Tom Zlabinger Trio (Vision/RUCMA Series)

New York, NY - Music is about relation. The distance between points in space and time, be they notes, sounds, energies or people. How we organize/reorganize, define/redefine, add/subtract these points or moments makes the music. I would venture to say it is what happens BETWEEN these moments that is the best part, especially in improvised music. These spaces are where music lives. And by developing these spaces between sound and others, the music gets stronger. It is my privilege tonight to make music with two people whose approaches and ideas I trust and admire. The musical conversations and explorations in the past have always been fruitful and full of surprises. Please join us on our journey.

Tom Zlabinger (bass) is an instructor of music and the director of the Jazz Workshop, the Blue Notes, and the Summer Jazz Program at York College/CUNY. He holds a B.A. in music from Grinnell College and an M.A. in jazz performance from Queens College/CUNY. Since moving to New York in 2000, Zlabinger has shared the stage with a wide range of musicians, including Martin Atangana, Richard Augustin, Glenn Branca, Billy Ficca, Lukas Foss, Eddie Gale, Joe Giardullo, Wycliffe Gordon, Dick Griffin, Antonio Hart, Jason Hwang, Dawoud Kringle, Oliver Lake, Emeline Michel, Ravish Momin, Butch Morris, Ras Moshe, Todd Nicholson, Arturo O'Farrill, Tom Shad, Trudy Silver, Blaise Siwula, Tor Snyder, Steve Turre, Ray Vega, Diana Wayburn, Lenny White, Booker T. Williams, Kali Z, and Rachel Z. Currently, Zlabinger is completing a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology at the CUNY Graduate Center. For more information on Zlabinger, go to: http://www.myspace.com/tomzlabinger

Catherine Sikora (soprano/tenor) is originally from West Cork, Ireland. She ended up in New York by a somewhat roundabout and frustrating route, which took her through Leeds and Berlin seeking a teacher to guide her studies. She studied with George Garzone in New York, and took over three years off from performing in order to concentrate fully on her studies of the instrument and of abstract/chromatic improvisation. Presently, Sikora is working with many ensembles, all of which have improvisation as a focus, and all of which encourage musical evolution. One of her current projects, Clockwork Mercury (her duo with Eric Mingus), allows her to work with poetry, which is another great love of hers. Sikora believes in the absolute sanctity and importance of music, and her goal is to approach it with honesty and subservience. For more information on Sikora, go to: www.myspace.com/catherinesikora and www.myspace.com/clockworkmercury

Dave Miller (drums) is a freelance drummer, composer and educator living in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated cum laude from the jazz studies program at William Paterson University in 2007 where he worked closely with artists such as Kevin Norton, Mulgrew Miller, Ari Hoenig, Bill Goodwin and Marcus McLaurine. Since moving to New York, Miller has been very active on the jazz and creative music scene working with many wonderful musicians including Daniel Carter, John Mosca, Alan Bjorklund, Dave Schnug, and Josh Lopes. His main creative outlooks are based in the groups Tell The Audient Void (a collective playing the music of Lopes) and his own trio Word Games. Miller can be contacted through his website: www.davidkennethmiller.com