COMMOTION
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COMMOTION

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"Ben Darwish Live Review"

"Long on lucid textures, tight ensemble work and virtuoso improvising, Darwish holds things close at the keys, alternating singing, dissonance-spiked fragments with feisty passagework. He has a way of hunkering down and locking into a tight polyrhythmic figure, then opening up into an expansive flight across the keyboard—he’s a deeply impressive player." - Willamette Week 2/2/08


"Ben Darwish Live Review"

"Long on lucid textures, tight ensemble work and virtuoso improvising, Darwish holds things close at the keys, alternating singing, dissonance-spiked fragments with feisty passagework. He has a way of hunkering down and locking into a tight polyrhythmic figure, then opening up into an expansive flight across the keyboard—he’s a deeply impressive player." - Willamette Week 2/2/08


"Quote from internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Benny Green"

"Wow, the bass player is REALLY good!" - quote


"Quote from internationally acclaimed jazz pianist Benny Green"

"Wow, the bass player is REALLY good!" - quote


"Interview for WWnone Music Festival"

Original link:
http://wweek.com/editorial/3418/10500/

---

Absolutely nothin’
WWnone fest artists blow off steam and spread the love.

War is so 2003. But as long as the Powers That Be continue efforts in Iraq, there will be protesters to chant, cry and occasionally sing for change. Protests abound for the fifth anniversary of the invasion, and on the PSU Park Blocks this Saturday, those antiwar activities take a decidedly musical turn. Artists playing the PDX Peace Music Festival (a.k.a. World War None) are an eclectic group: from sharp-tongued revolutionary MC Mic Crenshaw to the circus-themed craziness of MarchFourth Marching Band. Before the festivities, we asked a handful of artists playing the daylong event to share their political hopes and frustrations with WW.

WW: What do you hope this concert accomplishes?
Barry Hampton (Triple Grip): Awareness that creativity can make us wealthier than oil.

Do any of the current presidential hopefuls offer the change you’re looking for?
Dave Rovics: No, certainly not. They’re all in the pockets of the corporate elite, which is bringing our planet quickly to ruin. Barack is eloquent and smart, though, and he says a lot of the right things.

Scott Killen (Triple Threat Quartet): Yes—none of them are W—and no: The two-party system leaves little room for progressive political action and/or change. [But] Obama and Hillary should run on the same ticket.

What’s your message for George W. Bush (in five words or less)?
John Averill (MarchFourth): You were the ultimate puppet.

Hampton: Assume the position...

Morgan Delaney (festival organizer): Jesus would work against you.

Mic Crenshaw: Die, vampire.

Would you call your music political?
Rovics: Would you call the Pope religious?

Averill: We [try] to appeal to the populace at large and transcend apparent political boundaries between neighbors (be it locally, statewide, regionally, nationally, globally, universally). Populist, yes. Political, no.

Story continues below
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Do we really need another protest?
Averill: Can’t hurt. Historically, if people always stayed at home and never gathered to express themselves en masse, then we would never have had any change in this world.

Delaney: We need lots of things. Getting people out to see each other is a powerful experience. To gather. To share…reading signs, hearing voices and being able to walk down the middle of a street that is usually full of traffic kind of warms your heart.

Can music change the world?
Ben Darwish (Commotion, Ben Darwish Trio): Of course. Music has an effect that cannot be calculated. It’s an extremely powerful cure, and sometimes an unwanted burden.

Crenshaw: It is changing the world all the time. Everybody has a song or songs that affected them profoundly at one time or another. 6.5 billion songs.

Averill: God, I hope so.

What’s your all-time favorite protest song?
Averill: “Imagine” by John Lennon. It’s not a protest song, but its lyrical nature strikes at the very core of the belief system that is underpinning the current consciousness-paradigm of fear, separation, ignorance and greed.

Darwish: “The 4th Branch” by Immortal Technique, because he tells it like it is. Corruption, greed and media censorship.

Killen: Well, we are talking about putting a “dude jazz” spin on Country Joe & the Fish’s “Yippee, we’re all gonna die,” [“The ‘Fish’ Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag”], so I’ll go with that one.

