Bending Dogma is my jazz octet. Since 2000, this group has been performing concerts of original jazz chamber music, standard charts in the style of Art Blakey and Miles Davis, and other pieces that have been adapted for the group. Members of the group over the years have included Saxophonist Will SIlvio; Trumpeters Adam Czerepinski, Dan Brantigan and Yukiko Nakagawa; Drummers Brian McLaughlin and Dennis Frehse; Pianists Dan Snape, Leo Genovese and Michel Reis; Bassists Yasushi Nakamura and Ho Gyu Hwang; Guitarists Michael MacAllister and Bryan Baker; Vibraphonists Jeff Davis, Martha Cipolla (marimba) and many others who have participated in sessions and performances.

Visit the Tones Page to hear some samples of the group.

Our ability to organize sound into music may possibly predate any human-conceived notion to organize ourselves into a formal society. As civilizations evolved, spiritual and moral thought also developed in the form of rules, prescribed standards and religious doctrine. The codification and implementation of governance has had a direct impact on all forms of communication -- including music.

Music has the tendency to become very dogmatic. Traditions take control. When not approached with the proper sensitivity the music becomes predictable. There are preconceptions of how music should sound. As a result, expectations are placed on everyone involved in the musical experience; creator, performer and listener. The music can loses its elasticity, malleability and resonance.

As musicians evolve, they must invest time in learning the rules of the game. Having the skills to bring the music tradition alive is demanding. Equally and even more important is a musician's ability to find his own course either within the context of the tradition or without. The original artist must modify, subvert and even ignore the rules in order to develop his own voice and not fall prey to convention.

Bend the dogma!