Brett Sroka - Hearsay (2001)

Hearsay is an ensemble that navigates the boundaries between composition and improvisation, structure and freedom, soloist and collective. Originally gathered to perform at the 2000 Astoria / Long Island City Waterfront Jazz Festival, Hearsay is the vision of trombonist / composer Brett Sroka but is the fruit of a collective aesthetic.

Though steeped in jazz, the group's influences are as diverse as the world of music itself, performing material by artists like Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Ornette Coleman and Bjork. Their main focus however is original composition as displayed on Sroka's debut album "Hearsay". The album features Bluenote pianist Jason Moran and was acclaimed by saxophonist Greg Osby as "one of the best prepared, most conceptually sound presentations that I have heard in some time. Great compositions and a solid group aesthetic."

The groups members also perform with artists such as Roy Haynes, Greg Osby, Charlie Hunter, Dave Douglas, George Garzone and Steve Coleman.

Brett Sroka (tb)
Avishai Cohen (tp)
Aaron Stewart (ts)
Jason Moran (p, Fender Rhodes)
John Sullivan (b)
Eric Harland (d)