Paul Dietrich's Elemental Quartet

×

Expand

Harvey Tillis

A four-piece band.

Paul Dietrich's Elemental Quartet (from left): Paul Dietrich, Matt Gold, Brian Courage, Devin Drobka.

media release: Paul Dietrich's Elemental Quartet is a new venture for its leader and composer. Joining trumpeter Dietrich are Midwestern stalwarts Matt Gold on guitar, Brian Courage on bass, and Devin Drobka on drums. The music stems from Dietrich's desire to return to basics and simplicity after several large ensemble projects, and is musically related to some of the folk-inspired jazz music of musicians such as Bill Frisell, Ron Miles, and Brad Mehldau.

Paul Dietrich has been described as an apt bandleader, an exceptional composer, and a superlative performer (All About Jazz) and a skilled composer (JazzTrail) and his music has been praised as stunningly beautiful (Audiophile Audition) and captivating (Chicago Jazz Magazine).

A composer, trumpet player and educator based in the Midwest, Dietrich has been the leader of the Paul Dietrich Quintet since 2012 and the Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensemble since 2016. The Chicago-based Quintet has released two albums: Focus (2017, ears&eyes) and We Always Get There (2014, Blujazz). The Paul Dietrich Jazz Ensembles 2019 album Forward features guest artist and world-renowned drummer Clarence Penn (Dave Douglas, Maria Schneider) alongside many of the Midwests best jazz musicians, including Greg Ward, Russ Johnson, Dustin Laurenzi, Matt Gold, and Andy Baker.

Matt Gold is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer based in Chicago, IL. His work pulls from diverse traditions of electric and acoustic music. Matt has played in venues across North America, Europe, and Asia, and has written music for film as well. His work has been praised for being accessible, yet healthily unconstrained by genre and sure of its own identity (UK Vibe) and for "effortlessly embodying its own dialectdefined by varied, spacious soundscapes, innovative improvisational flourishes and rich harmony" (Downbeat Magazine). In May 2020 Gold released Imagined Sky (Whirlwind Recordings), displaying his penchant for concise melody and a nuanced, exploratory palette of abstracted Americana. His latest solo release, Midnight Choir, delves more explicitly into Golds deft songwriting and imaginative production. He also releases music as part of the instrumental duo Sun Speak and the singer/songwriter duo Storm Jameson. As an instrumentalist and collaborator, Gold performs and records with a wide array of creative artists including Makaya McCraven, Greg Ward, Sara Serpa, Hood Smoke, and Jamila Woods. He co-curates the Flood Music concert series and record label.

Brian Courage co-founded a Twin Cities-based quartet with fellow saxophonist Nelson Devereaux. Courage, who spent several years as one of the Twin Cities' best bass players, is now an active member of the New York City jazz scene, and has played with Lew Tabackin, David Hazeltine, Billy Mintz and the Minnesota Orchestra.

Devin Drobka is one of the most in-demand and creative musicians in the midwest for the past 15 years. Audiences around the world have been enthralled with his wide sonic palette and limitless rhythmic possibilities on the drums. A deep love of jazz, metal, folk, hip-hop, ambient, idm, and classical music has helped shaped Devins unique voice and vision on the drums both as a leader and as a sideman. His highly personal and creative drumming can be heard within the realm of jazz having performed with Greg Osby, Jerry Bergonzi, Dayna Stephens, and Joe Lovano as well as indie- folk bands like Field Report and indie rappers R.A.P. Ferreira and Serengeti. Devin can be heard on over 50 albums of genre bending, original music for which he is an advocate for. Devin currently composes music for his newest group, The Devin Drobka Trio, which draws upon his love of contemporary classical music and minimalism and his multi horn group, Bell Dance Songs, which is a response to his love of Albert Ayler, Paul Motian, and Ornette Coleman. Devins music has been described as sounding like nothing else in midwestern jazz and gorgerous, innovative."