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Endemic Ensemble
Founded by bassist Steve Messick in early 2010, the Endemic Ensemble is a modern jazz quintet based in Seattle, Washington with Messick on double bass, Travis Ranney on tenor and soprano saxophones, Matso Limtiaco on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet, David Franklin on piano, and Christian Krehbiel on drums. The music, composed by Messick, Franklin, and Limtiaco, is influenced by '60s hard bop, big band, and 19th and 20th century classical music, and is described as having “swinging rhythm, great tunes and purposeful playing - always in the service of the song, and usually anchored in the blues” (Lucid Culture). “Think hard-bop meets classical and big band horns” (Carol Banks Weber, AXS).
Tangled, is packed to the brim with luminous melodies, splendid charts and engaging solos by all hands.
(Jack Bowers, All About Jazz)
...here is a wonderful recording full of creative compositions and musicians who work together like a well-oiled machine.
(Dee Dee McNeil, Musicalmemoirs's Blog)
What this band best represents (for this listener, anyway) is the POWER that jazz can project, in all [its] forms
(Dick Metcalf, Improvijazzation Nation)
With three first-rate composers, swinging rhythm, great tunes and purposeful playing - always in the service of the song, and usually anchored in the blues - this is one of 2012's standout albums
(Lucid Culture)
Great writing, great players and great times...what more could you ask for?
(Jazz Now! Seattle)
...their original hard bop is groovy and contagious
(Dave Rogers, WTJU)
Endemic Ensemble's “LUNAR” manages to respect the hard-bop, big band, and classical, with an updated nod to a melodic, danceable mindset
