Thumbscrew’s first gig as a collective trio was on March 11, 2012. Since then, the all-star trio has been in high demand for performances at Jazz and New Music festivals worldwide. They have played at such North American festivals as the Vancouver Jazz Festival, Monterrey Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Philadelphia whatever Jazz Festival, and the wildly popular beyond-genre Big Ears Festival. Thumbscrew has also played numerous festivals overseas, touring Europe and the Middle East. In addition, they’ve played at and/or served residencies at numerous high-profile venues worldwide, including the Village Vanguard (NYC), Walker Arts Center (Minneapolis), Blues Alley (Washington DC), and many more. Featuring the trio’s masterful and near-intuitive interplay, consummate level of skill, distinctive compositions, and joy de vivre onstage, Thumbscrew’s live shows have become legendary, instilling audiences with awe and generating positive reviews in the music press.
Thumbscrew’s recorded music has likewise received worldwide acclaim. Counting its newest release, “Multicolored Midnight,” the band has released seven albums since 2014, all on Cuneiform Records. These albums received an impressive amount of press worldwide, including numerous 4-star reviews and/or spotlights in DownBeat and other Jazz magazines, in addition to being named in numerous Best Jazz Albums of Year lists globally. In addition, the Thumbscrew trio and its individual members have been cited in various Best of Year lists for Musicians, Rising Star Artists, and Rising Star Ensembles.
A decade into its existence as a band, Thumbscrew has compiled an impressive, Rock-solid legacy. The stellar artists of this unique cooperative look forward to building further on this strong foundation, launching new sonic journeys for Thumbscrew as well as utilizing the trio as the rhythmic heart in many of their individual large ensembles.
Confirmed Tour Dates:
October 8 – Moods – Schiffbauplatz – Zurich, Switzerland
October 12 – Open Music / Tubes – Graz, Austria
October 14 – Handelsbeurs Concertzaal – Kouter 29 – Gent, Belgium
October 15 – Porgy & Bess Jazz Club – Riemergasse 11 – Vienna, Austria [live & stream]
October 16 – Skopje Jazz Fest – Macedonian National Opera & Ballet – Skopje, Macedonia
October 18 – Vortex Jazz Club – 11 Gillett Square – London, UK
October 19 – JazzClub Singen – Mühlenstrasse 13 – Singen, Germany
October 21 – Controtempo – Via Giulio Cesare, Lucinico – Cormons, taly
October 22 – Jazz Club Ferrara – Torrione San Giovani – Ferrara, Italy
October 29 – Arts + Literature Laboratory – 111 S. Livingston St – Madison, Wisconsin 53703
October 30 – Arts + Literature Laboratory – 111 S. Livingston St – Madison, Wisconsin 53703 [workshop at 11 am – open to the public]
November 11 – Jazz Gallery – 1160 Broadway (at 27th St), 5th Floor – NYC, NY [record release show!]
November 12 – Jazz Gallery – 1160 Broadway (at 27th St), 5th Floor – NYC, NY [record release show!]
Lineup:
Michael Formanek – Double Bass and Electronics
Tomas Fujiwara – Drums and Vibraphone
Mary Halvorson – Guitar