About the Band
Formed by guitarist Erik Oldman and drummer/percussionist Paul Abella, the ensemble skips the academic jazz route to focus on groove with a bend for experimentation. The band's core repertoire draws heavily from the driving rhythms of James Brown, Funkadelic, and Herbie Hancock, alongside instrumental arrangements of classic Stax/Volt material from Booker T. & the M.G.'s and Isaac Hayes. They lean into the gritty soul-jazz of Eddie Harris and Grant Green, while completely upending expectations with heavy, funky reinterpretations of classic tracks from the likes of Black Sabbath and Fugazi.
Currently, the band hosts a Jazz Centennial Monthly Residency, dedicating full-night performances to the 1926 birth year celebrations of jazz icons Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Brother Jack McDuff, and Lou Donaldson—filtering their legendary catalogs through the band's heavy, groove-first lens.
The Core Lineup
- Erik Oldman (Guitar & Synth): A veteran of the Chicago instrumental scene, Erik is a founding member of Sons of Ra, the dark ambient drone duo Mare Crisium, and free-jazz-fusion ensemble Late Model. He shapes the band's sonic atmosphere with heavy rhythmic phrasing, bass-heavy textures, and vintage synth layers.
- Paul Abella (Drums and Percussion): Paul brings a sharp, acoustic drive to the core rhythm section, drawing from his work leading the Paul Abella Trio and the punk-free-jazz ensemble, Questionable Decisions. Paul serves as the Music Director of WDCB 90.9FM Chicago's Home for Jazz.
- Randy Bufanda (Saxophones): A versatile woodwind player and essential session saxophonist, Randy performs regularly across the city with Lost Pyramids and Oh God, Oh No!, anchoring the band's front line across multiple horns.
A rotating cast of Chicago's top-shelf musicians from the jazz, jam, improvisational experimental music, and rock scenes regularly joins the band.