On a steep hill north of New York City, three instrumentalists came together to live-compose State Fête (Adhyâropa Records – January 2026) – a new album, upcoming tour, and an ethos that celebrates the lyrical, the textural, the evil, and the funky. Using drums, homemade percussion (from bamboo to plastic waste), guitars, a unique reedless saxophone, and modified electric piano they conjure something both joyous and chaotic―an experience not unlike one's first trip to the state fair.
Billy Martin (aka Illy B) a founding member of Medeski, Martin and Wood, has played with John Lurie's Lounge Lizards, John Zorn's Cobra ensembles and countless other uncompromising groups. He pursues diverse musical contexts relentlessly, exploring, free improvisation, chamber compositions, and film scores. Billy is also prolific with new instrument design, film-making, and visual art.
Matt Glassmeyer crafts innovative sounds in Slow Accordion with Oliver Wood (Nashville), Hompulon (Brooklyn: Brian Drye, Tim Keiper, Dana Lyn, Tom Spiker) and Live Band with Nashville session creatives. He also has a long-standing duo with Jano Rix of The Wood Brothers. Matt is the inventor of the reedless saxophone, the shuitar, and a new approach to the electric piano.
Jonathan Goldberger's singular approach to guitar, described as “McLaughlin-meets-ambient” in Downbeat Magazine, is featured in Selcouth Quartet (with Joe Russo), John Zorn, Red Baraat, and
other progressive groups. He leads the acoustic collective Surface to Air and Visitors (with JP Schlegelmilch and Jim Black), one of Rolling Stone’s 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2018.
Best of 2025: New York Times - Ye Olde 2 →
ONE SHOT with Ed Sheeran: Netflix
jazzguitarTODAY feature →
LTA Artists Interview →
Selcouth Quartet album release - October 20th, 2023
featuring Joe Russo (drums, keys) Stuart Bogie (saxophone, flute, clarinet, keys) Jon Shaw (upright & electric basses) and Jonathan Goldberger (acoustic & electric guitars)
Their self-titled debut album, recorded at Floki Studios in Iceland with producer and engineer D James Goodwin, is a mesmerizing exploration of a range of styles and moods.
Born of creative immersion in a remote and otherworldly environment, their sound seamlessly drifts between hauntingly beautiful melodies, propulsive improvisation, expansive atmospheres, and towering sonic constructs.
https://selcouthquartet.bandcamp.com/album/selcouth-quartet
Interview with Samo Šalamon
JOHN ZORN’S BAGATELLES (VOL. 9 - 12) →
https://tzadik.limitedrun.com/products/733092-the-long-awaited-studio-recordings-of-john-zorns-bagatelles-vol-9-12
Smashing Humans at Moers Festival 2022
Monk on Guitars 2
Andy Summers (of the Police) performs on June 25 as part of Sound It Out’s all-star “Monk on Guitars 2” extravaganza at NYC’s Greenwich House Music School. The former Police guitarist joins fellow six-string virtuosos Miles Okazaki, Nick Millevoi, David Gilmore, Steve Cardenas, Ricardo Grilli, Harvey Valdes & Jonathan Goldberger, along with ace rhythm sections. Tickets are $35. You can purchase advance tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/monk-on-guitars-2-tickets-63581321444. Cash at the Greenwich House door is also appreciated.
The show, which begins at 7:00, will present the evergreen music of Thelonious Monk, with a free wine after-party. The bill also includes bassists Michael Formanek, Stephan Crump & Jerome Harris, along with drummers Francisco Mela, Richie Barshay, Kate Gentile & Satoshi Takeishi.
A Benefit for Creative Music Studio: Brooklyn Bowl
A Benefit for Creative Music Studio
Very excited to be a part of this amazing line up & worthy benefit for Creative Music Studio on Wednesday, April 3rd at @Brooklyn Bowl!
Lineup:
Billy Martin
Cyro Baptista
Dave Harrington
Fay Victor
Ingrid Sertso
Joe Russo
Jonathan Goldberger
Karl Berger
Ken Filiano
Marc Ribot
Marshall Allen
Oteil Burbridge
Peter Apfelbaum
Robert Walter
Steven Bernstein
Stuart Bogie
Creative Music Studio champions new creative music for the benefit of today and the inspiration of tomorrow. We strive to give musicians and our audiences an experience of music that embodies the spirit of innovation, collaboration, and improvisation.
Tickets available here:
More details here:
"Visitors" is one of Rolling Stone's 20 Best Jazz Albums of 2018 →
New album "Visitors" out now! →
Zorn Marathon at NYU Skirball Center - October 6th
Thrilled to be part of Jim Black's quartet -- we play last!
Garcia guitar benefit: Scofield, Cline, Martin, and more...
I got to play with some old school heroes the other night: John Scofield, Nels Cline, Billy Martin, as well as Joe Russo, Erik Deutsch, Dave Harrington. All for a good cause -- auctioning of Jerry Garcia's guitar (sold at $1.6 million!) for Southern Poverty Law Center.
Red Baraat: UAE, NPR's Tiny Desk, and Festival of Colors 2017
All over the map with RB this Feb/March --- NYU Abu Dhabi to NYC/NORTHEAST/WESTCOAST --- check redbaraat.com for more tour dates
Winterjazz 2017
I'm playing with some of my favorite bands this year:
Friday: Bizingas (with Drye, Ches Smith, Hank Roberts, and Shane Endsley), then Ye Olde (with Halvorson, Garchik, Mendoza, and Sperrazza)
Saturday: Superette (Lightcap, Reiser, Hasselbring)
Red Baraat to play Smithsonian in DC + collaboration with Silk Road Ensemble
Superette in the Studio with guests Nels Cline and John Medeski
Just finished recording Superette's new album at Sear Sound last week - the rough tracks sounded amazing. Excited for this album to come out! Thanks to Chris Lightcap, Dan Reiser, and Curtis Hasslebring -- an incredible group of musicians.
The west with Red Baraat: north and mid
Check out redbaraat.com for a bunch of dates over the next few weeks...Seattle to SF, and then Minneapolis to Chicago.