Hampton: “Evil” by Stevie Wonder.

Delaney: 2Pac’s “Holler If Ya Hear Me.” One of a kind.

Crenshaw: Many of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s songs express what is best in anti-oppression music. Rage Against the Machine. Bob Marley. My life is a protest song.

SEE IT: Brains Like Computers, Rocket One w/ 503 Zulu, Triple Threat Quartet, Commotion w/ Ben Darwish, MarchFourth Marching Band, USA La Familia, Syndel, Mic Crenshaw, Triple Grip, Dave Rovics and Mo Mack & the Peacemakers play the World War None fest Saturday, March 15, at the South Park Blocks. 10 am. Free. All ages. - Willamette Week 3/15/08


"Interview for WWnone Music Festival"

Original link:
http://wweek.com/editorial/3418/10500/

---

Absolutely nothin’
WWnone fest artists blow off steam and spread the love.

War is so 2003. But as long as the Powers That Be continue efforts in Iraq, there will be protesters to chant, cry and occasionally sing for change. Protests abound for the fifth anniversary of the invasion, and on the PSU Park Blocks this Saturday, those antiwar activities take a decidedly musical turn. Artists playing the PDX Peace Music Festival (a.k.a. World War None) are an eclectic group: from sharp-tongued revolutionary MC Mic Crenshaw to the circus-themed craziness of MarchFourth Marching Band. Before the festivities, we asked a handful of artists playing the daylong event to share their political hopes and frustrations with WW.

WW: What do you hope this concert accomplishes?
Barry Hampton (Triple Grip): Awareness that creativity can make us wealthier than oil.

Do any of the current presidential hopefuls offer the change you’re looking for?
Dave Rovics: No, certainly not. They’re all in the pockets of the corporate elite, which is bringing our planet quickly to ruin. Barack is eloquent and smart, though, and he says a lot of the right things.

Scott Killen (Triple Threat Quartet): Yes—none of them are W—and no: The two-party system leaves little room for progressive political action and/or change. [But] Obama and Hillary should run on the same ticket.

What’s your message for George W. Bush (in five words or less)?
John Averill (MarchFourth): You were the ultimate puppet.

Hampton: Assume the position...

Morgan Delaney (festival organizer): Jesus would work against you.

Mic Crenshaw: Die, vampire.

Would you call your music political?
Rovics: Would you call the Pope religious?

Averill: We [try] to appeal to the populace at large and transcend apparent political boundaries between neighbors (be it locally, statewide, regionally, nationally, globally, universally). Populist, yes. Political, no.

Story continues below
advertisement

advertisement

Do we really need another protest?
Averill: Can’t hurt. Historically, if people always stayed at home and never gathered to express themselves en masse, then we would never have had any change in this world.

Delaney: We need lots of things. Getting people out to see each other is a powerful experience. To gather. To share…reading signs, hearing voices and being able to walk down the middle of a street that is usually full of traffic kind of warms your heart.

Can music change the world?
Ben Darwish (Commotion, Ben Darwish Trio): Of course. Music has an effect that cannot be calculated. It’s an extremely powerful cure, and sometimes an unwanted burden.

Crenshaw: It is changing the world all the time. Everybody has a song or songs that affected them profoundly at one time or another. 6.5 billion songs.

Averill: God, I hope so.

What’s your all-time favorite protest song?
Averill: “Imagine” by John Lennon. It’s not a protest song, but its lyrical nature strikes at the very core of the belief system that is underpinning the current consciousness-paradigm of fear, separation, ignorance and greed.

Darwish: “The 4th Branch” by Immortal Technique, because he tells it like it is. Corruption, greed and media censorship.

Killen: Well, we are talking about putting a “dude jazz” spin on Country Joe & the Fish’s “Yippee, we’re all gonna die,” [“The ‘Fish’ Cheer/I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-To-Die Rag”], so I’ll go with that one.

Hampton: “Evil” by Stevie Wonder.

Delaney: 2Pac’s “Holler If Ya Hear Me.” One of a kind.

Crenshaw: Many of Linton Kwesi Johnson’s songs express what is best in anti-oppression music. Rage Against the Machine. Bob Marley. My life is a protest song.

