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Endemic Ensemble

In 2010, Seattle bassist Steve Messick started a new jazz project with the goals of writing forms and melodies in the styles of post-bop and big band, but also pulling inspiration from neoclassical works. This project became the Endemic Ensemble, and the jazz quintet debuted in the spring of 2010 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 Ken French on drums.

In 2012, the Endemic Ensemble released their first full-length album, Lunar, which made Lucid Culture's “The 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2012.” Drummer Christian Krehbiel joined the band in 2014, and in 2016 the Endemic Ensemble released their second full-length album, Tangled.

In their live shows, the Endemic Ensemble is also fond of performing arrangements of themes from film and television, and there is new material written for nearly every show.

Awards

The Endemic Ensemble’s 2012 CD, Lunar, made NYC blog Lucid Culture's “The 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2012.”

Tags

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)