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At a time when the world is a very uncertain place and people seem to have trouble settling their differences, it is important to remember the things that we have in common and that bring together people of all nations. Music has long been used in this manner. Whether for sacred or secular purposes, it unites people in a shared emotion and understanding. Bajuco strives to blend the sounds and styles of different cultures, both traditional and modern, hoping to bring their listeners together to share an admiration, respect and celebration for the world's musical diversity. Todd Marston (melodica, accordion) was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut in 1981. He began studying the piano at age five, mostly studying classical technique. However, it was not until he was first exposed to jazz at age fifteen, that he discovered his true passion for the instrument. While still in high school, Todd formed a jazz trio that performed throughout Northern Connecticut and the Worchester, MA area. He also studied with acclaimed pianist Dick Odgren for three years prior to attending classes at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. While at Berklee, Todd experimented with many different avenues of composition and performance, and studied privately with Laszlo Gardony, Joanne Brackeen, David Hazeltine, and Stephanie Tiernan. Todd was drawn to the melodica in the summer of 2002 after seeing pianist Danilo Perez play one at a performance in Boston. He began searching for like-minded musicians who were willing to explore alternate instrumentations for jazz/world music performance. With these efforts, Bajuco was born and ever since, Todd has kept up a continuous output of compositions written specifically for this band's eclectic and ever-changing instrumentation. He currently resides in Brighton, MA, and is busy performing, writing, and teaching music. Born in 1973, Tev Stevig (strings)grew up on the Central Coast of California. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, he enrolled in the Berklee College of Music in Boston. While there, he had the opportunity to study with many great musicians, including Mick Goodrick, Hal Crook, Dave Santoro, John Damien, Rick Peckham, Richie Hart, Bret Willmott, John Thomas, and Bruce Bartlett. After concluding his studies at Berklee, Tev began studying several Middle Eastern and Balkan instruments, including cumbus (pronounced joom-bush), tambur, Bulgarian tambura, Turkish oud, and baglama saz. His interest in the rhythms and melodies of Middle Eastern and Eastern European music eventually led him to find performance and compositional outlets that would incorporate his jazz/improvisation background with his newfound multi-instrumentalist capabilities. Tev currently lives in the Boston area, where he is busy performing, composing, and teaching music. Outside of Bajuco, his current other projects include the Balkan/Gypsy music group Rakiya, the traditional Bulgarian group Zdravits, a group performing traditional Turkish music with vocalist/saz player Turgay Erturk, and a jazz duo with vocalist Lola Danza. Jordan Scannella (bass) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1980, and began playing piano at the age of eight. In junior high, he was struck by a new musical interest, the electric bass. While attending the School for the Creative and Performing Arts, Jordan was given the opportunity to explore this new avenue everyday as part of his education. He played electric bass in the schools jazz and musical theater bands, as well as acoustic bass in an orchestra. Meanwhile, he performed in a jazz trio which played everything from private functions, to the Greater Cincinnati Jazz Festival, to a Cincinnati Reds Baseball game! After high school, Jordan attended Berklee College of Music to further his studies, where he was exposed to a variety of styles and sounds. Currently, Jordan is busy as a performer and teacher in the Boston area. Playing fretted, fretless and acoustic bass has allowed him to pursue his goal of playing in a diverse array of groups and styles. These include original world music band Bajuco, Folk artist Reed Foehl, Rock songstress Jennifer Matthews as well as his own projects with vocalist Amanda Baisinger and trio Yappity Jeux, among others. Jordan looks forward to continuing his ever-expanding musical horizons in the future. Michael Daillak (percussion) was born on April 16th, 1975 in Santa Barbara, California. He showed a great love for music throughout his childhood (there were brief stints studying piano and guitar). However, it wasn't until his teenage years that he realized his true passion for music: The drumset. He immediately started out playing with rock and blues bands. As his skills expanded, so did his interests in other styles, leading him into the world of jazz. The next several years were spent exploring this vast genre. During this time, Michael became very active in the jazz scene of California's central coast, performing and recording a variety of music, ranging from big band to avante garde. He also founded a jam session designed to promote a network of young aspiring jazz players. In the fall of 2000, Michael enrolled at Berklee College of Music. While at Berklee, Michael expanded his musical knowledge to include many styles of traditional ethnic percussion. Michael currently lives in the Boston area, where he performs and teaches music, while focusing on blending various styles and techniques with creative percussion setups to create a new hybrid of expression and color. Check out the artist's website: http://www.bajuco.com Track List: 1. Freecell 2. Monkey Mind: Part 1 3. Sand 4. The Ocean 5. Tolje 6. Kosher Salsa 7. Pandemia 8. Monkey Mind: Part 2 Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
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