Outside the Sphere & Birth

Outside The Sphere

Michael Brenneis-drums, sampler & electronics
Tony Barba-tenor saxophone & electronics

Birth

Josh Smith-tenor & soprano sax
Jeremy Bleich-bass
Joe Tomino-drums

***Formed in 1998, BIRTH, the Cleveland/New York saxophone, electric bass, drums trio, carved a musical niche with the sound of their no-holds-barred creative music. Bringing together elements of avant garde jazz, electro-acoustic and microtonal improvisation, and experimental rock balladeering, this group defies convention and executes its performances with precision, and emotive mastery.

Over time their music has evolved from youthful, unrestrained, prodigious outbursts, to a hybrid of powerful, yet highly sensitive improvisation and composition that has garnered attention and praise and admiration from some of the leading voices of the avant-garde jazz and creative music world.

A favorite of Cleveland jazz writer and folk icon Harvey Pekar, their music led Harvey to proclaim that birth was “So good that it’s scary.”

“Awesome and magnificent” lauded The Wire. John Zorn wrote “The music is strong, as is the group.” They were voted best Cleveland band of all time by the outgoing editors from the Cleveland Free Times in its final edition.

The trio toured in the US and Europe, constantly evolving their music and sound. They regularly performed at NYC’s Knitting Factory as well as other hubs of creative jazz including Tonic, and Chicago’s Empty Bottle. They played with a who’s who of improvised and creative music, and inspired a younger generation of musicians who have gone on to establish themselves in the creative music world.

Saxophonist Joshua Smith has performed with various notable groups under his own direction and as a sideman, Jeremy Bleich relocated to the Southwest, and has lived and performed music for the past eight years in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Joe Tomino anchored in New York City and pursued studio and touring projects that have brought him into a variety of notable realms. Individually thee band’s members have performed or recorded with the likes of Tim Berne, Chris Speed, Trevor Dunn, Lady Gaga, Joe Lovano, Nate Wooley, Lauryn Hill, Scott Amendola, Nels Cline, Matisyahu, Ben Goldberg, Dub Trio, Chris Jonas, Mike Patton, Cuong Vu, Joe Maneri, David King of The Bad Plus, and countless other forward thinking musicians of the highest order…

The band has released 5 albums, and in December of 2019, they released their long awaited double LP “Almost Never” which is now available in all streaming formats in addition to vinyl.

“Awesome and magnificent.” – The Wire

“So good that it’s scary.” – Harvey Pekar, Jazziz
“They continue to push the envelope.”- Revolving Door
“The music is really strong.”- John Zorn
“Their communication in the realm of avant jazz… is often telepathic and always captivating… a testament to their compositional
and technical prowess.”- Arts 4 All
“The Music of Birth is complex and thought-provoking; disorienting and abstract; well-paced and thought-out… always quite transcending.”-
Hearsay Magazine