COUPLES IN HARMONY
Soapbox is excited to present a brand new series; ‘Couples in Harmony’. A collection of short conversations and concerts, concerning the issues of our time. ‘Couples in Harmony’ will explore the lives of working coupled musicians in lockdown, how they cope and how they manage to remain focused, disciplined, and find the space in their homes and hearts to continue their creative paths forward. (Interviews with Tracey Yarad)
Ken Filiano and Andrea Wolper have been making music together since 1998
Bassist, composer, improviser, teacher Ken Filiano performs around the world, collaborating with leading artists in multiple genres, fusing the rich traditions of the double bass with his own seemingly limitless imagination.
Ken has performed and recorded with a veritable who's who in multiple genres, from Anthony Braxton to Pablo Ziegler, and has been an integral member of groups led by Taylor Ho Bynum, Jason Kao Hwang, Fay Victor, Vinny Golia, Diane Moser, Roswell Rudd, Connie Crothers, Dom Minasi, Karl Berger, and others.
Ken leads two quartets, Quantum Entanglements and Baudolino's Dilemma, and is co-leader of The Steve Adams/Ken Filiano Duo. His extensive discography includes a solo bass CD, “subvenire” (NineWinds), and Quantum Entanglements’ “Dreams From a Clown Car" (Clean Feed).
For these and numerous other recordings and performances, critics have called Ken a "creative virtuoso," a "master of technique" . . . "a paradigm of that type of artist...who can play anything in any context and make it work, simply because he puts the music first and leaves peripheral considerations behind.” (JazzValley.com / Robert Rusch / Chris Kelsey).
Ken is a Guiding Artist and on the Board of Advisors for Creative Music Studio. KenFiliano.com
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"Highly original" (Contra Costa Times), "an audacious artist [who] flouts genre limitations, singing songs for the love of it and delivering an inventive, thrilling, appealing musical vision" (Blogcritics). Andrea’s performance credits as headliner include The Blue Note, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, Mezzrow, Birdland, and numerous other New York city venues, and she tours in the U.S. and abroad.
One of the "great jazz singers" in "The Jazz Singers: The Ultimate Guide” (Yanow), Andrea is also a gifted songwriter. Cadence Magazine calls her "easily superior to the ever expanding population in the singer/songwriter category,” and she’s been awarded a number of composing fellowships.
Andrea’s third CD as leader, “Parallel Lives” (Jazzed Media) was on several best of year lists. The free improv recording “TranceFormation in Concert” (New Artists) with Ken Filiano and the late Connie Crothers, was a Downbeat Critics Polls best vocal CD selection.
In addition to leading her own groups, Andrea has appeared as a side person in performance and on recordings with artists across jazz genres, from the straight ahead Heavenly Big Band to vocal innovator Jay Clayton to freejazz icon William Parker.
Andrea teaches voice in her private studio, as well as classes on vocal jazz, improvisation, and songwriting at California Jazz Conservatory and elsewhere. AndreaWolper.com