Elijah McLaughlin (Guitar) and Jason Toth (Upright Bass) recently collaborated on the album "Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble III" released by Astral Spirits Records. The Ensemble's powerful synergistic sound, and their highly developed harmonic and melodic interplay can be heard in full-force on the new album. This is forward thinking avant-string ensemble music, and a giant leap forward for the group. The duo also worked together on "Elijah McLaughlin Ensemble II" which was released in 2022 on Tompkins Square Records.
Tommaso Moretti is a drummer and composer from Italy who relocated to Chicago in 2013. Upon arrival he has been actively involved in different local music scenes, frequently collaborating and releasing albums as a side musician with artists and bands such as: Ben Lamar Gay, Bottle Tree, Rob Frye, Eric Hines Pan Dulce, Chicago Samba and many others.
In 2017 he released, for the label Amalgam, his first album as a leader: SemoComeSemo. Since then, he has been playing his original music exploring different line-ups and instrumentations. In May 2022 he released the album Inside Out on BACE records. This “building blocks music project” stretches from a trio to a sextet and emphasizes the composer’s love for intimate melodies/harmonies and exposes his passion for Afro Latin and Brazilian rhythms.
Emily Rach Beisel is a Chicago-based improvisor, composer, educator, curator and woodwind specialist. Beisel is known for visceral performances combining extended instrumental techniques with heavy amplification and timbral effects. Their solo work frequently explores the intersection between avant-garde art music and extreme metal genres such as mathcore, doom, and death metal. As a curator, Beisel seeks to increase the visibility and involvement of women and nonbinary artists in the creative music community. They founded the Pleiades Series at Elastic Arts, presenting monthly performances along with a community-based free improvisation jam for femme and nonbinary performers.
Bill is a Chicago-based drummer and improviser working in areas of improvisation, noise, rock, and country. His work has been presented nationally and internationally at performance series, festivals, clubs, and art installations such as Elastic Arts, Constellation, ESS, The Empty Bottle, The Hideout, Evanston Space, Beat Kitchen, Spot Tavern, Lincoln Hall, Old Town School of Folk Music, and The Chicago Museum Of Contemporary Art. In 2015 he started Amalgam, a 100% artist-run collective and label dedicated to showcasing works of improvised and experimental music in Chicago and elsewhere, with a bi-monthly series at Cafe Mustache. Bill is also an audio engineer working in both studio and live contexts, and operates an independent studio in Chicago with engineering, mixing, mastering, and production credits on labels such as Amalgam, Astral Spirits, No Index, 577 Records and Ears&Eyes. In 2020 he started and co-operates a recording studio called Marmalade.