SEE IT: Brains Like Computers, Rocket One w/ 503 Zulu, Triple Threat Quartet, Commotion w/ Ben Darwish, MarchFourth Marching Band, USA La Familia, Syndel, Mic Crenshaw, Triple Grip, Dave Rovics and Mo Mack & the Peacemakers play the World War None fest Saturday, March 15, at the South Park Blocks. 10 am. Free. All ages. - Willamette Week 3/15/08


"Willamette Week Pick"

"If the Ben Darwish Trio’s subtle jazz is a clove-smoking American living in Paris in the ’50s, Ben Darwish’s Commotion (a collaboration between piano-playing Darwish, bassist Damian Irskine and Russ Kleiner on drums/electronic beats) is that same expatriate returning home to partake in the acid-induced fervor of ’60s San Francisco. The band’s articulate, complicated jazz arrangements linger as they play over sampled recordings, like Bill Evans tickling the ivories in a video-game arcade. If you can handle the madness, you’ll love it." Annie Bethancourt - Willamette Week 1/3/08


"Band In A Box 4/11/08"

Original Link (without picture):
http://www.oregonlive.com/music/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/120768819683940.xml&coll=7

Band in a Box
Friday, April 11, 2008

Commotion All about the band, in their own words:

Members: Ben Darwish (keys/vocals), Dan Duval (guitar), Damian Erskine (bass) and Russ Kleiner (drums/samplers)

Sometimes we cover: "Confusion" by Stevie Wonder

Other band names in the running: Sparrow, Beirut or Tesla, but all were taken

Most treasured instrument: Dan's duct-taped guitar

(Un)official slogan: "If you can handle the madness, you'll love it."

Why we rock so hard: Because our alter egos are in jazz

After a gig, nothing tastes better than: Hamms (tall can)

How the group formed: Neighbors on Southeast Foster Road

When not making music: Always making music. We all make a living as professional musicians. Now, that's a thought!

Touring must-haves: Food and shelter

Any stage banter you wish you could rescind?: "Turn down, please!"

Catch us live: 9 p.m. Wednesday, Goodfoot, 2845 S.E. Stark St.

Web site: www.myspace.com/commotionband - A & E The Oregonian


"About Damian Erskine"

"Damian Erskine Trios (damianerskine.com) While his good genes may help (he's drum god Peter Erskine's nephew), Damian Erskine's significant facility, big pocket, and harmonic awareness are what comes when talent and hard work collide. Trios is Erskine's first disc as leader, and it's an auspiciously musical undertaking. While many bass-led debuts languish in technical self-abuse, Erskine's modern jazz is fresh, listenable, and yes, studded with bass tricks aplenty. (JH)" - Bass Player Magazine Feb 2008


"About Damian Erskine"

"Damian Erskine Trios (damianerskine.com) While his good genes may help (he's drum god Peter Erskine's nephew), Damian Erskine's significant facility, big pocket, and harmonic awareness are what comes when talent and hard work collide. Trios is Erskine's first disc as leader, and it's an auspiciously musical undertaking. While many bass-led debuts languish in technical self-abuse, Erskine's modern jazz is fresh, listenable, and yes, studded with bass tricks aplenty. (JH)" - Bass Player Magazine Feb 2008


Discography

Radio singles: Fiasco and Countryside.
Full length release in Winter '09.

Photos

Bio

Formed in 2007, Commotion is an all-star group compromised of some of the most talented musicians in the Northwest. Combining impressive jams with vocals and live samples creates a sound that's all their own. Ben Darwish's projects have continually met critical acclaim and this may be his most significant group yet. Chris Mosley is a highly versatile guitarist, using fretted and fretless guitars to create his own exhilarating sound. Bass player, Sam Howard, holds a heavy pocket and takes care of backing vocals. Both Mosley and Howard are accomplished composers as well. Drummer Russ Kleiner is the powerhouse behind the band. After playing with New York groups like jam-masters ULU and 7-piece hip-hop group, The Square Egg, Kleiner is well versed in all styles. In addition, Kleiner is behind the live samples that add to their distinct sound.

Please check the calendar for a list of upcoming shows.