Charged Particles

After 32 years of making music together, Bay Area funky Latin jazz trio Charged Particles joins forces with saxophonist Tod Dickow for an evening that expands their signature sound in new directions. The core trio features pianist Murray Low (here listed as Greg Sankovich in the venue description), bassist Aaron Germain, and drummer Jon Krosnick — players who blend classical elements with complex orchestration and freewheeling improvisation.

Charging their performances with what critics call "sensitivity and spontaneity," Charged Particles brings an acoustic sensibility even when using electric instruments. Their hallmark is high-energy exploration that can range from whisper-quiet cooking to romantic ballads, with the obvious camaraderie between players making each show a group adventure.

Tod Dickow's addition gives the trio a new musical voice, particularly drawing from their acclaimed Michael Brecker tribute project. Their collaboration has earned praise from Downbeat Magazine calling their performance "inventive, invigorating, mesmerizing, and virtuosic," while Jazz Times Magazine describes them as "a tight and enormously talented" group with "tight interplay, spark, and personal flair."

Their recent album Live at the Baked Potato! was named one of 2021's best by Jazzwise Magazine, JazzTimes, and the Jazz Journalists Association. The quartet showcases what the Ventura County Reporter called their ability to "glide through their repertoire like seasoned professionals," with musicians who "joyfully riff on each other's improvisations" in performances where it's "not sure if the musicians or the audience had more fun."

Expect an evening of sophisticated Latin rhythms, imaginative arrangements of jazz standards, and the kind of musical conversation that comes from players who deeply admire each other's instincts and aren't afraid to push boundaries together.