Radically multicultural and poly-stylistic, New York City's TriBeCaStan is one of contemporary music's most vibrantly eclectic ensembles, using diverse instruments to create an infectious, exotic dance music. Nestled in the heart of New York's bustling urban sprawl lies a sonic oasis in which the sounds of Africa meet New York loft jazz, Balkan rhythms merge with Appalachian bluegrass, and traditional Afghan melodies mingle with good old American rock 'n' roll. Here folk instruments from all over the world coexist in harmony (and mayhem) with funky rhythms, wailing reeds and punch brass. Blending multifarious cultures TriBeCaStan aims to tear down the barriers between American music, world, and jazz. The result is a virtuosic and exuberant collaboration between some of New York's finest jazz and world musicians-many of whom have played and collaborated with legendary innovators, including Ornette Coleman, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Sting, Carlos Santana, Violent Femmes, John Corigliano, James Brown, Taj Mahal, Willy Deville and Eddie Harris. Long-time fixtures of the band feature co-founders/multi-instrumentalists John Kruth and Jeff Greene, along with Claire Daly (New York's baritone sax goddess), Kenny Margolis (keyboard and accordion with Willy Deville), Premik Russell Tubbs on saxes and lap steel guitar (John McLaughlin, Sting) and Ray Peterson (bassist with jazz legend Eddie Harris), along with many other greats. In the words of the New York Times, "Zappa-esque…genre-bending jazz and world-music."

[source: Abilene website, 2016-Oct-24]