On Metal Chaos Ensemble: "... ​using unique strategies to yield densely active and eerily surreal music, an incredible excursion through experimental improvisation."   - Squidco website staff

Evil Clown 

On Leap of Faith: "Alien yet familiar, bizarre yet completely fascinating. Expanding, contracting, erupting, settling down, always as one force..." - Bruce Lee Gallanter, DMG

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Evil Clown ensembles are highly modular, with different players and instrumental resources for different sessions.  Some of the bands have core units which are always present along with different guests.  Some of the bands have had recurring configurations over several albums.  Leap of Faith dates back to the early 1990s as a collaboration between PEK and Glynis Lomon.  There have been a number of core configurations over the years.  PEK took a long hiatus through the 00's and then rebooted Leap of Faith and Evil Clown in 2015.  The period following 2015 is the Contemporary Period and before 2002 is the Archival Period.  Following are the core line-ups and frequent guests of the Contemporary Period Ensembles, the Contemporary Period Roster, and the Archival Period Roster along with hyperlinks to the performer bio pages.


Evil Clown Bios

  On Transformation Focused Improvisation -​  ​The History
              and Grand Aesthetic of the Evil Clown Record Label

  PEK & his Grand Aesthetic Challenge

  PEK Artist Profile on JazzRightNow.com



Current and Former

       Leap of Faith Core Members

     As of 2023, the Core Unit of the Leap of Faith Orchestra is a

     duet comprised of PEK and Glynis Lomon - LOF is highly modular 

     and has played in dozens of configurations from duet to orchestra

     with many guests
     
PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, flutes, percussion, electronics
     
Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice

   Former core members of Leap of Faith 
     
Yuri Zbitnov, Steve NortonMark McGrain, Craig Schildhauer,
   
Yedidyah Syd SmartJames Coleman 

Metal Chaos Ensemble
    Metal Chaos Ensemble started as the extended percussion section of the

    Leap of Faith Orchestra which uses the percussion equipment along

    with many guests and instruments of kinds to make highly varied long form

    improvisations.  Gradually it evolved into the most rock oriented Evil Clown

    Ensemble with deep grooves from the electric bass and drums along with horns,

    percussion & electronics.  The current sextet lineup is:

     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, flutes, percussion, electronics, voice

     Bob Moores - space trumpet, guitar, electronics

     Michael Caglianone - saxophones

     Eric Woods - analog synthesis

     Mike Gruen - electric bass

     Steve Niemitz - drums, percussion 

     Joel Simches - real time mix and signal processing

​   Frequent guests of Metal Chaos Ensemble 
     
Yuri Zbitnov (founding member), Andria NicodemouKevin Dacey

     Reverend Grant Beale, Joe HartiganAlbey onBass
 

Turbulence

    Turbulence is the extend horn section of the Leap of Faith Orhcestra.

    PEK is the only player on all of the Turbulence sessions, but there have been 

    several  configurations with multiple sessions and a number of frequent guests
     
PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, voice

     Frequent guests of Turbulence
     
Steve NortonCharlie KohlhaseDan O'BrienZach Bartolomei ,
     
Bob Moores David HarrisJohn BayliesSteve Proviser

     Eric DahlmanJim Warshauer, Michael Caglianone, Duane Reed,

     Melanie Howell-Brooks, Kat DobbinsYuri Zbitnov, Jared Holiday,

     Vance Provey, Ellwood EppsDennis Livingston, John Fugarino


Expanse 

     Expanse is the quiet dynamic Evil Clown project.  The core duet is

​     PEK and Michael Knoblach.  Like the other ensembles, the sets feature

     different guests including a mash up set with Mike's ensemble, the JMDE

     quartet.

     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, flutes, percussion, electronics

     Michael Knoblach - percussion, objects

     Guests of Expanse

     Michael Caglianone, Jimmy Zhao, Eric Dahlman, David Welans, DNA GIrl,

    Count Robot, Tim Mungenast


Simulacrum 

     Simulacrum is a spinoff of Metal Chaos Ensemble with horns plus even more 

     electronics and without the bass and drums.  This is the newest Evil Clown 

     ensemble, with the first sessions starting in the summer of 2021.

