Clarinetist Ben Goldberg, along with pianist/keyboardist Michael Coleman and drummer Hamir Atwal, will perform music from their latest album Knuckle Sandwich in the Department on February 8, 2016. These musicians are active in the innovative and experimental music world of the San Francisco Bay Area.

From 1992, when his group​ New​ K​lezmer Trio​ released M​asks and Faces​ and "kicked open the door for radical experiments with Ashkenazi roots music” (SF Chronicle) to 2013’s simultaneous release of S​ubatomic Particle Homesick Blues ​(featuring Joshua Redman) and U​nfold Ordinary Mind​ (featuring Nels Cline), which the New York Times noted for “a ​feeling of joyous research into the basics of polyphony and collective improvising,”​clarinetist and composer B​en Goldberg h​as shaped a career through relentless pursuit of musical truth across many genres and styles, resulting in the Downbeat Critics’ Poll naming him the #1 Rising Star Clarinetist in both 2011 and 2013. In 2015 Ben released a recording of his song­cycle O​rphic Machine,​sung by Carla Kihlstedt and performed by an all­star nine piece band including Nels Cline, Greg Cohen, and Ches Smith. The LA Times called Orphic Machine “knotted and occasionally spooky composition marked by dazzling interplay.” All Music Guide says "Orphic Machine is wildly ambitious and sophisticated, but also graceful, emotionally honest, and accessible. It makes the profound embraceable and, as a result, is a masterpiece." Ben currently composes for and leads the following groups: U​nfold Ordinary Mind;​G​o Home;​​Ben Goldberg School;​and B​en Goldberg Trio​ with Greg Cohen and Kenny Wollesen.

Drummer/Percussionist H​amir Atwal​ is a Berklee College of Music graduate who has taught at Music Academy International, and the Stanford Jazz Workshop. Hamir is an active endorser of DREAM Cymbals. Hamir has played with saxophonists Joe Lovano, Greg Osby, and Grant Stewart; Bassist/Producer Bill Laswell; and clarinetist Ben Goldberg.

Michael Coleman ​is a pianist, improviser and composer currently residing in Brooklyn, NY. He has had the pleasure of playing with many great musicians and recording with some of his favorite bands and people. Apart from leading his own groups (Beep!, CavityFang, Young Nudist), Michael has toured the world with Chris Cohen, tUnE­yArDs, Sean Hayes, Miles Kurosky and Jug Free America.

Here is a video of the group in concert:

If you would like to listen to their latest album, you can send your email address to Prof. Weintraub (anwein@pitt.edu) and you will receive a private streaming invitation.