JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SERIES - SPAGA PLAYS DEAD -
JOIN US FOR A SPECIAL SERIES - SPAGA PLAYS DEAD -
BAND
Aron Magner / Piano
Jason Fraticelli / Bass
Matt Scarano / Drums
ARON MAGNER:
The Philadelphia-based musician is best known as the keyboardist and founding member of The Disco Biscuits. Magner and The Disco Biscuits have been instrumental in bringing live and studio improvisational, electronic-based music to the forefront of the live music scene and, increasingly, to popular culture. Magner’s journey started with classical piano, but his interest was re-invigorated at age 13 when he discovered jazz. He then sidelined his piano studies as he explored improvisational jam rock with the Biscuits, but always maintained an affection for the genre. He is now going back to his roots, organically fusing jazz with his unique style.
Jason Fraticelli:
As an upright bassist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Jason Fraticelli is seen and heard often at the center of many musical scenes in the Philadelphia/New York communities. For the past 20 years he has been acting as sideman for many different artists such as Matisyahu, Melody Gardot, and Cyro Baptista, while at the same time always fascilitating his own groups such as the Fresh Cut Orchestra, The FCC, and The Jason Fraticelli Band. Within an ensuing career, Jason has toured in groups such as Matisyahu, Melody Gardot, and Cyro Baptista’s Banquet of the Spirits. He has recorded with many different artists such as G Love, Robert Glasper, Mark Guiliana, and Taylor McFerrin.
In 2013 Jason was awarded a project grant from the Pew foundation for the purpose of recording his extended work the Mothers’ Suite, a six movement piece to be recorded by his 10 piece co-lead group the Fresh Cut Orchestra. This work came out in 2015 on Fresh Cut Orchestra’s debut record ‘From the Vine’ which was released on Ropeadope records with acclaimed reviews from the New York Times, Downbeat, and NPR’s All Things Considered. In 2014 Fresh Cut Orchestra went on to receive the Kimmel Center Jazz Residency Grant which led to the collaborative work entitled ‘Life Mosaic’, a 4 movement piece written about the four stages of life to be recorded and released in the near future. Later that same year a Subito grant was awarded to Fresh Cut Orchestra in order to finish studio production on their second record ‘Mind Behind Closed Eyes’ which was released by Ropeadope records in 2016. Fresh Cut Orchestra has been receiving rave reviews while performing at renown performing arts center venues such as the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, and the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
Matt Scarano:
Matt Scarano is a drummer, composer, and educator living in Philadelphia, PA. Over the years he has established himself as one of the Philadelphia region’s most sought after drummers for both live and studio performance in a wide variety of styles. Matt has performed throughout the world, sharing the stage with numerous world-class musicians and artists including Chris Brubeck, Time For Three, Ben Schachter, Matisyahu, Dick Oatts, John Swana, Larry McKenna, and Dave Allen. He has performed at many prestigious venues across the world including performances as guest artist with The Boston Pops at Carnegie Hall and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall. He is currently performing and touring with numerous groups including Time for Three, Son Step, and his own original ensemble. Matt attended Temple University where he received a B.M. and M.M. in Jazz Performance. He is an active private teacher and clinician and is on faculty at University of The Arts, Camden County College, The Boysie Lowery Living Jazz Residency and the Education Committee of Philly Drum Project.
DATES
APRIL 30
SPAGA Plays Dead
TOULOUSE THEATRE
NEW ORLEANS, LA
taste in music ICELAND
MAY 21, 2023
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
ft. CHEF STEFAN ELI STEFANSSON (PERLAN)
LA PRIMAVERA - HARPA
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
JUNE 1
SPAGA Plays Dead
EMELIN THEATER
MAMARONECK, NY
JUNE 2
SPAGA Plays Dead
THE IRIDIUM
NEW YORK CITY
JUNE 3
UNLIMITED DEVOTION
SPAGA Plays Dead
ARDMORE MUSIC HALL
MAIN LINE, PA
JUNE 4
SPAGA Plays Dead
w/ support MIKAELA DAVIS
THE HAMILTON LIVE
WASHINGTON, DC
stay tuned for More dates
PAST DATES
taste in music 3
JUNE 29, 2022 Gather 5pm Dinner 6pm
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
