P23 by Parallel 23

Afro-Caribbean folkloric beats, experimental jazz harmonies, and Latin funk grooves sprinkled with American pop melodic hooks, create a music that at times challenges the intellect, enraptures the spirit and ultimately makes the body move. The music is at once intricately arranged and filled with improvisation; ancient with bata drum patterns singing out Yoruban songs and yet, modern, as electronic textures permeate the mix.

Parallel 23 revels in live performance...and the energy generated from this communication on stage, is transmitting clearly to their steadily growing audiences.

Inspired by artists like David Byrne and Ry Cooder, Moen has found that great bursts of creativity arise when one travels in order to collaborate; one is inspired not only by the creative force, but also by the energy, culture and language of the place traveled. Traveling to over 50 countries with extended stays in Cuba, Spain, Brazil and Germany, Moen emphasizes that "the musical journey will continue in the context of the "23rd Parallel Project".

Thus far, P23 has collaborated with soul singer Hazel Miller (Big Head Todd & The Monsters), DJ Platurn of the Oakland Faders, and cuban sonero Erick Barberia.

“This band gets under your skin, with their infectious rhythm and melodies. Could be a whole new genre; Latin Jam. I love it.”

Band History and Individual Bios

After getting his masters degree from Stanford, keyboardist and composer Jason Moen (www.jasonmoen.com) spent years traveling to over 50 countries, with extended stays in Germany, Cuba, Brazil and Spain, where he studied and performed with local musicians. In 2000, he settled down in San Francisco’s Mission District to soak in the sounds of the famous musical barrio and began to develop his own sound.

He quickly joined with drummer Colin Douglas, who had just arrived in the city after studying at the Manhattan School of Music, and began playing Cuban timba and salsa with Quimbombo and Cubanacan. These dance orchestras quickly became two of San Francisco’s most popular, regularly playing bands, at top SF clubs like the Elbo Room and Club Cocomo, and events such as the San Jose Jazz Festival. Moen and Douglas now frequently play alongside master Cuban perfomers such as singer Fito Reinoso and percussionists Jesus Diaz, Orestes Vilato and Carlos Caro.

At this time, Douglas, also musical director of Olorun, an internationally touring afro-cuban folkloric dance troupe, tapped his partner, percussionist and composer Matt Lucas to join the project. Lucas had just recently arrived from Boston and had quickly made his mark in the SF folkloric percussion scene, playing regularly with internationally renowned percussionist Michael Spiro. In 2003, with the guidance of Jack Douglas, this trio produced three tracks featuring BamBam, an Oakland soul-rock singing phenomenon. These tracks became the seeds for the idea of completing an entire CD under the name Parallel 23 (P23). But the band still needed one more member in order to take the show on the road…

Bassist Sam Bevan (www.sambevan.com) arrived in SF after two years of touring with Dave Grisman Quintet and, with Moen, formed a successful jazz group in 2002, the Outbound Trio. The trio played regularly at local jazz clubs for two years, and also became jazz and soul singer Hazel Miller’s backup band during her trips to San Francisco. As Jason began focusing more of his efforts on P23, the trio disbanded and he invited Sam to join the new project. Sam, as a composer and performer, brings a modern, harmonically sophisticated element to the band. With his extensive jazz and jam band resume, he is one of the most in demand bass players in the SF Bay Area. His contributions to the P23 sound have been immense since the quartet began playing locally in early 2005.

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