"As much as any other unit in modern music, this trio defies genres

(is it jazz, rock, blues, pop, or free improv?) as well as gravity."

Derk Richardson, San Francisco Bay Guardian

"Beautifully shaded music, asking questions instead of making declarations."

Peter Watrous, New York Times

The New York-based trio Spanish Fly consists of Steven Bernstein (trumpet), Marcus Rojas (tuba) and Dave Tronzo (guitar). "Fly By Night," their second full-length release, contains music commissioned for the ballet of the same name, choreographed for the San Francisco Ballet by ex-Ballanchine dancer Christopher d'Amboise. The music was used in a twelve-performance run in March of 1996, drawing some 15,000 people and garnering international press acclaim. "Fly By Night" (featuring special guest Ben Perowsky on drums) contains several songs previously issued on a limited-edition CD-EP, which was available by mail-order only from They Might Be Giants' "EP of the Month" club.

Spanish Fly has long been one of the leaders of New York's "Downtown" music scene, performing frequently and touring nationally and internationally. Creating daring and surprising music with their unique instrumentation, they back up brave compositional ideas with fearless playing and a desire to expand the realm of not just jazz, but all music.

Trumpeter STEVEN BERNSTEIN is a longtime member and musical director of John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and has worked with everyone from Carla Bley to Bootsy Collins. He was the arranger for Robert Altman's feature film *Kansas City* and the 1995's *Get Shorty*. Steven also appeared as a guest on Medeski, Martin & Wood's debut CD *Notes From The Underground* (Accurate AC 5010).

MARCUS ROJAS is the top young tubaist in jazz today, having performed and recorded with Henry Threadgill, Charlie Haden, Howard Johnson's Gravity and Accurate recording artists Plunge (AC 5016).

DAVE TRONZO'S groundbreaking slide guitar method has gained him recognition as one of the most original axe-men making music today. He has been called one of the "100 greatest guitarists of all time" by Musician Magazine, and was also singled out as one of the 30 "Most Subversive Terrorists, Tweakers and Troublemakers" in Guitar Player's 30th Anniversary issue (Jan. 97). He has appeared with David Bowie-guitarist Reeves Gabrels on * Night In Amnesia* (Upstart/Rounder).

Guest drummer BEN PEROWSKY is a founding member of New York's acclaimed Lost Tribe, and is one of the most active and versatile players in the city.

Steven Bernstein will be touring nationally as bandleader of the "Kansas City Band" on the Verve All-Star Tour, featuring Charlie Haden and Joe Henderson, from January 8 to February 3, 1997. This is a very high-profile tour of large concert halls and Steven intends to use his visibility here to promote the Spanish Fly CD. Spanish Fly will perform in New York throughout the winter and will tour the West Coast in March of 97.