob Sacks, Aaron Parks and Kim Thompson.
GERALD CLEAVER (drums) was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and is 1992 graduate of the University of Michigan.  While pursuing his degree he received a National Endowment of the Arts grant to study with Victor Lewis. He has performed with a wide variety of artists including Muhal Richard Abrams, Ralph Alessi, Franck Amsallem, Bruce Barth, David Berkman, Tim Berne, Ray Bryant, Kenny Burrell, Marilyn Crispell, Marty Ehrlich, Ellery Eskelin, Tommy Flanagan, Charles Gayle, Barry Harris, Mark Helias, Bob James, Hank Jones, John Lindberg, Kevin Mahogany, Roscoe Mitchell, Joe Morris, Andrea Parkins, Craig Taborn, Jacky Terrasson, Henry Threadgill, Mark Turner, Steve Wilson, Matt Shipp, Rodney Whitaker, and Reggie Workman. As a leader, Gerald Cleaver’s Veil of Names—featuring Andrew Bishop, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn, Ben Monder, and Reid Anderson—recording Adjust (Fresh Sound New Talent), received a nomination for “Debut Record of the Year” from the Jazz Journalists’ Association.
TIM FLOOD is a bassist and composer based in Ann Arbor, MI.  As a jazz bassist, he has performed with artists such as Uri Caine, Frank Lowe, Hank Roberts, Roswell Rudd and many others.  His original electronic compositions and mixed-media installations have been shown at venues such as The Detroit Institute of the Arts, Pauline Oliveros' Deep Listening Space, and the Sync '05 Digital Art Festival.  Tim recently completed a Masters Degree in Media Arts from the University of Michigan.

RYAN MACKSTALLER is a guitarist and composer living in Brooklyn, NY and is the co-director of envoi recordings. Originally from the Metro Detroit area, he developed a collaborative relationship with saxophonist and composer Andrew Bishop which includes Bottomed Out, Bishop's Hank Williams Project, and Mackstaller's Quintet. Mackstaller also leads the Median Trio featuring Chris Lightcap (bass) and Gerald Cleaver (drums) and JusThis featuring Dan Bennett on saxes. As a sideman, Mackstaller is a member of Andrew Bishop's Hank Williams Project, Gerald Cleaver's NiMbNl, and Dan Bennett's Dog on Wheels.

VINNIE SPERRAZZA (drums) hails from upstate New York, where as a teenager he was privileged to play with some of the great musicians from that area, including pianist Rick Montalbano and the late baritone sax master Nick Brignola. While still a student at William Paterson University in New Jersey, he began working with the internationally acclaimed pianist James Williams, a relationship that lasted until Mr. William’s passing in July 2004. Through the auspices of Mr. Williams, he participated in numerous concerts and recordings including such noted musicians as Richard Davis, Javon Jackson, Steve Wilson and Bill Mobley. As a freelance jazz musician in New York City, he has shared the stage with Clark Terry, Tony Malaby, Rick Margitza, Jim McNeely and Rich Perry, among many others. Recently, Vinnie completed recording an album with pianist Noah Baerman, featuring tenor saxophonists Jimmy Greene and Wayne Escoffery, for release in spring of '05, and has performed with saxophonist Mike McGinnis' Between Green ensemble, featuring trumpeter Shane Endsley and pianist Jacob Sacks.