Industrial Hero by Ben Darwish Trio

Tim Duroche, a jazz columnist for the Willamette Week, gave this review:

“Among other things, the right to assembly guarantees that a maniacally talented cadre of young jazz beaux like these can plot the night away in a darkened basement with no fear of the Man. Dabbling in revolutionary delight, the Ben Darwish Trio tosses off incendiary originals, fiery jazz chestnuts and swing with wicked abandon (courtesy the ebullient momentum of drummer Drew Shoals). They're joined by home-for-the-holidays saxophonist John Nastos, a breathtakingly talented young-man-with-a-horn wise beyond his tender years”

-Willamette Week Dec. 2005

A Portland native, Ben Darwish has been playing piano since the age of six. He also plays drums, guitar, and sings. At the age of eighteen, Ben studied for two years with world renowned pianist, Randy Porter. He since has played in the Mt. Hood Jazz Band and recorded their 2003 release “I’m New Here” on the Seabreeze label. He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Music in Jazz Studies at the University of Oregon. He has appeared on Homegrown Jazz on 89.1 KMHD and on the Don Manning Jazz Show on 90.7 KBOO. Ben has played with Kevin Mohagany, Harry Allan, Jamey Abersold, Paul Mazzio, and Allan Jones, among others. He was also the recipient of the 2003 JSO Young Musician scholarship.

Although he is only 22, Drew Shoals has played drums professionally in the Portland music scene for several years. A recent graduate of Whitman College, Shoals was awarded the Outstanding College Drum Soloist award at the 2005 Lionel Hampton Jazz Fesitval, accompianed with a write up in September 2005's Modern Drummer magazine. Whether he is playing funky, groove-oriented music or odd metered modern jazz, Drew offers a unique and refreshing voice to drum chair.

Born and raised in Salem, Zach Wallmark fell in love with jazz and started playing bass at the age of 13. By his senior year of high school, he was gigging regularly. Zach attended college in New York and played frequently at such clubs as Birdland, The Cotton Club, Tonic, and the Knitting Factory. Recording credits include collaborations with Gianfranco Tornatore ("Sink or Swim", Fresh Sounds 196), the NYU Concert Jazz Ensemble and Jeffrey Sackmann's Single White Female. Zach currently lives in Eugene and is pursuing a Master's degree in musicology.

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