TORU

Toru Takiguchi was born in a small Japanese town near Mt. Fuji. He was raised on music and nature. He shares his affinity for music with his family, his classical-pianist mother and flutist brother. Toru started to play the guitar at age 12. At 15, he joined a band and started to perform in local music venues. When he was 16, he was introduced to the Keith Jarrett CD, "The Paris concert", which fueled his interest in jazz and his desire to amass a large CD collection. Toru played in rock bands throughout high school and listened to Jazz in his headphones. Soon afterwards, he back-packed through Asia and Europe, exploring different cultures, music and people, and he decided to come to New York.

Since moving to Brooklyn, Toru leads his own trio and has joined many kinds of groups/projects. He is a member of "Archtex Sounds", the Bay Ridge United Methodist Church Musicians, and an artists' group "momomo" in Japan. In addition, Toru gives private guitar lessons and teaches at The Japanese-American Society of New Jersey.

Toru has attended the Yamaha Academy of Music and the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, studying with Tota Hiraga, Yuji Yamamoto, Sean Moran, Sebastian Noelle, Clinton Dadian, and Paul Oden.

NATHAN

Nathan Smith is not the typical drummer you find chained up behind a drum set like a muppet. He began playing violin at age 6 and studied the Suzuki method. He began playing drums at the age of 13 when he realized that violinists didn’t get chicks. He taught himself the drums for the first few years, and then began lessons at 18.

Nathan began his drumming with a rock band in his hometown of Princeton, NJ. He then began experimenting with pots, pans and buckets after he saw the Broadway play, Bring in the Noise, Bring in the Funk. At Cornell University he studied jazz extensively and played in the local gypsy swing group that played cabaret and jazz standards, Djug Django.

Following his move to NYC, Nathan began work as a drummer in many different musical styles. You can find Nathan playing in NYC with country singer Lizzy Taggart, pop singers Andrea Dee and Lara Jeanine, and every Monday night at Birdland. Avi and Nathan have gone to Hebrew school together since age 6 and they reconnected a year ago at a Rosh Hashanah service. He has been happily working with Avi for over a year.

JOSH

Josh Paris was born and raised in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. His life was constantly filled with music and it wasn't long before Josh started to play. Getting his start on piano, Josh had interests in trying as many new instruments as possible. After a few tries he finally decided on the bass. He started to teach himself the electric bass while in Middle School and once he joined the jazz band in High School his passion turned to the upright bass. His early teachers included Fred Schrank, Henry Boehm and Steve Sveum.

Josh attended Northern Illinois University to earn his Bachelors degree in Music Education. While at Northern, Josh studied with Joey Sellers, Marlene Rosenberg and John Floeter. He also participated in the Chicago jazz scene playing with various groups such as: Fareed Haque Group, Jazz Education Project, Scantily Clad, Gravy Crisis Quartet, and the Doug Stone Big Band.

Wanting to pursue his musical interests further Josh moved to his current home, in New York City, and received his masters degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Some of his teachers included: Jay Anderson, Chris Rosenberg, Justin DiCioccio, Dave Liebman, Phil Markowitz and Mark Soskin. Some of the jazz luminaries he has had the opportunity to share the stage with have been: Joe Lovano, Dick Oatts, Dave Liebman, Bill Cunliffe, Marc Copland and Dave Binney. You can also find Josh playing in and around New York City with BoLT, the Vito Chiavuzzo Group, C Phineas, and many more.

Josh also is very dedicated and interested in pedagogy and has been a guest artist for the Celebration Iowa Jazz Band, Sun Prairie Jazz Festival, Prairie View Jazz Festival and Birch Creek Summer Music Camp. While at Manhattan School of Music he was a teaching assistant for ear training and theory courses. Currently Josh is a member of the jazz faculty for the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College program as well as the MSM summer camp.

Rebel Spirit Music | Read

"The crux of Avi Wisnia’s sound is familiar melodies and samples of classic lyrics and melodies, and yet his sound is somehow completely refreshing.  Combining bossa nova with soul and jazz and adding startlingly clever lyrical turns, Wisnia creates his award-winning (CMJ’s Zig Zag Live competition, for one) sound.  On "Something New," Wisnia paradoxically borrows something old, adding new twists to lyrics from the Beatles ("all the lonely people"), and Gloria Gaynor ("go on go, walk out the door"), and sampling the beat from "Girl from Ipanema," all to a toe-tapping beat.  The bossa nova sound plays heavily into the stunning "Sunday Afternoon," which perfectly captures the vibe of the lazy weekend hours with its swaying melody and lyrics like "you take my hand and we stroll along / spread the blanket and reach with your eyes to the sky."  Wisnia is at his best though on the lyrically brilliant "Rabbit Hole."  "I hate the words you feed me / you hate how loud I chew / well it looks like I’m stuck in this rabbit hole with you," Wisnia laments.  It’s an ultimately romantic song though, with the final line: "Where do you think I’m going / I’ll give you one clue / I’m going to bring the rest of my things back to this rabbit hole with you."  If Wisnia’s sampling of lush, complex songs are any indication of what’s to come, listeners will be waiting eagerly for more."
(Alyssa Rashbaum - MTV, SPIN, VIBE, Rebel Spirit Music)

Subba-Cultcha | Read

"Gloriously summery jazz-soul fusion, awash with shiny pianos and a syrupy vocals – a little like an acoustic Maroon 5, but with more Bossa Nova, more attitude, and more talent in his little finger – the band are currently New York based, but expect them to come crashing onto our shores during 2008 – they have the talent to take Radio 2 by storm. And that’s a complement." (Chris Merriman)

 Synthesis: Artist of the Day | Read

"...I dig on Avi's lounge-y, honey-voiced jazz.   While, "Rabbit Hole," the first song that popped up on Avi's page, instantly struck me a G. Love & Special Sauce (hold the sauce, please) meets a Jonathan Richman that you can take home to your parents (you know, less bug-eye stare, more witty conversation), with a later-day Elvis Costello delivery. The winking jazz hinted at with that first track comes into full blossom with "Something New" and "Sunday Afternoon," which drift along in a pleasant haze. I'm digging it. For those in the NYC area, check out his upcoming show dates after the jump. But first, acquire an appreciation for expensive cigars and fine single malts; that might be your best way of preparing for Avi's music."  (Spencer)

Indie-Music.com: Editor's Pick

"Clever songs, interesting vocals, hooky melodies!"

  CMJ: Avi Wisnia Wins Round 2 Of Zig-Zag Live | Read

"Rabbit Hole" receives Honor Award in 9th Annual Great American Song Contest | Read