Decorating time with vibration, Shane Allessio composes and performs big band, small combo and electric jazz with a balance of structure and chaos.
“Allessio plays strong backing to the horns, but is also a highly gifted soloist himself, playing like a saxophonist in terms of invention, both arco and pizzicato, something rarely heard since the days of the late, great Paul Chambers.” -Jazz Journal International
Drawing from Mingus, Ellington, Kenton, etc, boundaries are pushed while a respect for the jazz tradition and approach is upheld. The music is never about perfection, but rather about expressing something outside of spoken language. Coming off of a bold and unique new nonet album release, Tripp City, Shane seeks to challenge the listener to explore a wide range of emotions, characters and personal stories. Featuring staples of the scene such as Sarah Hanahan, Ruben Fox, Jason Marshall, Noah Halpern, Alphonso Horne, Mariel Bildsten, Marius Van Den Brink and Gary Kerkezou, it’s a journey of highs, lows and even the psychedelic. Mixing through-composed forms with the freedom of improvisation, Shane himself “… has proved to be an attention-getting master of the double bass. His technical virtuosity is as amazing as his musical imagination and talent. It’s a CD that belongs in every jazz lover’s collection.” -Gary Karr
Having played in many groups through his career, including jazz bands as well as symphony orchestras, funk bands, blues bands, Balkan bands, country bands as well as a Tool cover band, Shane has experienced many approaches to making music. He draws on all of these experiences and prioritizes giving the audience a snapshot in time of real human experience, never to be repeated exactly the same way again. Such is the beauty and experience of genuinely live music.
Keep an eye out for performances and recordings of Shane Allessio Orchestra (19-piece ensemble), Shane Allessio Pocket Orchestra (11-piece ensemble), Shane Allessio Quartet and Shane Allessio Electric Band.