Hello friends – 

 

I am thrilled to announce the Presbybop Quintet is returning to the recording studio. It is an exciting project and will feature new music that we have been working on for a few years. The working title for the recording is “Brand New Day,” a bold statement from a quintet that has performed together for over twenty years. For what is jazz if it isn’t fresh, creative, and bubbling with imaginative energy? Every time we play, it’s a new beginning, a new dance, a new invitation to step into the fresh possibilities of improvisation and swing.

 

We are ready to record a suite of new tunes. Some of the titles reflect moments in the passing of time: “On a Summer Day,” “For Twenty Years,” “Time is Short,” and “Eighth Day.” It is music that expresses positive values, with a new ballad to honor those who work with the homeless community (“Finding Our Way Home”), a praise for an underappreciated pioneer for justice (“Shuttlesworth”), and a musical critique of superficial shortcuts for building human community (“Celestia – Utopia Unraveled”). There is a memorial elegy for our dear friend Al Hamme (“Bright Sorrow”) as well as a “new” tune composed fifteen years ago and finally ready to perform (“Ahead of the Curve”). 

 

It is an exhilarating collection of music. We think you will enjoy these tunes as much as the audiences who have begun to hear them in our live shows. During this campaign, we will offer video introductions to the music, interviews with the band, concert clips, and many surprises. A free concert premiere of the music will be offered on May 18, 2025, in Clarks Summit, PA, and our project supporters will be offered the best seats in the house – and links to the livestreamed performance. 

 

I am proud of my band and can’t wait to share this music with you. The Presbybop Quintet continues to evolve and is playing better than ever. With Jeff Stockham on trumpet and French horn and Mike Carbone on saxophone and flute, the melodies are colorful and full of vitality. Tony Marino’s bass and Ron Vincent’s percussion offer a solid foundation for swing. And I have the benefit of sitting on the piano bench in the middle of their extraordinary creativity, 

 

So, I reach out to you as someone who has supported our music. We have set up a campaign through Fractured Atlas, our fiscal sponsor, to invite friends to help us get this music recorded. Donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law, and there are premiums and perks for every level of support. 

 

I hope we can count on you. You have been a great friend of our music, and I would love to have your support for this project.

 

With every good wish,

Bill Carter

bill@presbybop.com
 
 P.S. - Watch for updates on our Presbybop Facebook page and website.