Spare Parts

IMPERIAL BOXMEN Imperial Boxmen represents a culmination of keyboardist/producer Kevin Fords years of studio composition and live experimentation. Riding through an international confluence of downtempo, jazz, and funk, the music features a power ensemble of heavyweight Chicago players. After years of underground exposure in Chicago as a niche acid jazz trio (made up of Ford, Austin, and Plotkin) focused on recreating the songs sampled in 90s hip hop, the Boxmen sound gradually tied in more of Fords musical influences in Afrobeat and the Ethiopiques sound of the 70s. Fords experience working and performing with the late Fela Kuti drummer, Tony Allen and Chicago Afrobeat Project, and his work as an electronic music producer and downtempo DJ combine with Alex Austins masterful bass tactics, Noah Plotkins authentic 70s drumming style, and the rhythmic virtuosity of Danjuma Gaskins percussion performances enlightens the listeners ear. SPARE PARTS Spare Parts is an instrumental trio that pushes well beyond the jazz funk spectrum in which it thrives. Driven by vintage keyboards (Kevin Kozol), electric bass (Colin Scott) and drums (Mike Bruno), Spare Parts recalls the aesthetics of the analog era through a fresh and modern approach. Known for their hard hitting grooves, dynamic improvisation and collaborations with Chicagos finest musicians, Spare Parts has won a loyal following over the years. The band has several releases on Ropeadope Records and has received accolades from across the industry including Ukvibe.org, Notreble.com, and Modern Jazz (MOJA) Radio. Spare Parts has toured extensively throughout the U.S. and beyond, while becoming a mainstay on the Chicago scene. From dive bars to prominent jazz clubs, theaters and festivals, Spare Parts has played countless shows and held several successful residencies. Members of the band have performed with Grammy winning artists Victor Wooten, Paul Wertico, and Michael Bolton, as well as Fareed Haque, Stephen Perkins, Lenny Pickett, Bill Dickens, Javon Jackson, George Brooks, Vikku Vinayakram, V. Selvaganesh and Garaj Mahal. Spare Parts has shared the stage with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Snoop Dogg, Vulfpeck, George Porter Jr., The Wailers, Forq, Kneebody, The New Mastersounds, Wayne Krantz, Chester Thompson, Alan Evans, Stanton Moore, and many more. C3zRChicago pianist, songwriter, and producer Cesar Pino writes music with a location in mind, be it a beach, a rooftop while looking up at the sky at night, or even somewhere in the mainframe of Tron, thanks to a consistent use of electronic drums and synth bass. Donning the moniker C3zr, Pinos project combines his background as a classically trained and jazz pianist with the electronic funk or soul of his favorite artists like Kaytranada, Daft Punk, Robert or Glasper.His electronically produced but soulful debut album, Round Voyage (600 Block Records, fall 2023) features talented producer and Rax Tracks Noam Wallenberg (The Oh Mys, Woody Goss of Vulfpeck, REVERB) and bringing in several guests, ranging from Chicago singers Ifeanyi Elswith and Travis Percy, Jamal Damien on trumpet, and singer and guitarist Paolo Apuli.