BLUE CRANES

Formed in Portland, Oregon in 2004, Blue Cranes are a creative jazz group with a sometimes prominent indie rock sensibility, expressed not only in the band's embrace of rock rhythms and keyboard voicings but in the melodic, songlike themes often played by saxophonists Reed Wallsmith and Joe Cunningham. In addition to original material, the band has also dipped into music by other Portland artists such as the late Elliott Smith and indie poppers the Kingdom, Nicaragua's Carlos Mejia Godoy, indie rockers Blonde Redhead and singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, and Seattle-via-N.Y.C. composer/keyboardist Wayne Horvitz. However, despite the appearance of occasional covers, the band's albums have primarily served as vehicles for the compositions and tandem saxophone stylings of Wallsmith and Cunningham, revealing not only an indie mindset but also a wide range of jazz influences from Latin to free improvisation. The first creative stirrings that would ultimately lead to Blue Cranes began read more...