059: POLYRHYTHMICS : [Ben Bloom - guitar, Jason Gray - bass]

Welcome BEN BLOOM and JASON GRAY of POLYRHYTHMICS! This wide-ranging conversation took place on the Sunday of Suwannee Rising, after the band dropped a pair of scorching sets on SOSMP. With the fest raging in the distance, the three of us snuck off to have a lengthy discussion on the band's journey, inspirations, intention, mission, future and more. 

• 3:25 SACRED ROSE & BROOKLYN COMES ALIVE 
• 8:30  The Upful Update w/ B.Getz
• 13:25  Introducing POLYRHYTHMICS 
• 18:45  INTERVIEW w/ Ben & Jason of Polyrhythmics 

A hard-driving modern afro-psycho-beat squadron, Polyrhythmics feature the heart-thumping bass lines of Jason Gray, and the colorful, intricate phrasings of Ben Bloom’s guitar. A true “democratic” collaborative, Polyrhythmics includes three horn players, guitar, bass, drums, percussion and keys. Meditative hypnosis and elements of surprise make up a sonic foundation for their mystical, genre-blurring brand of sound art. The collective continues to mature into a muscular live unit, known for painting vivid instrumental imagery using complex rhythms, impressive dynamics, and a searing level of precision.

Ben Bloom and I go back almost 25 years, to the fertile embryonic jam scene of the Northeast, and 1.0 Phish adventures too. So we were well acquainted before this chat. Bloom began playing guitar at 9, attended college at Boston University. By high school, he knew music would be his life’s work. Later, Bloom moved to Seattle, honed his skills with bands in local clubs, before co-founding Polyrhythmics in 2009.

Ben connected with Jason Gray, a Californian who had moved away from music while doing a stint on submarines in the Navy, eventually landing in Seattle. Gray found his way through to the city's musical bosom and into one of it's hottest bands. In addition to holding down the low end with Polyrhythmics, Gray operates Blue Mallard Studios, where he produces and engineers.

www.Polyrhythmics.com

 

Vibe Junkie JAMZ !

"Stakes is High" - yasiin bey (fka Mos Def) w/ Robert Glasper Experiment 

Live at Vaulx Jazz - 2019

"Chelada" - POLYRHYTHMICS 

KEXP Live 2019

 

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Theme Song: "Mazel Tov"- CALVIN VALENTINE