Ponga (Slight Return)
Fri, Mar 9, 2018 at 8pm
Doors at 7:00pm
Tickets: $15 adv/$20 dos
A quartet of four bandleaders, Ponga began touring and recording in North America, Europe, and Japan in 1997. The music of Ponga is 100% improvised. The original band featured
Dave Palmer - Keyboards
Bobby Previte - Drums
Skerik - Saxophone and Electronics
Wayne Horvitz - Keyboards
In the spring of 2018 Ponga reunites with Previte, Horvitz and Skerik. Replacing Dave Palmer will be guitarist Mike Gamble
Ponga is a techno-fueled rocket burning in interstellar overdrive. On stage, it’s a jazz-fusion machine from the future, wiring dizzy analog synth leads into silvery Rhodes piano licks, alien sax work and morphing rhythms. 100 percent improvised , 100 percent intense. Heads will spin. Willamette Weekly (Portland)
Bobby Previte- Leads his own ensembles including, Bump the Renaissance, Latin for Travelers, and Weather Clear, Track Fast. Recordings for Rykodisc, ENJA, and Palmetto. As a sideman has worked with Tom Waits, Terry Adams of NRBQ, Jane Ira Bloom, Ray Anderson, Johnny Copeland and minimalist composer John Adams. Commissioned to create music for The Moscow Circus and appeared in Robert Altman’s SHORT CUTS.
Skerik-Co-Leader of Critter’s Buggin’ and Crack Sabbath. Has recorded and performed with Les Claypool, Charlie Hunter, Mike Clark, Fred Wesley, Tuatara (w/Peter Buck), and Stanton Moore among others.
Wayne Horvitz-Current projects include the 4 plus 1 Ensemble and Zony Mash. Recorded and performed with Bill Frisell, Butch Morris, John Zorn (Naked City etc.), Carla Bley, Fred Frith, DJ Spooky and Robin Holcomb. He has been commissioned by the Kronos Quartet and the Paul Taylor Dance Company, done music for Gus Van Sant, and produced records for Eddie Palmieri, The World Sax Quartet, and Bill Frisell among others.
Mike Gamble -guitarist and multi-instrumentalist has spent the last 15 years immersed in the creative jazz, experimental rock and improvised music scene primarily in NYC.. He has had the pleasure of recording over 20 albums and touring the states, Canada, and Europe with his critically-acclaimed guitar trio The Inbetweens, Counter Record’s Cougar, and alongside doom-metal originators Earth. His more recent collaborators have been prestigious drummer Bobby Previte, bassist Todd Sickafoose, guitar virtuoso Nels Cline, and PNW cellist Lori Goldston. Since relocating to Portland Mike has been running a monthly Audio/Visual series featuring local and touring artists. Gamble currently holds a position as an Audio Production instructor at Oregon State University and is the Artistic Director of Portland’s longstanding experimental music organization, The Creative Music Guild.
Please note: Tickets do not guarantee seating during shows at the Royal Room. For sold out shows standing room may be the only available space. Please come early to ensure you get a table. Reservations can be made for those who are coming for dinner as well as the show. The Royal Room is All Ages until 10pm.
