The Disco Biscuits are still very much the pioneers of “trancefusion,” bridging the gap between electronic music and jam bands. They still remain rock pioneers whose soul belongs as much to marathon dance parties as it does to live improvisational journeys.
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The Disco Biscuits are an entirely different band today than they were when they first broke out of Philadelphia in the mid-90s. That’s not to say that they’ve abandoned their foundation, switched gears or set sail for distant shores. The Disco Biscuits are still very much the pioneers of “trancefusion,” bridging the gap between electronic music and jam bands. They still remain rock pioneers whose soul belongs as much to marathon dance parties as it does to live improvisational journeys. They still employ emerging technologies to help them create music that is 100 percent human although, perhaps, not entirely of this earth.
JAKE CINNInGER
Known for his mindblowing guitar work & killer songwriting with Umphrey’s McGee, Jake Cinninger’s musicality shines no matter which instrument he is playing. Originally a drummer, Jake is also adept at keys and saxophone and can produce professional grade recordings on a 4 track, iPad or Nieve console. He’s also a lead vocalist and sings a number of more popular UM tunes.
Joel Cummins
With his vast arsenal of keyboards, Joel produces an array of sounds for Umphrey’s McGee. He received a degree from Notre Dame with a focus on music theory & piano performance before starting UM and venturing into the world of electronic keyboards, B3 organ and synthesizers. His current live rig includes a Nord Stage 4, Minimoog Voyager, Sequential Prophet 6, Vintage Vibe piano, B3 organ & Mellotron m4000d. Outside of UM, Joel still enjoys playing classical piano & will headline the occasional solo keyboard/vocal show.
KARINA RYKMAN
Karina Rykman plays bass, sings, jumps around, and laughs a lot. Straddling the worlds of jam rock and indie pop drenched in psychedelia, Karina’s effervescent presence comes to life in musical form.
Born & raised in NYC, Rykman began in her early teens and quickly earned a reputation as an unmissable live act. Tearing up sold-out headline performances to ravenous fans, playing show-stealing festival/support slots, plus recent appearances in the house band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers - Karina stays busy. Rykman released her debut album, JOYRIDE via AWAL in August 2023 and features Trey Anastasio as co-producer & featured musician, contributing guitar on five of the album’s nine tracks.
mike greenfield
Mike was raised in Long Island and studied the fundamentals with local celebrity drummers Dom Famularo and Pete Heywood. Afterwards, he honed his musicality while attending Drummers Collective in New York City. During his formative years, Mike made an effort to play with as many different types of bands as possible, including rock, funk, gospel, salsa, and blues bands.
Mike moved to Philadelphia in 1999 and joined the Ally, who burst onto the Philadelphia electronic jam scene. Here, Mike began playing with members of the Disco Biscuits, Brothers Past, and permanently joined Lotus in 2009. Since then, he has played hundreds of live concerts and travelled the world playing live music to crowds as large as 25,000+ people. Mike has also performed with Electron, Umphrey’s McGee, the New Deal, John Medeski, and many others.
Cloudchord
Cloudchord (Derek VanScoten) is a producer, guitarist, and genre bending specialist that is augmenting musical possibility into reality with his remarkable technical skills. His refreshing takes on atmospheric dance music have solidified his place in the world of psychedelic chill hop beats.
VanScoten was inspired by pivotal live experiences leading him into jazz and classical guitar studies, while digging through the fertile left-of-center instrumental hip-hop. Born out of this aesthetic convergence, Cloudchord has established himself in the burgeoning lo-fi chillhop scene with his own blissfully hypnotic sonic alchemy. He’s since racked up 100 million total streams and won an Emmy for scoring on the documentary In Football We Trust, all while building his reputation with engaging live performances and an overflowing catalog of tunes.
