Californian percussionist Gino Robair first played with John Butcher in a 1997 session at Myles Boisen's Oakland studio. Some pieces from that day have been released on two Meniscus CDs - Music on Seven Occasions and Buddy Systems.

The next year they formed a trio with bassist Matthew Sperry (whom Butcher had played with at the 1995 Vancouver Company concerts). The trio recorded 12 Milagritos, and toured the West Coast.
It was a great shock when Matthew was killed by a car driver, in June 2003. A site dedicated to his memory can be visited at: Matthew Sperry.

Continuing as a duo, Robair and Butcher toured the UK in 2000 - an undertaking with distinctive qualities - and have continued to explore duo possibilities in the studio. New Oakland Burr is their latest release, and focusses on extreme techniques, including close miked/feedback sax and Robair's work with electric motors, e-bow and polystyrene.
In May 2004 they played on the US West Coast; from San Diego to Seattle - and in April 2005 St. Louis and Ann Arbor.

New Oakland Burr

order CD

On Rastascan.

John Butcher: soprano and tenor saxophones, amplified/feedback or acoustic.
Gino Robair: ebow snare, cymbals, faux dax, motor, toy reed, styrofoam.

read :: GAZ-ETA :: One Final Note :: Dusted

Guerrilla Mosaics

Studio recording from Oakland, California: 2002
Robair/Butcher with Miya Masaoka - koto

full info :: 482 Music

read :: Paris Transatlantic :: allmusic

Liverpool (Bluecoat)
Concert

Butcher/Robair duo - Live at the Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool: 2000

full info :: Limited Sedition

read :: Jazz Weekly

12 Milagritos

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Studio recording from Oakland, California: 1998
Robair/Butcher with Matthew Sperry - double bass

twelve statements of exuberance given momentum by a subtle delicacy
actuellecd

full info :: Spool

read :: Jazz Weekly :: allmusic

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