Protean Visions, a jazz quartet based in Fresno, CA, is comprised of musicians who met while attending California State University, Fresno. They have crafted a highly personal sound that fuses East Coast edginess with down home soul ” it’s music at the skookumchuck of Post-Bop and Nu-Jazz.
Protean Visions has been playing together since 2007. They have performed at the 2007 and 2008 Rogue Festivals (Fresno, CA), in the invitation-only 1st Annual Antioch Jazz Festival (Antioch, CA), and in venues all over the Central Valley. Their debut album, WaterColor Bridges, was released March 2, 2008. The album features 8 original compositions and a cover of the Sam Rivers’ standard “Beatrice.”
Named after Proteus, the shape-shifting prophet from Greek mythology, Protean Visions is an assemblage of musicians with markedly eclectic musical tastes and experiences. Indeed, Proteus is a fitting figure for the band for they shift into and out of different styles while creating honest music that compels listeners to probe themselves for truths and emotions that reside beneath the surface.
Protean Visions is led by bassist Kevin McDonald, a Graduate Fellowship Musician at the University of Oregon. Kevin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Double Bass Performance from CSU, Fresno, and studied with Dr. Thomas Loewenheim and Dr. Michael Caldwell. He has also studied with Dr. Dieter Wulfhorst, Kim Richmond, Brian Hamada, Tim Smith, Bob Athayde, Rick Helzer, Dr. Mark Morton, and Bertram Turetzky. He previously studied with Paul Shaghoian in his prestigious jazz program at Buchanan High School (Clovis, CA), which won 4 downbeat awards in 3 years. Kev is the 3rd Annual Paul Shaghoian Memorial Award winner, and was the bassist for the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz’s Collegiate Honor Jazz Band in 2005-2008. In addition to playing with Protean Visions, he leads Altered Youth, and plays with the Youth Philharmonic of Fresno and Fibonacci Cubed. In addition to WaterColor Bridges, His playing and composing is featured on Daydream, a 2005 release from Fresno State Jazz Band “A” and Jazz Combo I, and on the 2008 Fresno State Jazz Band “A” album entitled Hey!. For four years, he hosted and produced his own jazz radio show on 90.7 FM, KFSR.
Trumpeter Josh McDonald (trumpet, cornet, and FX) is a Presidential Fellow at Boston University, where he is earning a Ph.D. in Philosophy. He has three Bachelors of Arts degrees in Philosophy, Psychology, and Political Science from the Smittcamp Family Honors College at CSU, Fresno. He studied with Dr. Michael Caldwell at Fresno State, and with the late Paul Shaghoian. Josh is the 2007 Reno International Jazz Festival Top Collegiate Trumpeter, received the 1st Annual Paul Shaghoian Memorial Award, and was selected as the trumpet soloist for the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz’s Collegiate Honor Jazz Band in 2004-2008. His philosophy papers have been published in the California Undergraduate Philosophical Review (Volume 1, 2, & 4). He deejayed a radio show, “Jazz in the Morning with JMAC,” on 90.7 KFSR for the past six years. He performs with the After Dinner Mints, the Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, Altered Youth, Fibonacci Cubed, the David Aus Ensemble, and the Jazz Composer’s Orchestra, and leads an experimental ensemble named Bon Jazzy. In addition to WaterColor Bridges, his playing and composing is featured on Fresno State Jazz Band “A” and Jazz Combo I’s Daydream (2005), and on the 2008 Fresno State Jazz Band “A” album entitled Hey!.
Jonathan Hendrickson is an in-demand pianist, worship leader, guitarist, drummer, singer, and studio engineer. He earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in music at CSU, Fresno, and studied with Dr. Michael Caldwell, Craig von Berg, Dr. Anna Hamre, and Dr. Natasha Kislenko. He apprenticed with Paul Rios of Rios Studios (Tulare, CA) and now owns Hendrickson Studios (Visalia, CA). He is also a part-time actor, and has starred in productions of “Les Miserables,” “The Music Man,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Forever Plaid,” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” In addition to WaterColor Bridges, his playing and singing can be heard on indie rock group Fellow’s eponymous debut (2008) and on the 2008 Fresno State Jazz Band “A” album entitled Hey!.
Antonio Montañez is a sensitive and generous musician who is a successful drummer in many different settings. Tony plays with several other groups of different styles, including the Fresno State Jazz Band “A” (contemporary big band), Los Hooligans (Jamaican ska), Sleeping Giant (rock and funk), The Notones (Reggae/Rocksteady), The Dave Hull Project (rock-jazz), Rumba 32 (Latin jazz), and Flywright (indie). In addition to WaterColor Bridges, his playing is featured on the Los Hooligans’ Mafioso Ska (Shantytown Records/Jump Up Records, 2006), the Notones’ Notown (2007), Sleeping Giant’s Awaking the Giant (2007), Elephantus Politicus by The Dave Hull Project (2007), Flywright’s Hush Your Fuss (2008), & on the 2008 Fresno State Jazz Band “A” album entitled Hey!. He has studied with Dr. Matthew Darling, David Gabrielson, Les Nunes, Tony Luna, and George Ramirez. Tony is the 2007 Reno International Jazz Festival Top Collegiate Musician. He is currently earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Education with an emphasis in Percussion at California State University, Fresno.
Protean Visions has performed with Christian McBride, Geoffrey Keezer, Marvin Stamm, Bill Mays, and Bob Reynolds (saxophonist for Jon Mayer), whom they backed for his October 2007 California dates. The members of the group have performed with Doug Beavers, Scott Engelbright, Mary Fettig, Warren Gale, Gordon Goodwin, Conrad Herwig, the Jacob Kohler Trio, Kristin Korb, Kevin Mahogany, Andy Martin, Mike McMullin, James Miley, Lanny Morgan, Armen Nalbandian, Lennie Niehaus, Mike Olmos, Dave Pietro, Kim Richmond, Tim Ries, Carl Saunders, Eva Scow, Ed Shaughnessy, Bobby Shew, Jim Snidero, Anthony Wilson, and Gerald Wilson.
For booking or more information, please contact the group by email at proteanvisions@yahoo.com, or at www.myspace.com/ProteanVisions. Protean Visions is proud to announce the release of their first album, WaterColor Bridges (2008). To purchase WaterColor Bridges, please contact the artists directly, or visit http://cdbaby.com/cd/proteanvisions, or the iTunes Store.
