Michelle Casillas Tony Scherr Rob Jost Robert DiPietro Todd Caldwell Caleb Burhans
URSA MINOR live from the Bowery Electric
NYC
Thursday May 6th
TIX @ rollinglivestudios.com
MICHELLE CASILLAS * TONY SCHERR * ROBERT DIPIETRO * ROB JOST * TODD CALDWELL
Music
URSA MINOR
CITY OF ELECTRIC LIGHT
Single - Out Now on Velvet Elk Records Written by Chad Vangalen
URSA MINOR
MOON MEDIA SESSIONS
Double single - Rare and intimate live duo performance by Michelle Casillas and Tony Scherr filmed by Moon Media Productions
About
Ursa Minor originated in NYC in the late 90’s, coming out of the fertile downtown scene of musicians transcending the usual boundaries of folk, rock and jazz. Michelle Casillas worked as a sound engineer in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s at Tonic, the now defunct home of New York’s underground music scene. As an artist she sang on scores of films by Elliot Sharp and productions by Anton Fier (Feelies, Golden Palominos) while playing sideman, collaborating and recording with other local artists. Inspired by the freedom and diversity of the music she was hearing, Michelle formed Ursa Minor with guitarist Tony Scherr (Bill Frisell, Lounge Lizards), drummer Robert DiPietro (Elysian Fields), and bassist Rob Jost (Imogen Heap, Bjork).
Ursa Minor’s debut LP Silent Moving Picture - a stark Fender Rhodes based record - was released by Sonic Youth’s Steve Shelley, on Smells Like Records. The band’s second album, Showface (Anthemusa), took a punchier rock turn with guitar driven rhythms and expansive arrangements.
Ursa Minor’s current LP release, Sian Ka'an (Mayan, pronounced See-AHN KHAN, meaning “origin of the sky”) was inspired by a visit to the protected biosphere reserve on the Yucatán peninsula. Travels along the coast inspired a series of songs and photographs brought on by the raw intensity and untouched beauty of the region. The wonder of this place heavily influenced the writing and sound of the album.
Sian Ka’an is a return to the barebones vulnerability of the first album, with new resolve, tranquility, ferocity. The band ranges from feral polyphony to hushed stillness; a ballad of the mystery of the natural world. Sian Ka’an was produced by Tony Scherr, recorded analog to Otari 8 track by Derek Neivergelt at Orange Fish Music, mixed by New York musician/producer/engineer Mark Plati (Bowie), and features special guests violist Caleb Burhans (John Cale, Steve Reich) and organist Todd Caldwell (Crosby, Stills, Nash).
***
Tough and loose, totally incubated.. one of the most flexibly rugged rock rhythm sections in New York
New York Times
One we keep coming back to, finding something new each time
Time Out New York
Ursa Minor blurs the line between folk, jazz, and experimental music, with haunting,
spare, even cinematic songs...
All Music Guide
Ethereal yet concise... strong melodies... storm cloud through a picture window
Village Voice
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