STEPHEN PERKINS & MIKE WATT DESPERATELY WANTED TO PLAY MORE MUSIC TOGETHER. PORNO FOR PYROS WAS TAKING A ANOTHER LONG BREAK -THAT WAS THE IGNITION MOMENT FOR BANYAN
David Turin was witness to the fist live improvised
PERKINS & WATT duet.
David invited Stephen Perkins, Mike Watt, Nels Cline and Money Mark to the DUST BROS. STUDIO IN SILVERLAKE, CA for an improvised afternoon of music produced by the Dust Brothers which turned into the first record, BANYAN.
Dave Turin had the idea for the session direction
: Let’s have the musicians listen to the music of Stravinsky and Tchaikovsky as in inspiration in their headphones while jamming with each other.
Off we went into the first of many experiments in sound -the unknown - the unwritten,
be it live in the studio or live on stage - it’s forever improvised.
The next few years BANYAN played many gigs-mostly in LA - Proper venues, late night art shows, music gatherings that were off the beaten path joined by abstract performances and brave ‘take a chance’ musicians joining Banyan for the night with unusual performance artists scattered between and the epic Norton Wisdom painting side by side with the musicians and players on stage.
BANYAN added an electric infused trumpet player named Willie Waldman in 1999 who also pushed for more out of state BANYAN gigs.
From there, with Willie’s help, BANYAN traveled across the country -small shows- big shows -festivals- late night camp sites in the woods - ski resorts- jazz clubs , in the big cities and in the small towns. Many sessions and soundtrack compositions.
The UTAH Winter Olympics, Monterey Jazz Festival and on and on,,,
and now… they’re here …in Zion national Park. Utah -for the 15th time !!
Its a one night stand at THE BIT & SPUR!
BAND past Alumni include:
Herman Greene,
Calvin Newborn,
Flea, John Fruciante,
Bucket Head, Rob Wasserman, Thurston Moore, Steve Kimock, Tony Franklin, Farid Hawk, Norwood Fisher,Joe Satriani,Petra Hayden
and the list goes on and on ,,,,
BANYAN released three records total
1. Banyan- a dark cinematic lift off and time travel music for the brave listener
2. Anytime at All- 20 plus musicians join forces for a tour de force of music that is forever crossing genres and boundaries
3.Live at Perkins Palace -a ‘live’ band performance in a backyard home studio with no edits … purely improvised with jazz instincts in philosophy but with a rock and roll teeth
The show at the Bit & Spur :
MAY 30th will have
Stephen Perkins drums
Willie Waldman trumpet
Andy Calder - bass
Jeff Eidemiller- guitar
And the youngest musician to ever play with Banyan, 16 year old Eden Perkins on guitar
The sound :
Will be improvised at all times with a taste of -Funk metal, psychedelic, sensitive, brutal, tribal, smooth, punk, jazz, Latin crunch -
manic & romantic at times peaceful then suddenly violent at other times, all in the same song !
BANYAN is always true to its original goal since 1996 - making music in the moment’
