Root Valdez

Following up on the underground success of the acid-jazz outfit QB3, friends and collaborators Christopher "Root" Heinz and Fred "Valdez" Gerantabee formed Root Valdez. The concept was to combine the duo's love of groove and improvisationally-oriented music with electronic styles such as dub and drum and bass. After a year of performances and the release of "The Autumn Sessions EP" (Mixed and produced in the group's own studio), the time was right to bring on the missing piece of the puzzle: vocals. The duo hooked up with Leslie Graves, an Ohio native whose ethereal style and approach is reminscent of trip-hop/crossover staples such as Beth Gibbons and Beth Orton. The group's new album, Mycelia, is just the beginning of a long journey; the new material is intimate yet epic; at times cinematic and others dark and close. With hints of jazz, downtempo and folk, the RV sound is one that stands alone. Mycelia features guest performances by renowned cellist Jami Sieber, bassist Michael Pearce, sax and flute by Nick Gianni and sitar performed by Joshua Hajicek. The group continues to actively write and record in their own studio in New York.