River Paths Medler Sextet

• 1 Subway Jam (Morning) 09:04
• 2 River Paths 06:32
• 3 Smoldering 06:50
• 4 Philly Soul Strut 08:19
• 5 Night Party 06:37
• 6 Subway Jam (Evening) 08:59
• Total Runtime 46:21

Info for River Paths

Through six original compositions, filled with soulful grooves, rich harmony, and reflections of Mingus, George Russell, and Gil Evans, bassist Ben Medler and saxophonist Michelle Medler present the debut recording of their inspired, Portland-based sextet. Pianist Clay Giberson and drummer Todd Bishop join Ben in the rhythm section, with trumpeter Paul Mazzio and trombonist John Moak completing the front line. Together they deliver the strutting, swinging "Subway Jam," the brightly uplifting title track, and "Smoldering," with its moody, languid, bolero undercurrent. Filled with thoughtful orchestrations and an array of captivating moods, River Paths is a riveting set of music.

"Each performer brings surprise; not through grand gestures, but through a shared vision and a refined artistic beauty, audible in the timbre of their instruments and in the nuance of their interpretations." (PARIS MOVE, Thierry De Clemensat)

"Rich post bop tones are delivered by tenor saxist Michelle Medler and her flavorful team of Paul Mazzio/tp, John Moak/tb, Clay Giberson/p, Ben Medler/b and Todd Bishop/dr. Medler has a rich and mellow melodicism, hinting at vintage Hank Mobley, and it works well on the collection of compositions by Michelle and Ben Medler, such as the Horace Silve ..." (Jazz Weekly, George W Harris)

Michelle Medler, tenor saxophone
Paul Mazzio, trumpet
John Moak, trombone
Clay Giberson, piano
Ben Medler, bass
Todd Bishop, drums

Ben Medler
grew up in Andover, Massachusetts. He spent his high school years with trombonist Phil Wilson and vocal teacher Earl Miller. During his summers, he studied with German trombonist Jiggs Whigham. After attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Ben moved to Oregon and completed his Bachelor of Music in Jazz at Portland State University. He spent seven years teaching at Portland's Wilson High School and then started PYJO with wife, Michelle Medler. Ben Medler is a talented mulit-instrumentalist performing and teaching: trombone, acoustic and electric bass, trumpet and vocals. He is on faculty at Portland State University in the Jazz department & as a Trombone instructor at Lewis & Clark College. Ben is the current bandleader & musical director of The Shanghai Woolies. He also directs and composes for Mystery Seed, Trombone 8 and the Trombone Encounters Project and is an active freelance musician in all styles. Ben has performed with Randy Brecker, The Rebirth Brass Band, The Temptations, Yoron Israel, Rick Peckham, The Heavy Brothers, Darrell Grant, Bob Mintzer, Latin Expression, Cambalache & many others.

Michelle Medler
is a multi-instrumentalist, music educator, composer & arranger from the Pacific Northwest, USA. She is the co-founder and director of the Portland Youth Jazz Orchestra as well as active and versatile musician. Michelle holds down the woodwinds & vocals in the 1920s-40s Jazz ensemble, the Shanghai Woolies, plays tenor in the female saxophone band, The Quadraphonnes, plays tenor/flute/keyboards and sings in the original funk/pop band Mystery Seed & is in salsa band, Melao de Cuba. Michelle also fronts a Jazz group under her name finding an outlet for her modern Jazz playing and composing & for touring. She has been a mentor and composer for Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble's (PJCE) Grasshoppers Program as well as played in PJCE's band. Between gigs, she has a private lesson studio, works as a clinician and adjudicator for school bands and solo/ensemble contests, teaches "Jazz Techniques for Educators" at Portland State University and various music classes at the Burlingame Space. Her other interests include art & design, hiking and enjoying the NW wilderness.

Michelle graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelors of Music, Jazz Emphasis. Simultaneous to college she was an artist in residence at Portland, Oregon's Wilson High school band program. She has performed with The Rebirth Brass Band, The Temptations, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Charmaine & Charles Neville, Yoron Israel & Rick Peckham. Medler also performed on the soundtrack to the film "The Go Getter" (2008) and has recorded as a side-person on various jazz r'n'b albums and soundtracks for musicals.

This album contains no booklet.