Red Planet Returns!

“One of Jazz’s Most Innovative Bands!” – Jazz Police

Red Planet (Dean Magraw, Chris Bates, Jay Epstein) was formed in 2003, playing innovative jazz sounds with a strong emphasis on creative interactivity for the 21st Century. In addition to its personalized original material, Red Planet is known for its unique interpretations of the music of John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, & Jimi Hendrix.

Dean Magraw: Guitar
Kavyesh Kaviraj: Piano
Chris Bates: Bass
Jay Epstein: Drums

Dean Magraw: composer, arranger, producer, guitarist, has fine-tuned his “Heavy Meadow” approach to music from years of performing and recording with some of the finest musicians in the United States, Europe, and Japan. His first recording, Broken Silence, came out in 1994 and won the NAIRD award for Best Acoustic Instrumental Album of the Year. Dean has since produced myriad passionate albums, including his latest release, Fire on the Nile (Red House Records), a duo collaboration with renowned percussionist, Eric Kamau Gravatt.

“Red Planet sets the stage for this album with a searching rubato, dark and lovely tune by guitarist Dean Magraw’s “Ann R Chi Suite,” as it hovers into the frame, making the full, noir-ish melody glow like a neon sign through a big-city hotel window. Magraw with bassist Chris Bates and drummer Jay Epstein – is a band of Twin Cities notables that emits wide open spaces, filling those spaces subtly but colorfully, the improvisations and accompaniments brimming with blue-hued melody – an atmospheric beauty!” – 4 Stars. Bradley Bambarger, Down Beat.

www.redplanetjazz.com