Chris Aschman's Volcanic Band

Baltimore-born trumpeter Chris Aschman brings his Volcanic Band to Mr. Tipple's for an evening of genre-blending music that fuses latin jazz, jazz funk, and world music influences. Aschman's unique musical voice draws from his mastery of both trumpet and steelpan, creating a distinctive sound palette that reflects his diverse performance history with artists including Paquito D'Rivera, Stanley Clarke, and Aretha Franklin.

The band features an impressive lineup of Bay Area musicians: saxophonist Tony Peebles, who has performed with the Grammy Award-winning Pacific Mambo Orchestra, Fred Wesley, and Karl Denson, brings his hard bop and Latin jazz sensibilities on tenor sax. Keyboardist Adam Klipple, influenced by McCoy Tyner and Cecil Taylor, currently tours with Veronica Swift and Blood, Sweat & Tears, and has collaborated with Ghostface Killah and Lauryn Hill. Drummer Malachi Whitson, who leads the ensemble Something with Soul, has performed with Herbie Hancock and Joshua Redman, bringing his blend of jazz, R&B, and improvisation to the rhythm section.

Aschman's background as a University of the Arts graduate and his work as both performer and educator informs his compositional approach, which seamlessly weaves together the Caribbean rhythms of steelpan with the harmonic sophistication of contemporary jazz. The combination of his dual instrumental prowess—switching between trumpet, flugelhorn, and steelpan—with this powerhouse rhythm section promises an evening of dynamic interplay and cross-cultural musical exploration.

Expected to hear: Latin-influenced grooves anchored by Whitson's rhythmic foundation, Klipple's Hammond organ and piano textures providing harmonic depth, Peebles' expressive saxophone work spanning hard bop to fusion territory, and Aschman's melodic trumpet lines complemented by the unique timbral colors of steelpan. The Volcanic Band's name hints at the explosive energy these seasoned musicians bring to their genre-crossing approach.