NuMBq

What do you call an ensemble whose members have pasts, presents and futures in these storied units?

Barbara Donald & Unity, The Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Heroes are Gang Leaders, Sonny Simmons & The Cosmosamatics, William Parker’s Universal Tonality String Quartet, The Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra, Charles Gayle Trio,Karl Berger’s Composers Improvisors Orchestra, Joe McPhee’s UrbanAssault Vehicle, Seattle Opera, Matthew Shipp Trio, Sun Ra Arkestra under Marshall Allen and Trio X.

The answer: NuMBq.

Conceived and directed by bassist/ composer Michael Bisio, the ensemble features Melanie Dyer/viola, Marianne Osiel/english horn, and Jay Rosen/percussion -- all master improvisors.Their premier recording, NuMBq (Mahakala Music), establishes an ensemble already a force, fully in the flow and totally lit. Influences might be Third Stream nuance welded to the fire-born New Thing. Their music, like a stream, continually flows, fueled by the impetus and intention of inner flame.