THE JAZZ PASSENGERS
Genres: Eclectic Fusion, Avant-Garde Jazz • United States

The JAZZ PASSENGERS were founded in 1987 by Saxophonist Roy Nathanson and Trombonist Curtis Fowlkes.  The two musicians met in the band of the Big Apple Circus and toured extensively together in John Lurie’s seminal band, The Lounge Lizards.  They found strong affinity in their Brooklyn roots, their affection for hard bop, comedy and eccentric currents in modern American music.    Besides Nathanson and Fowlkes the original band members included Bill Ware on vibes, E.J. Rodriguez on percussion, Brad Jones on bass, Jim Nolet on violin and Marc Ribot on guitar.  It is now a six-piece band without guitar and with Sam Bardfeld on violin. The group has and continues to tour the world extensively.    In 1989 Bob Blumenthal wrote in the Boston Globe, “The seven piece Passengers often suggest a perverse mainstream band, a hard-bop group as imagined by Frank Zappa.”  This is an read more...