The Spanish Donkey

Any of the artists that form The Spanish Donkey (Jamie Saft, Joe Morris, Mike Pride) could create dictionaries of superlatives with praise their work has garnered.  But as a cohesive unit, they surge forward into a new thesaurus, as a dream trampling through the woods on the edges of evening.  Joe Morris’ melodic improv guitar lines sketching out space where Jamie Saft’s keyboards color in chromatic aberration nudged and prodded by Mike Pride’s outside of time drumming.  Three artists who have made careers of developing new sonic spaces, have formed a new place of exploration and imagination.   It’s the re-history of 21st century avant-jazz.

JOE MORRIS
Morris was born in New Haven, Connecticut; an important early mentor and playing partner was the legendary but little-recorded pianist Lowell Davidson. Morris is perhaps the most significant guitarist to play free jazz since Sonny Sharrock. Morris has stated that his flowing single-note technique was inspired more by traditional African musics, and by saxophone players like Eric Dolphy and Jimmy Lyons, than by other guitarists. He does not use distortion or effects, preferring a “clean” sound, but has made occasional use of a serrated pick to “bow” the strings of his guitar, creating an otherworldly, harmonic-rich sound. He also plays banjo and banjo-uke, and in recent years has increasingly focused on playing bass.

“One of the most profound improvisors at work in the U.S.” – WILL MONTGOMERY, THE WIRE

“If Ornette Coleman were Jim Hall, he would be Joe Morris.” – GARY GIDDINS, THE VILLAGE VOICE

“. . . the guitar revolutionary to pay attention to.” – NORMAN WINSTEIN, THE BOSTON PHOENIX

“. . . the most exciting and original jazz plucker to emerge in the last decade.” – JOHN CORBETT, DOWNBEAT

“. . . a guitarist whose sound is completely his own, oscillating between deadpan sweetness and dangerous, shrapnel-like caprice.” – K. LEANDER WILLIAMS, THE VILLAGE VOICE

“. . . the future of the instrument.” – BEN WATSON, HI FI NEWS

“. . . he sounds like no one else.” – ART LANGE, THE WIRE

JAMIE SAFT

Jamie Saft (piano, organs, analog synthesis, bass and guitar, steel guitars) is a native of Queens, New York. Since returning to New York in 1993, Saft’s stylistic versatility, multi-instrumentalist capabilities, and production skills have been featured with the Beastie Boys, Bad Brains, the B-52′s, Laurie Anderson, Bobby Previte, John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Jerry Granelli, Holly Palmer, Marc Ribot’s Los Cubanos Postisos, Elysian Fields, Black Beatle, Antony and the Johnsons, Chocolate Genius, JoJo Mayer’s Nerve, E-Z Pour Spout, Cuong Vu, Chris Speed Trio Iffy, Jane Ira Bloom, and the Groove Collective.Saft is a mainstay of the downtown scene and a member of bands such as The Beta Popes, Whoopie Pie, Swami LatePlate, The Shakers and Bakers, Kalashnikov, Pramrod Sexena, and John Zorn’s Electric Masada.

“The dazzling array of new sonic nuance brushed by Saft captures the imagination.” – Echoes Magazine

“Saft demonstrates an unfettered imagination and sense of invention that truly dominate” – All About Jazz

“Jamie Saft’s piano and organ are top-drawer. He’s got big ears!” – On HiFi

MIKE PRIDE

Percussionist/composer Mike Pride was born and raised in the Portland, Maine area. He has been playing & composing music since he was a child. While living in Maine, Mike studied with Les Harris, Jr., Bill Street and Matt Wilson, performed with legendary composer & jazz educator David Baker, & produced experimental, shock-rockers Ned Muffleburger & the DSL’s. Mike moved to New York City in the year 2000 where he studied briefly with drum & bass master, Amir Ziv. Mike then began studying with the legendary percussionist/healer/teacher, Professor, Milford Graves. Since his move to NYC, Mike has performed and recorded throughout the U.S. and North America, Europe, Asia, & Australia with many wonderful musicians including Aarktica, Boredoms, Karen Borca, Tyondai Braxton, Anthony Braxton, Califone, Daniel Carter, Eugene Chadbourne, Nels Cline, Andrew d’Angelo, Jim Denley, Trevor Dunn, Brandon Evans, Ken Filiano, Michael Formanek, Chris Forsyth, Marc Gartman (of Low), Milford Graves, Curtis Hasselbring, Mark Helias, Fred Hess, Bill Horist, Vijay Iyer, Haino Keiji’s FUSHITSUSHA, George Lewis, Frank Lowe, Mat Maneri, punk-rock legends MDC (Millions Of Dead Cops), Tony Malaby, Bill McHenry, Sam Mickens, Butch Morris, Joe Morris, Pale Horse & Rider, William Parker, Matana Roberts, Perry Robinson, Jamie Saft, Sonny Simmons, Chris Speed, Trey Spruance, Steve Swell, Craig Wedren, Matthew Welch, Nate Wooley, Jack Wright, Otomo Yoshihide & John Zorn. Since his move in 2000, Mike Pride has been featured on over 40 recordings, many which he is a leader, co-leader or composer.

“Mr. Pride, an intense and searching drummer, brings the full measure of his concentration to this working band.” –THE NEW YORK TIMES, Nate Chinen

DISCOGRAPHY

• XYX (2011) [Northern-Spy]