Michael Bellar/the AS-IS Ensemble - The AS-IS Ensemble is the musical home of musician/producer Michael Bellar. This highly excitable, alt-jazz group has opened for John Scofield, Tea Leaf Green, Medeski Martin and Wood, Oliver Wood (of the Wood Brothers) and JFJO. They have performed at such venues as Avery Fischer Hall at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, South By Southwest, the JVC, Bell Atlantic and New York City Winter Jazz Festivals and were formerly the house band at the world-famous Blue Note jazz club in New York City. In a review of their first ever performance in New York City,they were hailed as “GENERATION NEXT” by Billboard Magazine. The group has recorded three studio CDs – “Turned On Turned Up” (2009), “Like It Is,” and “REACT!”Featured on the latest release "Turned On Turned Up," are bassist Rob Jost (Imogen Heap, Bjork), drummer Brad Wentworth (Ryan Keberle. Aretha Franklin) and percussionist Robert Di Pietro (Norah Jones, Jessie Harris). In addition to the AS-IS Ensemble, Michael has toured or recorded with Amos Lee, Art Garfunkel, Howie Day, Wheatus, Teddy Geiger, Jump Little Children, Jay Clifford's Rosebud and Euro pop star Giorgia. His national TV appearances include Late Night with David Letterman, the Conan O'Brien Show, the Ellen Degeneres Show, TRL, Good Morning America, Regis and Kathy Lee and the CBS Morning Show. Michael has produced and scored music for CUT Music (LA), Fluid (NYC), Bang Music and Razorhead. You can find out more about Michael Bellar/the AS-IS Ensemble at http://www.michaelbellar.com “GENERATION NEXT....Close your eyes, and you can (almost) imagine them playing an outdoor festival for tie-dye kids one day and a New York jazz club the next.” Billboard Magazine “And now for something completely different. A deeply funky new album...." The Charleston City Paper Holy sh_t! This is amazing! WIDR (Kalamazoo, MI) The AS-IS Ensemble has been turning heads and blowing minds across the country. Vermont 7 Days "They deliver a sound that’s fuller & brighter than Bad Plus and more into a Stevie Wonder sense of jam." WDCE - Richmond, VA "This renegade trio led by keyboardist and sonic explorer Michael Bellar blends pop, rock, funk, jazz and world music elements into a provocative brew on this spirited alt-jazz outing. Fans of Medeski Martin & Wood and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey will dig this." Jazz Times "Keyboardist Michael Bellar gives the piano a voice all its own...." Flagpole Magazine AS-IS is POSITIVE www.michaelbellar.com www.youtube.com/michaelbellar