(le) poisson rouge

Hunter follows up his latest trio album, Baboon Strength, with an ambitious effort recorded live direct to two-inch analog tape. No mixing, no overdubs, just straight-ahead powerhouse playing captured by the finest recording equipment dating back to the '50s. This is familiar territory for Hunter as all of his recordings are recorded live. He comments, "We wanted to do an old sounding record, it's fun to do it all analog. Artists are into mixing, and that's fine, but I'm so on the raw side of things, I get the sounds I like and go. You need to know how to play if you do it this way. I could never do it digitally, I play live with a lot of improv, so I go with my strengths. Why not go all in!"

According to Modern Drummer magazine, Mark Guiliana “may well be at the forefront of an exciting new style of drumming.” The 28-year-old New Jersey native’s unique and un-compromised approach to playing the drums has earned him international acclaim as both a leader and a sideman.

In 2004, Mark created HEERNT, his ‘experimental-garage-jazz’ trio based out of New York. The band’s debut record, Locked In A Basement, was released in the spring of 2006 and was met with praise from critics and musicians alike. Legendary drummer Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson) called the record “the most exuberant, dramatic, beautiful, sassy, genre-busting little outing that I've heard since I don't know when.”

As a sideman, Mark’s longest partnership has come alongside world-renowned jazz bassist Avishai Cohen. He toured all over the world with Avishai from 2003 until 2008 while appearing on six studio records, and a live DVD recorded at the Blue Note in New York City. Mark has also recorded and/or performed with Meshell Ndegeocello, Dhafer Youssef, Wayne Krantz, Matisyahu, Edmar Castaneda, Jazz Mandolin Project, Jason Lindner, Gretchen Parlato, Brad Shepik, Bobby McFerrin, Tigran Hamasyan, and many more.

Mark is currently working on his debut solo record, which is being co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello and is due out in early 2010.