New album 'Ruins.' Out now. http://smarturl.it/FAK-Ruins

I am a Saxophonist, Floutist, and Vocalist. This is a compilation of my original music performed by various musical groups throughout the years.

It’s impossible not to hear freedom and excitement coursing through the veins of Marco Benevento’s seventh studio album, ‘Let It Slide.’ Produced by Leon Michels (The Arcs, Lee Fields), the record introduces a gritty, soulful edge to Benevento’s brand of high-octane keyboard wizardry—an uptempo, uplifting sound he playfully describes as “hot dance piano rock.” For all Benevento’s virtuosity on the keys though, the songs here are driven primarily by intoxicating grooves, with spare drums and minimalist bass lines underpinning infectious, intentionally lo-fi vocal hooks. The resulting vibe is a timeless one, filtering elements of vintage R&B and soul through modern indie rock and pop sensibilities and peppering it with the kind of adventurous improvisation that Benevento’s come to be celebrated for worldwide.

Acceptance is a recurring theme on the record, and Benevento’s songs often find themselves recognizing that contentment can come only once you’ve freed yourself from the chains of desire and regret. Upon close listen, one can find Benevento’s own personal philosophies subconsciously bubbling up throughout the songs. “You’ll feel better, I’ll just say / When you finally let it go,” he sings on the funky “Say It’s All The Same,” which features vocal contributions from bandmate Karina Rykman. The hazy “Solid Gold” celebrates the simple joy of being in the moment with someone you love, while the Lennon-esque “Lorraine” (co-written with Simone Felice) grapples with loss and change, and the anthemic “Send It On A Rocket” contemplates loneliness and connection.

Dubbed "one of the most talented keys players of our time" by CBS Radio, Benevento’s released critically acclaimed solo albums over the last decade, performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Newport Jazz to Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo, and worked in the studio and on the road with the likes of Richard Swift (The Shins, The Arcs), Jon Brion (Spoon, Aimee Mann), A.C. Newman (The New Pornographers), and Simone Felice (The Felice Brothers, The Lumineers) among others. "It’s safe to say that no one sees the keyboard quite like Marco Benevento's genre-blind mashup of indie rock, jazz and skewed improvisation," the LA Times raved, while NPR said he combines "the thrust of rock, the questing of jazz and the experimental ecstasy of jam," and Rolling Stone praised "the textures and colors available in his keyboards and arsenal of manipulated pedals and effects," along with his "deceptively rich, catchy melodies and straight-ahead grooves."

THMPR is a Portland-based improvisational music project that was given birth on April 5th, 2016 and evolved from multiple late night sessions. Ralph Huntley, Jason Driver, Count Kellam, Jose Medeles and the other wordly Ralph Carney (Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, B52's) met on a dark and beautiful musical plane. Instantly finding rapport and commonality amongst shared musical and experimental tendencies, THMPR began hosting improv sessions once a month at different studio and rehearsal spaces. 

It was questioned whether it would even translate to a live stage, and in August of 2016 that question was answered. Since that foray into the public eye, THMPR has only performed live, finding their current drummer Jason Carter (Frank Black) in December 2016 live on stage. 

January 2017, THMPR joined James Dineen and his radio show "Sessions from the Box" live in the studio for a monumental live improv performance, which was aired on his radio show and filmed live.

After several more shows, it was discussed amongst the band that it was time for an album. In May of 2017, THMPR did what they always did, came into the studio, set up their equipment and hit record. As the first piece unfolded, it was so appropriately the first track, as they continued through the rest of the songs, they all fit into place, in the order they were conceived. This ultimately determined the track listing. The album is as yet, unreleased.

THMPR continued in 2017 playing multiple venues, building a devoted base for their quirky, live exploration in sound. It seemed as though there was a bottomless well from which they could draw their ideas.

In December of 2017, Ralph Carney passed away unexpectedly. It was an overwhelming loss for us as a group, and it was quickly acknowledged how pervasive his spirit was in the musical community. We joined with thousands across the world in celebrating his legacy. THMPR realized that, if anything, he brought the rest of us together. With special guests such as Steve Berlin (los lobos), Ezekial Brown (Chocolate Giant) and others, we could continue to bring our special brand of improv to a stage near you.

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