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With Bloom Bap, Derek has put forth his greatest and most impossibly lush collection of tunes to date. We see him crystallizing his characteristic style with rolling grooves and dense thickets of melody, cementing Cloudchord as an exciting voice in the soundful electronic landscape. Featuring collaborations with Emancipator, Big Gigantic, Braxton Cook, ProbCause, Adam Deitch of Lettuce, and more, Bloom Bap projects tranquility but never quite sits still, always excitedly shifting its own structure as these 15 songs wind down fascinating paths—and you, the listener, are always along for the ride. “This is an encapsulation of me finding my identity in that world and taking all of the elements of the genre I love while branching out to an even larger audience.”
Matt Butler
Matt Butler has been the Conductor of Everyone Orchestra for over two decades, blending his skills as a drummer with the art of conducted improvisation. With over 1,000 musicians having joined him on stage, each performance features a new lineup, often meeting for the first time, to create spontaneous music without prior rehearsals. As a natural connector and creative leader, Butler excels in crafting unique live music experiences that not only showcase communication among musicians but also engage the audience in a dynamic process of creative exploration. Join in to learn about his innovative approach and experience the magic of live, conducted improvised music firsthand.
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Aron Magner / Piano
Jason Fraticelli / Bass
Matt Scarano / Drums
ARON MAGNER
The Philadelphia-based musician is best known as the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits. Magner and The Disco Biscuits have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the forefront of the live music scene and, increasingly, to popular culture. Magner’s journey started with classical piano, but his interest was re-invigorated at age 13 when he discovered jazz. He then sidelined his piano studies as he explored improvisational jam rock with the Biscuits, but always maintained an affection for the genre. He is now going back to his roots, organically fusing jazz with his unique style.
JASON FRATICELLI
As an upright bassist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Jason Fraticelli is seen and heard often at the center of many musical scenes in the Philadelphia/New York communities. For the past 20 years he has been acting as sideman for many different artists such as Matisyahu, Melody Gardot, and Cyro Baptista, while at the same time always fascilitating his own groups such as the Fresh Cut Orchestra, The FCC, and The Jason Fraticelli Band. Within an ensuing career, Jason has toured in groups such as Matisyahu, Melody Gardot, and Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits. He has recorded with many different artists such as G Love, Robert Glasper, Mark Guiliana, and Taylor McFerrin.
In 2013 Jason was awarded a project grant from the Pew foundation for the purpose of recording his extended work the Mothers’ Suite, a six movement piece to be recorded by his 10 piece co-lead group the Fresh Cut Orchestra. This work came out in 2015 on Fresh Cut Orchestra’s debut record ‘From the Vine’ which was released on Ropeadope records with acclaimed reviews from the New York Times, Downbeat, and NPR’s All Things Considered. In 2014 Fresh Cut Orchestra went on to receive the Kimmel Center Jazz Residency Grant which led to the collaborative work entitled ‘Life Mosaic’, a 4 movement piece written about the four stages of life to be recorded and released in the near future. Later that same year a Subito grant was awarded to Fresh Cut Orchestra in order to finish studio production on their second record ‘Mind Behind Closed Eyes’ which was released by Ropeadope records in 2016. Fresh Cut Orchestra has been receiving rave reviews while performing at renown performing arts center venues such as the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
MATT SCARANO
Matt Scarano is a drummer, composer, and educator living in Philadelphia, PA. Over the years he has established himself as one of the Philadelphia region’s most sought after drummers for both live and studio performance in a wide variety of styles. Matt has performed throughout the world, sharing the stage with numerous world-class musicians and artists including Chris Brubeck, Time For Three, Ben Schachter, Matisyahu, Dick Oatts, John Swana, Larry McKenna, and Dave Allen. He has performed at many prestigious venues across the world including performances as guest artist with The Boston Pops at Carnegie Hall and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall. He is currently performing and touring with numerous groups including Time for Three, Son Step, and his own original ensemble. Matt attended Temple University where he received a B.M. and M.M. in Jazz Performance. He is an active private teacher and clinician and is on faculty at University of The Arts, Camden County College, The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency and the Education Committee of Philly Drum Project.