The Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble, led by composer Steve Hudson – piano/melodica, and featuring Zach Brock – violin, Jody Redhage – cello/voice, and Martin Urbach – cajon/percussion, returns to play a live show backing their critically acclaimed album “Galactic Diamonds” – on Friday, November 18th, 8 and 9:30pm, at An die Musik, 409 N. Charles Street, Baltimore. Call 888.221.6170 or 410.385.2638 for more info. There is a $10 cover charge.

Recent praise for their newest recording, Galactic Diamonds:

“the debut recording from his Steve Hudson Chamber Ensemble, Galactic Diamonds, is a collection of little gems.” — All About Jazz

“Once in a while something comes over the transom here that’s so disarmingly fun that it’s impossible to resist: the Steve Hudson’s Chamber Ensemble new album, Galactic Diamonds is a prime example. It’s a good-naturedly eclectic mix of third stream jazz with a catchy, quirky pop edge.” — Lucid Culture

“Whether pushing the envelope with energetic improvisations or crafting more gradually developing essays, the Steve Hudson Ensemble is consistently engaging.” — Christian Carey, Signal To Noise

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 Jody Redhage currently tours with bassist Esperanza Spalding and has performed with the Tokyo String Quartet, and Bang on a Can.  Martin Urbach has shared the stage with Lee Konitz and Dave Liebman. The ensemble was recently selected to perform at Chamber Music America’s national conference in New York in January 2011, and in March 2011 toured Italy and Austria to promote “Galactic Diamonds.”

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. Recently, Steve and saxophonist Claire Daly premiered an extended suite at the Juneau Jazz Festival dedicated to the Alaskan explorer Mary Joyce which they also took to Jazz at Lincoln Center.