Ocelot

Brooklyn-based trio Ocelot (<a href="spotify:artist:0gOqdjgUOUSZ8oPFZPlsHZ" data-name="Cat Toren">Cat Toren</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7ae2Ac0aotw0sbt22b4YTW" data-name="Yuma Uesaka">Yuma Uesaka</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0VziW1php6KacKj5KYZuzA" data-name="Colin Hinton">Colin Hinton</a>) interweaves the patience of contemporary classical and the restless spirit of free jazz with an attention to deep listening that verges on sound sculpture. Formed in 2018, their “jazz adjacent” 2021 debut album balances insistent, cerebral minimalism with earthy melodicism, fiery nods to post-bop, and a sublime commitment to the moment honed by years of engaged improvisation.

Brad Cohan of Jazz Times called drummer/percussionist <a href="spotify:artist:0VziW1php6KacKj5KYZuzA" data-name="Colin Hinton">Colin Hinton</a>&#39;s playing “free-floating, visceral, and cerebral, all at the same time”, and he could well have been speaking about the entire group. Dynamic and empathic, the collectively-led trio of composer/improvisers also features Canadian ex-pat and JUNO Award-winning pianist <a href="spotify:artist:0gOqdjgUOUSZ8oPFZPlsHZ" data-name="Cat Toren">Cat Toren</a> and saxophonist/clarinettist <a href="spotify:artist:7ae2Ac0aotw0sbt22b4YTW" data-name="Yuma Uesaka">Yuma Uesaka</a>, “who susses out some powerful moments from his gentle lyricism” (Bird is the Worm). Leaders of their own respective ensembles and sought-after side players, presenters, and educators, the members of Ocelot have worked with Anna Webber, Ingrid Laubrock, Jon Irabagon, Tony Malaby, Eivind Opsvik, Tyshawn Sorey, and scores of other notable jazz, contemporary classical and avant-garde collaborators.