“A little bluegrass, a little rock-n-roll, a little scat, a turn at tango. How does “Galactic Diamonds” offer such a genre-bending sound? – try the diversity of the players!” – Aural States Review

New York City’s Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble (www.steve-hudson.com), led by composer Steve Hudson – piano/melodica, and featuring Zach Brock – violin, Jean-Philippe Feiss – cello, and Michele Rabbia – percussion, plays venues in Italy and Austria as part of their Spring 2011 European tour. The group, who got its start performing in New York clubs in early 2008, performs original works rooted in jazz, classical, tango, and rock.

TOUR SCHEDULE:

March 12, 9:15 and 11:15pm @ Al Vapore (Via Fratelli Bandiera 9, Marghera, Venezia, Italy)
Tel: 041 93 07 96, Tickets 12-15 euro

March 13, 10pm @ La Chiesa Grande di Bussana Vecchia di San Remo

March 14, 10pm @ Apriti Sesamo (Via Alla Chiesa, Bussana Vecchia di San Remo, Italy)
Tel: 0184/510022; 335/231794

March 17, 8pm @ Sargfabrik (Goldschlagstraße 169, 1140 Vienna, Austria)
Tel: 01 98898121, Tickets 18 Euro

March 18, 8pm @ Circolo Masetti Ex-Novo (Via Resia, 27  39100 Bolzano, Italy)
Tickets 10 Euro

March 19, 9pm @ Firenze Jazz Club (Via Nuova de’ Caccini, 3 – Firenze, Italy)
Tel: 0552479700 | 3356146115

Praised by Keyboard Magazine for his “exquisite compositions” and for “a quest for beauty in his lines that evoke the masters,” Steve Hudson has worked with Steven Bernstein, James Zollar, Marcus Rojas, and Claire Daly. Zach Brock has performed and recorded with Stanley Clarke, Joel Harrison, and the Mahavishnu Orchestra, while Cellist Jean-Philippe Feiss studied classical music at conservatory of Boulogne-Billancourt in France with Xavier Gagne, and has played with Emmanuel Bex, Louis Sclavis, and Ellery Eskelin. Michele Rabbia is one of the premiere drummer/percussionists in Italy and has recorded extensively for ECM and with many of Europe’s leading artists. The ensemble was recently selected to perform at Chamber Music America’s 2011 national conference, and are currently on tour to promote the CD “Galactic Diamonds,” available at www.cdbaby.com.

Steve Hudson is a pianist and composer based in New York City whose compositions and piano style embrace the history of jazz, blues, folk, and modern classical music, all with a free spirited love of improvisation. In addition to his work with the chamber ensemble, he is cofounder of the Outer Bridge Ensemble. His jazz sextet recorded the album “Shine” which featured Curtis Fowlkes, James Zollar, Marcus Rojas, Claire Daly, vocalist Peter Eldridge and other New York artists. In May 2011, Steve and saxophonist Claire Daly will premier an extended suite at the Juneau Jazz Festival dedicated to the Alaskan explorer Mary Joyce.