ft. CHEF RANDY RUCKER (RIVER TWICE)
CHEF YEHUDA SICHEL (HUDA)
& CHEF MIKEY MCCANN (DIZENGOFF)
HILL GIRT FARM / CHADDS FORD, PA
JUNE 30 - JULY 3 2022
PEACH MUSIC FEST
MONTAGE MOUNTAIN
SCRANTON, PA
AUGUST 11-14 2022
CATSKILL MOUNTAIN JUBILEE
BLACKTHORNE RESORT
EAST DURHAM, NY
JUNE 10 & 11 2021
ARDMORE MUSIC HALL
ARDMORE, PA
FEBRUARY 15 2020
CITY WINERY PHILADELPHIA
FEBRUARY 14 2020
GATEWAY CITY ARTS
HOLYOKE, MA
FEBRUARY 13 2020
CITY WINERY BOSTON
FEBRUARY 12 2020
THE WAREHOUSE FTC
W/ TAUK
FAIRFIELD, CT
JANUARY 7-12, 2020
JAM CRUISE
MIAMI / BAHAMAS / MEXICO
JANUARY 4, 2020
CITY WINERY CHICAGO
DECEMBER 29, 4pm
DROM
NEW YORK, NY
OCTOBER 24-27
SUWANNEE HULAWEEN
LIVE OAK, FL
SEPTEMBER 19-22
RESONANCE FESTIVAL
SLIPPERY ROCK, PA
taste in music 2
SEPTEMBER 15, 5pm
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
ft. CHEF YEHUDA SICHEL (ABE FISHER)
& CHEF MIKEY MCCANN (DIZENGOFF)
HILL GIRT FARM / CHADDS FORD, PA
SEPTEMBER 7
LE POISSON ROUGE
NEW YORK, NY
SEPTEMBER 6
ARDMORE MUSIC HALL
ARDMORE, PA
AUGUST 11
CENTER FOR THE ARTS
CRESTED BUTTE, CO
AUGUST 10
JAZZ AFTER DARK
SHERIDAN OPERA HOUSE
TELLURIDE, CO
AUGUST 10
TELLURIDE JAZZ FESTIVAL
TELLURIDE, CO
AUGUST 8
OLD TOWN PUB
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO
AUGUST 7
OPHELIA’S
DENVER, CO
AUGUST 6
WASHINGTON’S
FT. COLLINS, CO
JUNE 29
ELECTRIC FOREST FESTIVAL
ROTHBURY, MI
JUNE 28
ROCHESTER INT’L JAZZ FESTIVAL
THE WILDER ROOM, 6PM & 10PM
ROCHESTER, NY
JUNE 12
CITY WINERY DC - DC JAZZ FEST
WASHINGTON D.C.
APRIL 28 & 29
AN AFTERNOON WITH SPAGA
3 KEYS - ACE HOTEL
NEW ORLEANS, LA
TASTE IN MUSIC
OCTOBER 5, 2018
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
SPAGA WITH CHEF YEHUDA SICHEL
HILL GIRT FARM / CHADDS FORD, PA
EVENTS
taste in music ICELAND
MAY 21, 2023
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
ft. CHEF STEFAN ELI STEFANSSON (PERLAN)
LA PRIMAVERA - HARPA
REYKJAVIK, ICELAND
taste in music 3
JUNE 29, 2022 Gather 5pm Dinner 6pm
AN EVENING OF FOOD AND MUSIC
ft. CHEF RANDY RUCKER (RIVER TWICE)
CHEF YEHUDA SICHEL (HUDA)
& CHEF MIKEY MCCANN (DIZENGOFF)
HILL GIRT FARM / CHADDS FORD, PA
It all started when…
magical seeds were planted into my head by multiple friends, musicians, and industry associates to do a piano album. When I finally accepted the challenge and after two years of writing and producing, I announced this new project; an acoustic trio of grand piano, upright bass and drums. We released a full length album in early 2019.
As I began thinking of a venue for the fist perfomance of this new project back in 2018, I wanted it to be vibey and fun. Having the debut performance in the Philadelphia region was important to me, as this album's production was a local production. The musicians are all prominent Philly based musicians. The studio (Range Records) is a neighborhood studio. The principle engineer on the album, Will Maher, my right hand man and co-pilot, began splitting his time between the studio and a friend's farm. He would come back to the studio on Monday, after hauling bins of fresh picked watermelon and cantaloupe, with stories and pictures.
A prominent fixture on the farm is the barn, a structure that dates back to the 1600's (with updates since) where they began doing summer Field to Fork dinners with local chefs using fresh vegetables grown on farm. This is where I decided to do the first performance of this new project. The juxtaposition of bringing a grand piano into a barn was appealing to me, as its complimentary to the setting, yet simultaneously makes no sense without context.
Chef Yehuda Sichel and I first met at his restaurant, Abe Fisher, several years ago. We have a mutual admiration for each other's craft. I was thrilled to pair his culinary creations with my music in an incredibly serene setting as part of the first Taste in Music.
Since then, SPAGA has toured nationally in support of our debut album, including stops at prestigious jazz festivals. Taste in Music is now its 3rd year and has also evolved to include a collaborative effort of Chefs including Mikey McCann (Dizengoff) and Randy Rucker (River Twice). Randy actually attended the first Taste in Music, which is where we met right before the opening of River Twice. The first time my wife and I dined at his restaurant, we knew he was an exceptional chef and a brilliant addition to the Philadelphia culinary scene. We have been looking to collaborate since and after seeing this year’s menu, I couldn’t be more excited.
-Aron Magner
