Blue Cranes breathe new life into the structure and aesthetic of a music sometimes “mothballed by purists and considered dead by cynics”. They have successfully built a diverse audience of people not normally drawn to jazz. They have amassed an impressive log of shows at the most prominent rock and jazz venues in the Portland area, as well as performing live on the air at local music stations, KMHD and KBOO.

They describe their music as fusing “the repetitive elements of modern loop-based music with traditional and avant-garde jazz styles in an acoustic setting.” Blue Cranes' music is driven by the intriguing alto saxophonist Reed Wallsmith. He immediately grabs the listener through the sheer size of his sound. His tone is big, expressive, and marked by a warm vibrato. He takes chances when he plays, using a variety of tonal shadings and some vocalized effects.

"In recent years, Portland has become a breeding ground for a number of exciting jazz combos, all of which aim to take the genre out of the cocktail lounge and into the indie rock club. One such group is an invigorating quartet known as Blue Cranes... the group avoids expository solos and renditions of traditional songs, instead sticking together throughout like a rock band and, on this album, even covering a song by the late Elliott Smith.

"Blue Cranes haven’t completely eschewed the notions of what jazz music is, writing straightforward works ... as well as proving they can ride a Latin groove with best of them... Yet what makes Blue Cranes so enticing is how they stretch the boundaries of what jazz can be."

- WEST COAST PERFORMER MAGAZINE, January 2008

http://www.myspace.com/bluecranes

http://www.myspace.com/ebugogoband

Elaborating on the musical concepts of their debut, this time with a slightly bigger budget, and a few more stylistic colors, Ebu Gogo reaches new and exciting heights on their sophomore full-length "Worlds." From the King Crimsonesque assault of "Mantresses" to the teen-angst cock rock of "Late Due to Sweatpants Boner" to the Devo-meets-Can-meets-Mega Man thump of "Neo-Uranium Mattress," it is impossible to get bored on this twenty-song adventure. Although the sound is bigger and the quality better, the energy remains the same. You may even find yourself humming a melody or two after a few listens.