     ​PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, flutes, percussion, electronics

     Bob Moores - space trumpet, guitar, electronics

     Eric Woods - analog synthesizer

     William Middlemiss Jr - guitar, synthesizers, electronics

     Reverend Grant Beale - guitar, synthesizers, electronics

     Albey onBass - bass


Axioms  

Axioms is the duet Zen Beats with special guests PEK and Glynis Lomon.  Free improvisation with poetry from Jane SpokenWord. 
     Jane SpokenWord - poetry, spoken word
     PEK - saxophones, clarinets, double reeds, flutes, percussion, electronics
     Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice
     Albey onBass - electric upright bass, gongs 
     Joel Simches - live to 2 track recording, real time signal processing


Perturbations    

     Perturbations is the studio project with the most emphasis on real-time signal

     processing from Joel Simches.  The instrumental ensemble varies from PEK     

     solo to trio with guests and Joel's electronic Perturbations elevated to a 

     musical role well beyond documentarian.

     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, electronics

     Joel Simches - recording, real-time signal processing (perturbations)

     Michael Caglianone - saxophones

     Albey onBass - bass


Mekaniks (inactive)

     Mekaniks is a studio project to explore electronic and real-time

     signal processing in a long form improv setting.  Has more of a

    rock-improvisation feel than most Evil Clown ensembles.
     
PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, electronics
     
Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, electronics
     
Greg Grinell - electronics, trumpet, bass
     
Bob Moores - trumpet, guitar, electronics

     Plus guests

   

String Theory (inactive)
     String Theory is the Extended String Section of the Leap of Faith Orchestra.
     PEK and Glynis are the core with many guests on various orchestral strings
     and guitar.  Since Yuri has retired from Evil Clown, future sessions featuring 
     the strings will be Leap of Faith.
     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, daxophone
     Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice
     
Frequent guests of String Theory
     Mimi RabsonTony LevaSilvain CastellanoElinor SpeirsMatt Schuchfield,        Lucasz Pavlikovsky 

    

Chicxulub (inactive)

   Chicxulub is the Space Rock branch of the Evil Clown Universe. 

   Featuring the powerful bass and drums of Yuri and Jason Adams who 

   play together in Catherine Capozzi's power trio Axmunkee

     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, electronics

     Jason Adams - electric bass, electric cello, Interstellar grain clouds

     Yuri Zbitnov - drums, metal, wood

Leap of Faith Orchestra /

     the Contemporary Evil Clown Roster

    The LOFO is the large improvisation orchestra made up of all of the

    Sub-Units listed above and many others.  The Contemporary Evil

    Clown Period starts in early 2015 after a long haitus.  A list of players in the 

    current Evil Clown Roster who have played with the orchestra or been

    a guest of one or more of the above ensembles follows: 

   

   Strings

    Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice

    Tom Swafford - violin

     Mimi Rabson - violin, electronics, metal       

     Elinor Speirs - violin

     Clara Kebabian - violin, viola, electronics, metal

     Mat Ward - violin
 ​    Matt Scutchfield - violin

     Jonathan LaMaster - violin 

     Rob Flax - violin

     Sue Buzzard - violin

     Abigale Reisman - violin

     Jane Wang - cello, space plates 

     Lucasz Pavlikovsky - cello

     Albey onBass - electric bass, electric upright bass

     Steve Skop - bass

     Nate McBride - bass

     Zachary Lavine - bass

      ​Tony Leva - bass
     Silvain Castellano - bass
     Damon Smith - bass

     Adrienne Schoenfeld - bass    

     Kirsten Lamb - bass 
     Kit Demos - bass

     Mike Gruen - bass 

     Scott Samenfeld - electric upright bass

     Steve Skop - bass


     Horns

    PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, voice

    Steve Norton - clarinets, saxophones, metal

     Michael Caglionone - saxophones +

    Charlie Kohlhase - saxophones

    Matt Samolis - flute, flax, game calls, bowed metal, metal

      Dan O'Brien - flutes, clarinets and saxophones​
    Zach Bartolomei - clarinets and saxophones
     Bob Moores - trumpet, electronics   
     David Harris - trombone, tuba, electronics     
     John Baylies - tuba, electronics

     Duane Reed - baritone horn, bass trombone
     Kat Dobbins - trombone
     Steve Proviser - trumpet, baritone horn, voice, percussion
       ​Zack Grass - tuba, bass trombone
      Eric Goode - tuba, euphonium
      Eric Dahlman - trumpet
      Jim Warshauer - saxophones, clarinets
      Duane Reed - baritone horn

     Forbes Graham - trumpet

     Steve Swell - trombone
     Thomas Heberer - trumpet
     Todd Brunel - clarinets, saxophones

