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Shorter, Eric

Shorter Bendian Shields

Shorter, Eric: Shorter Bendian Shields (577 Records)

A dynamic debut from multi-talented saxophonist Eric Shorter, joined by pianist David Shields and percussionist Gregg Bendian in a spirited trio session that replaces the traditional bass role with open, aleatoric freedom, creating an engaging interplay of spontaneous composition, expressive lyricism, and inventive harmonic exploration.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Eric Shorter-alto saxophone, tenor saxophone

David Shields-piano

Gregg Bendian-percussion


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UPC: 755491338649

Label: 577 Records
Catalog ID: CD-577R-5922
Squidco Product Code: 35746

Format: CDR
Condition: New
Released: 2025
Country: USA
Packaging: Digipack
Recorded at 360 Sound Studios, in NYC, on October 23rd, 2022, by Jeff Hoffman.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Savoring the sounds of budding saxist Eric Shorter is like adventurously choosing a lesser-traveled path and discovering that it's filled with unexpected harmonies and rhythmic changes that make you feel alive. At the end of this avant-garde passage lies a most precious treasure that can only be described as aural bliss. Recently, he fused saxophones, piano, and drums to achieve a riveting, aleatoric recording he's calling Shorter Bendian Shields (after the trio that created it). 577 Records is ecstatic to present Eric Shorter's debut album!

Whether you know him from his acting career or discovered him first through his music, there's no denying Eric Shorter's talents. He's also an award-winning poet and spoken word artist. Though his sax skills are the highlight of this album, he plays the flute, guitar, bass, and drums, too!

With pianist Davie Shields on the 1928 Steinway M and percussionist Gregg Bendian keeping time, Shorter infuses the atmosphere with his playfully experimental approach to the alto and tenor saxophones. It is a rare convergence that delivers a blast of spontaneous composition, creative triangulation, and raw interplay. Eric explains that the absence of the bass is intentional, removing a proverbial "anchor" to allow the voice of each carefully selected instrument to expand freely in all directions."-577 Records


Artist Biographies

Eric Shorter is a SAG-AFTRA poet, actor and musician, performing on saxophone, flute, guitar, bass, percussion. he is an award winning poet & spoken word artist. He speaks dialects of Spanish, Brooklyn, British, and Jamaican.

-Eric Shorter Website (https://www.ericshorter.net/about)
6/25/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

David Nathaniel Shields is an American Bassist, known for the groups The Mean Machine, and First Cosins Jazz Ensemble.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/319199-David-Shields?srsltid=AfmBOooso-O_hkHuZavjok-OpQR0GWYcn6VSpuLV_-MoYDwRe42lSHxM)
6/25/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Since the early '90s, drummer Gregg Bendian has distinguished himself as an adventurous and accomplished player-composer through his sideman work with the likes of Derek Bailey, Cecil Taylor, Ornette Coleman, John Zorn, Peter Brötzmann and Pat Metheny while also leading his own Interzone Quartet, and Trio Pianissimo. His most recent recording is the startlingly virtuosic solo drum project, "Research," on his own Aggregate Music label. But Bendian's most passionate undertaking in recent years has been his Mahavishnu Project, the band he formed in 2001 to tackle the extreme technical demands of recreating and interpreting the incendiary music of the Mahavishnu Orchestra." - Bill Milkowski (AllAboutJazz.com)

Teaching Experience

Gregg Bendian has been teaching music for over 35 years. He has been composer-in-residence and guest lecturer at CalArts, UCLA, Peabody Conservatory, Sarah Lawrence College, and The Juilliard School. He is a popular clinician for Drum Workshop drums, Paiste cymbals, LP percussion, Musser mallet instruments, and a judge for Downbeat's Student Music Awards. Gregg develops and teaches courses in studio production, music history, and composing/arranging at William Paterson University of New Jersey as well as privately, in-person and now on Zoom/Skype.

Composition/Arranging

An accomplished percussionist and a composer of over 200 works, Bendian has created a substantial body of innovative instrumental music for jazz, rock, percussion (solo and ensemble) and mixed chamber groups, which include his Interzone and Trio Pianissimo bands. His library music is used extensively in CBS-TV's "48 Hours" and "48 Hours Mystery." Gregg's music is published by Iamuziks (ASCAP).

Oral History/Archival Experience

For the Yale Oral History of American Music, Bendian has contributed over 150 expansive interviews with major figures including Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, Quincy Jones, Carla Bley, Laurie Anderson, and Steve Reich. Bendian is archivist/producer for the Bottom Line Archive of historic concerts. Recorded over 30 years at the legendary Greenwich Village venue, this important series features releases by Jack Bruce & Billy Cobham, The Brecker Bros, Lou Reed/Kris Kristofferson, Kenny Rankin, Pete Seeger/Roger McGuinn, Doc Watson, Ralph Stanley, and Harry Chapin, each with informative historical essays by Gregg. He has expanded his efforts in capturing music history with The ProgCast, a podcast presenting in-depth discussions with both well-known and emerging artists of all styles and genres.

-Gregg Bendian Website (https://www.bendianmusic.com/about)
6/25/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Costly 4:35

2. Not A Moment In Space 6:57

3. Time Is A Shadow 5:47

4. Aftermath Of An Afterthought 6:14

5. Worthy Of Badgers 4:40

6. Pour Les Oisaeux 7:32

7. Our Brother Of Bethany 9:27

8. Future Comes Slowly Real Fast 1:20

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Collective & Free Improvsation
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Trio Recordings
New in Improvised Music
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