True Events

These longtime collaborators first worked together 15 years ago while still in high school, and have since performed together hundreds of times in a variety of ensembles. 'I feel like I can anticipate what Tomas is going to play,' says Bynum of their relationship in the liner notes, 'yet I'm continually surprised and delighted and inspired by what he does.' The nine tracks on True Events, a mix of pre-conceived elements and spontaneous improvisation, also take their inspiration from Anthony Braxton's principles of language improvisation, as well as the work of musicians such as Alan Dawson, Talib Kweli and Wayne Shorter. Critics have called Taylor Ho Bynum 'a cutting-edge trumpet phenom' (Boston Phoenix), 'a creative force' (Boston Globe), 'a distinct voice' (Cadence), 'a marvelous cornetist' (AllAboutJazz.com) and 'one of the savviest trumpeters to come along in recent years' (Village Voice). The Brooklyn-based musician/composer's expansive resume includes frequent work with a variety of his contemporaries, as well as icons such as Cecil Taylor and Anthony Braxton, performing and recording extensively with the latter over the past decade. Also known as 'a formidable composer' (Brian Morton, The Wire), Bynum leads a variety of his own groups. In 2005, AllAboutJazz.com's Paul Olson called his 482 Music debut, Other Stories (Three Suites), 'the best album of the year.' Fellow Boston native Tomas Fujiwara is an in-demand drummer with some of today's most respected musicians. His performing and recording credits include sideman work with the likes of Butch Morris, David Murray and William Parker, and he is a current member of groups led by Bynum, saxophonist/composer Matana Roberts and Ghanaian master drummer/composer Kwaku Kwaakye Obeng among others. Fujiwara's own trio, Unified Quest, with saxophonist James Mahone and bassist Chris Pistorino, was founded in 1997. Based in New York for the past 12 years, he has also worked in the Off-Broadway theatre world, touring as a cast member of 'Stomp,' and composing original scores for three plays.