Brennan Connors & Stray Passage

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Jeff Alexander

Brennan Connors & Stray Passage (left to right): Brian Grimm, Brennan Connors, Geoff Brady.

media release: For those that can't make it to Cafe CODA, this show will be streamed live!

"Their sets embrace plenty of sinuous melody and conversational interplay, but can just as easily dive into minimalism and dissonance.” - Tone Madison

"For those who seek to shake themselves out of musical complacency, there’s Stray Passage, an improvisational jazz trio that explodes boundaries, playing of the energy in the room and audience. The group, led by saxophonist Brennan Connors, includes master percussionist Geof Brady and Brian Grimm on bowing cello, contra-cello and electric bass.

The album they’re releasing on an Italian label was recorded live by Steve Gotcher at Audio for the Arts."

~ Isthmus Daily Page

Brennan Connors & Stray Passage has been pushing boundaries in jazz and improvised music in Madison for nearly a decade; stunning, delighting, enchanting, and sometimes shocking audiences with their focused musical communication and wide-ranging sonic emotional impact. The breadth of the group's palate ranges from austere minimalism to fery high

energy music, all while maintaining a sense of narrative organization and compelling ensemble interplay throughout performances.

The leader of the trio, saxophonist Brennan Connors, also plays with various experimental and world music groups in Madison including Samba Novistas, the Madison Choro Ensemble, and AMOEBAGEDDON. In addition, Brennan has worked on a regular basis with Hanah Jon Taylor as well as Madison institutions James Earl Tate and the late Charlie Brooks.

Geof Brady plays drums and percussion for Stray Passage laying down strong grooves and textures. He is also adept on the theremin and on his homemade electronic sound devices. Geof plays with a vast number of area bands and musicians. Some highlights include Yid Vicious (for which he composed a musical score for the 1920 film The Golem), Major Vistas, Hurt Albert, and is a founding member of the Sockrates Carnival of Sock Puppet Morals and Logic.

Brian Grimm rounds out the trio playing cello and electric bass while utilizing ample effects to enhance the group's creative approach to sound and feel. He works as a composer, producer, and educator in addition to being an active performer. His other current bands include the Five Points Jazz Collective and Lovely Socialite.

The band's first album, entitled Emergence, was released in 2017 on the Italian label Setola di Maiale. It made Tone Madison Top 20 Madison records of 2017.

Show: $5, buy tickets at the door. No online tickets. Attendees are required to wear a mask to enter and at all times during the event, no matter your vaccination status. You will be required to keep your mask on unless actively eating or drinking.

Bandcamp: https://grimmusik.bandcamp.com/album/emergence

SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/brennan-connors

Interview with Tone Madison: https://www.tonemadison.com/articles/brennan-connors-stray-passage-embrace-the-absence-offormula

Band facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/brennanconnorsandstraypassage

Production: www.mmx608.com

Sounds: Papa Scott