Search - R.U.B. :: Are You Be

Ned Rothenberg and Samm Bennett have a long history of collaboration, most notably in the seminal ?downtown? band of the late 1980s, Semantics, along with guitarist Elliott Sharp. In 1996 Bennett relocated from New York City to Tokyo, where he works with some of Japan?s leading musicians. As Rothenberg is a frequent visitor and performer on the Tokyo scene, they have joined with guitarist (and leader of the acclaimed improvising power trio Altered States) Uchihashi Kazuhisa to form R.U.B. ? and with a bit of wordplay they offer their premier release Are You Be. Recorded in Tokyo in February 2002, Are You Be mixes live improvising, compositions from each player, slippery sonic textures and hard grooves into a wide-ranging but focused presentation. The music moves from driving garage-jazz to intricate polyrhythmic electronica to somber atmospheric narratives, yet retains a band ?sound? throughout. With Are You Be, Bennett, Uchihashi and Rothenberg have brought their unique strengths and highly individual artistic perspectives to bear on 13 exciting tracks, essential listening for those who like their records consistently interesting and deliciously unpredictable. And for those who don't - hey, just turn on the radio!