WELLER-PARKER-DROBKA TRIO
New trio project by these young but very experienced American musicians will feature original compositions along with extended and 'free' improvisations using both acoustic instruments and electronics. The use of electronics and looping pedals in their improvisations will allow them to create sound-scapes much larger than any 3 people could produce, while their roots in more traditional jazz improvisational forms will lead to a unique and adventurous musical experience.
Chris Weller – saxophones and electonics
Chris Weller is a tenor/bass saxophonist and composer living in Chicago (USA). He attended Berklee College of Music on scholarship from 2007-2010 where he received his bachelors degree in saxophone performance. Since then, Weller has performed internationally as a bandleader, established a reputable private teaching studio, and hosted clinics in the U.S. and abroad on elementary, high school, and college levels.
"His application of circular breathing technique to his tenor and humongous bass instruments already gave his playing a mantric quality, made more emphatic by his forward and backward swaying. It's Weller's battery of effects pedals and looping devices that put him into an otherworldly stratum, however." - Jamie Lee Rake (Shepherd Express)
Mike Parker – double bass, electric bass, electronics
A native of New York, Mike began his professional career at the age of 17 playing funk and rock gigs in New York City clubs. Now at the age of 29, he has toured all over Europe and America with both jazz and rock groups, won several international contests and awards, studied with and played with some of the greatest musicians alive, and recorded 3 albums of his own compositions.
Mike attended Skidmore College where he studied Evolutionary Psychology and Music and spent a semester abroad studying Jazz Bass at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. At Skidmore, Mike performed in the school's classical and jazz ensembles and soon began playing professionally with the school's professors and the area's best jazz musicians. He studied with such notable bassists as Scott Colley, Reid Anderson, and Reubin Rogers and had the opportunity to perform with some of the world's greatest jazz musicians, including John Scofield, Chris Potter, Antonio Sanchez, and Eric Harland. Upon graduating with Highest Honors in 2010, Mike received the Joseph Garrison Parker Prize for excellence in both science and the arts and was given a Periclean Award for his outstanding senior concert.
After graduating, Mike traveled extensively around Europe before settling in Krakow, Poland where he discovered a young and vibrant jazz scene. Since then, Mike has had many fruitful collaborations there including recording his second album of original material ('Embrace the Wild') and winning 2 international jazz contests (2012 Tarnow International Jazz Competition, 2012 Jazz Juniors International Jazz Competition). Mike now calls both New York and Krakow home when he is not on tour. He performs on both upright and electric bass as a member of several touring groups including the 'Nat Osborn Band' and his own 'Unified Theory', 'Trio Theory', and 'Meta' projects. He has recently performed with such notable musicians as Marc Ducret, Marc Bernstein, Dominik Wania, and Devin Gray among others.
Devin Drobka – drums
Devin Drobka is a Jazz Drummer Currently living in Milwaukee, WI. Devin has performed with with Bruce Barth, Jerry Bergonzi, Tony Malaby, Joe Solomon, Dave Santoro, Mario Pavone, Matt WIlson, Tadataka Unno, Dan Tepfer, Joe Martin, Tom Chang, Chris Tordini, Lena Bloch, Kyle Wilson, Ben Wendall, Jorge Roeder, Dan Blake, Tyler Blanton, Dmitry Ishenko, Sean Conly. You can catch Devin performing with his group Bell Dance Songs, Lesser Lakes Trio, Johannes Wallamann Group, Paul Silbergliet Trio, Hanging Hearts, Field Report, Ruby Yacht, Drobka/Weller Duo, Dim Lighting, Argopelter, Lady Cannon and Soft Alarm.