conifer
trio with angelica sanchez and tom rainey
Phillip Greenlief - tenor saxophone
Angelica Sanchez - piano
Tom Rainey - drums
​
conifer: a tree that bears cones and needle-like or scale-like leaves that are typically evergreen. conifers are of major importance as the source of softwood, and also supply resins and turpentine.
​
the trio's music is as diverse as a western forest, it can be sharp, as in pointed, direct, protective of the species. the life blood of the music is something essential, like a resin that can act as a connective tissue - the three musicians exchanging the elements of music - rhythm, harmony, melody, texture - invisibly, magically. the group knows no one way of making, it is constantly reimagining itself, using improvisation as a way of exploring the possible.
ANGELICA SANCHEZ
Pianist/Composer/Educator Angelica Sanchez moved to New York from Arizona in 1994. Since moving to the East Coast Sanchez has collaborated with such notable artists as Wadada Leo Smith, Paul Motian, Richard Davis, Jamaladeen Tacuma, Nicole Mitchell, Rob Mazurek, Tim Berne, Mario Pavone, Ben Monder amongst others. Sanchez leads numerous groups, the most recent being her Nonet which features Chris Speed, Michael Attias, Thomas Heberer, Kenny Warren, Ben Goldberg, John Hebert, Omar Tamez, and Sam Ospavot.
​
Sanchez’s debut solo CD “A Little House” was featured on NPR’s Weekend Edition and her recording “Wires & Moss” featuring her Quintet was chosen as one of best Releases of 2012 in “The New York City Jazz Record (formerly AllAboutJazz-New York).” Her recording “Twine Forest” a duo with Wadada Leo Smith received Honorable Mention as one of the best releases of 2013 in "The New York City Jazz Record." Her latest trio project “Float The Edge” features Michael Formanek and Tyshawn Sorey and has garnered wide critical acclaim. Her new piano duo"How to Turn the Moon," with Marilyn Crispell was voted as one of the top 50 best recordings in 2020, NPR critics poll.
TOM RAINEY
“Tom Rainey is a player who swerves between avant-garde notions and a mainstream sensibility and when he plays the smell of invention is in the air”
Joseph Woodard, L.A Times
​
Percussionist Tom Rainey was born in Los Angeles, California in 1957.
Since moving to New York City in 1979 he has performed at festivals and clubs throughout North America and Europe with a wide range of artists, including John Abercrombie, Ray Anderson, Tim Berne, Jane Ira Bloom, Ted Curson, Marc Ducret, George Gruntz, David Torn, Mark Helias, Fred Hersch, Andy Laster, Joe Lovano, Carmen McRae, Mike Nock, Simon Nabatov, New and Used, Matthias Schubert, Tom Varner, WDR Big Band, Ken Werner and Denny Zeitlin.
