Toeing the line between acoustic folk and progressive bluegrass, Big Fan of the Bison began as a project among friends in Denton, Texas. Members Kyle Gordon (mandolin), Sara Beth Hooper (vocals), Ethan Stalbaum (guitar), Chris Petro (drums), Collins McLaughlin (fiddle), and Willie Wrinkle (bass) had all met through school or other musical engagements, finding common ground in their love of collaboration and songwriting. Drawing from diverse musical backgrounds, the band created a sound all their Own, that combines a deep love of folk music, classical, jazz, pop, rock, and everything in between. Their individual abilities as sought-after instrumentalists, arrangers, composers, and songwriters all add to a unique voice that is truly greater than the sum of its parts, and their debut, “Songs from the Frontier.” The band formed in 2018 as a project among close friends, most of whom met while studying music at the University of North Texas. What began as a relaxed weekly gathering centered around playing traditional bluegrass tunes and covers slowly transformed into an outlet for original songs. Over the course of roughly two years and spurred on by de facto manager and friend Jimmy Haslip, an eclectic musical style began to take shape. The combination of each member’s diverse musical background with Hooper’s captivating melodies and ever-memorable lyrics is compelling, moving, and beautiful. While each track on the album offers a refreshing change of pace, it feels like a unified whole. It straddles more than a few genres: Folk, Bluegrass, Americana, and even a hint of Country, with subtle nods to the members’ rigorous classical and jazz training managing to peek through. At its core, this album is a collection of emotional and deeply relatable songs, expressed with an exceptional degree of nuance and taste that is wonderfully unique. Tracks. COLD HEARTED, TOP OF THE WORLD, BETTER OFF, YOU AGAIN, JUST ENOUGH, 5-20, HORIZON, BRIGHTER DAYS, RED ROCKING CHAIR, RELYKS

Big Fan of The Bison

TOP OF THE WORLD

Following up on their #7 JazzWeek Chart hit “Scheming”, The Jazz Defenders return with their latest new release – “MEMORY IN MOTION”. (14 weeks in the top 50).  
Led by one of the UK's most formidable jazz pianists, George Cooper, The Jazz Defenders are a group born from a deep love of Blue Note jazz, drawing on a wealth of inspiration to craft their own raw and vibrant compositions.  The Jazz Defenders are making a name for themselves that should provide them with worldwide acceptance, either in Prague or Brooklyn.
With rave reviews from Brian Payne/Jazz Journal, Paul Donovan/KUVO Top 10 albums of 2023, Duc des Lombards in Paris, TSF Jazz Festival, Cork Jazz Festival, Craig Charles/BBC Radio 6, Music Republic Magazine, Rye Jazz Festival - “THE JAZZ DEFENDERS - Modern Soul & Hard Bop Jazz With A Cutting Edge”,  The Red Hot Jazz Club Presents: The Jazz Defenders, fresh from their sell-out gig at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, The Jazz Defenders bring their own brand of Blue Note and Soul inspired original Jazz to Glastonbury's red Brick Building. 
As the band continue to distinctly ‘defend’ the legacy of some of the classic hard bop greats such as Horace Silver, Lee Morgan and Art Blakey, they are beginning to evolve their modern soul jazz slant to combine solid grooves and catchy horn lines with a collaborative and all-encompassing sound, fusing soul, jazz, hip hop, soundtrack and groove into a masterful union that leaves audiences mesmerized. 
The group's brainchild, pianist, and composer George Cooper, has at a young age already amassed a comprehensive repertoire of musical credits including Hans Zimmer, Nigel Kennedy, U2, Omar, Slum Village, MF Doom, The Brand-New Heavies, Lisa Stansfield, Wet Wet Wet, The Haggis Horns, Abstract Orchestra and Lack of Afro.
Line Up:
George Cooper - Piano/Keyboards
Will Harris - Bass
Ian Matthews - Drums
Nick Malcolm - Trumpet
Jake McMurchie - Tenor Sax

Memory in Motion

Rolling On A High

ITI Music Corporation is a record label with jazz from ITI Records, and all other genres including classical and rock music from Warrant Music, since 1982. All ITI Music releases are distributed digitally by The Orchard and physically by MVD.  No other promotion or marketing teams or companies are needed at this time. Thank you.

Rolling On A High

iti music

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