     Greg Burbank - Tuba

     Devin Lomon - harmonica

​     Ellwood Epps - trumpet

     Bonnie Kane - tenor sax, flute

     Melanie Howell-Brooks - clarinets, saxophones, flutes

     David Welans - flutes 

     Jared Holiday - saxophones, clarinets, flutes

     Dennis Livingston - flutes

     John Fugarino - trumpet, slide trumpet, trombone

     Vance Provey - trumpet

      Michael Caglianone - saxophones

     Keiichi Hashimoto - trumpet, trombone


     Percussion

     Yuri Zbitnov - percussion, metal, voice

     Jared Seabrook - drums

     Andria Nicodemou - vibraphone, metal

     Yedidyah Syd Smart - drums, percussion

     Eric Rosenthal - drums, percussion

     Steve Niemitz - drums, percussion

     Kevin Dacey - drums, percussion, metal 

     Joe Hartigan - drums, percussion

    Tamora Gooding - drums, percussion, metal 

    Moouse Traore - djembe, talking drum 

    John Loggia - drums

    Michael Knoblach - percussion   


     Chinese Instruments

     Jimmy Zhao - erhu, chinese flutes, etc. 

     Yahzi Guo - erhu, chinese flutes, saxophones, etc. 

     Tao He - erhu   

     Jiaxin Winky Wan - guzheng    

     Ziyi Gao - Pipa

​     Jiangcheng Guan - Chinese percussion


     Piano, Guitars, Electric Bass and Electronics

    DNA Girl - keyboard, octave mandolin, voice

    Count Robot - electronics, voice

    Tim Mungenast - guitar, voice

     Greg Grinell - electronics, trumpet, bass

     Chris Alford - guitar

     Jason Adams - electric bass, electric cello, Interstellar grain clouds

      Bill T Miller - electronics
     Catherine Axmunkee Capozzi - guitar, metal
     Chris Florio - Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer

     Drew Wesley - guitar, electronics
     Eric Woods - Analog Synth
     Eric Zinman - piano, percussion

     Emilio Gonzalez - piano

     Grant Beale - guitar, electronics

     Joel Simches - real time electronic processing, recording

     Kenny Maurais - bass, metal​
     Kevin Siegel - bass, loops, electronics

      Marc Drinkwater - guitar 

     Federico Balducci - guitar

     Tony Savarino - guitar, metal, iphone apps

     Space - guitar, bass 

     William Middlemiss Jr - guitar, electronics

     Robin Amos - analog synthesis

     
Voice

     Dei Xhrist - voice

     Maura Lynch - soprano, keyboards, metal 

     Jane SpokenWord - Poetry, Spoken Word


     Audio Engineering      

     Joel Simches - real time electronic processing, recording



The Archival Period

    The Early period of Leap of Faith/Evil Clown included the 90s and the 

     early 00s.  A list of players who participated in the Early projects from 

     the Archival Period follows:  


     Strings
     Glynis Lomon - cello, aquasonic, voice

     Rob Bethel - cello

     Craig Schildhauer - bass

     John Voigt - bass
     Larry Roland - bass, poetry


     Horns
     PEK - clarinets, saxophones, double reeds, metal, voice
     Mark McGrain - trombone, alphorn

     Charlie Kohlhase - saxophones

     Matt Samolis - flute, bowed metal

​     Alec Haavik - saxophones, trombone
     B'hob Rainey - soprano sax

​​     Jeff Hudgins - saxophones
     George Garzone - tenor sax

     Keith Hedger - trumpet

     Leslie Ross - bassoon
     Raphe Malik- trumpet
     Raqib Hassan - saxophones and double reeds
     Russell Jewell - trombone

     Taylor Ho Bynum - trumpet


     
Percussion

     Yuri Zbitnov - percussion, metal, voice
     Yedidyah Syd Smart - drums, percussion

     Curt Newton - drums
     Dennis Warren - drums

     Laurence Cook - drums

​     Tatsuya Nakatani - percussion, bowed metal


   
Piano, Guitars, Electric Bass and Electronics

    James Coleman - theremin

    Core Redonnett - electric zither, electronics

    Keith Fullerton Whitman - guitar, electronics

​     Kate Biggard - bass

     Michael Shea - piano, keyboards       

     Tor Snyder - guitar
     Wayne Rodgers - guitar


     Multi-Media Partners

     Adrienne T Hawkins - dance

     Guadulesa - performance painting

     Martha Ritchey - piano, fractals