Second-line funk of New Orleans can be found in original songs by the band Spin Cycle

Cheryl Morey, South Bend Tribune
·1 min read
The New York City-based jazz quartet Spin Cycle — bassist Phil Palombi, saxophonist Tom Christensen, drummer Scott Neumann and guitarist Pete McCann — performs Oct. 19, 2023, at Merrimans’ Playhouse in South Bend.
The New York City-based jazz quartet Spin Cycle — bassist Phil Palombi, saxophonist Tom Christensen, drummer Scott Neumann and guitarist Pete McCann — performs Oct. 19, 2023, at Merrimans’ Playhouse in South Bend.

SOUTH BEND — Spin Cycle performs at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at Merrimans’ Playhouse, 401 E Colfax Ave., Suite 135.

The New York City-based jazz quartet features saxophonist Tom Christensen, drummer Scott Neumann, guitarist Pete McCann and bassist Phil Palombi.

The contemporary jazz band highlights its flexibility, and on any of its original songs, it might display the modal influence of John Coltrane, the second-line funk of New Orleans or the edgy experimentation of free jazz.

Since forming in 2014, the band has released four albums: 2016’s “Spin Cycle,” 2018’s “Assorted Colors,” 2021’s “Advanced Concepts for Small Jazz Ensemble” and 2022’s “Spin Cycle III.”

Co-leaders Christensen and Neumann have played with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Jazz Mandolin Project, the Gil Evans Project, Madeleine Peyroux’s touring group, Broadway pit bands and numerous others.

McCann released his seventh album as a band leader, “Without Question,” in August and has played on more than 100 albums as a sideman.

Grammy Award-winning Palombi co-leads the bands Tri-Fi and 718, has toured as a member of Michael Feinstein’s trio, and has performed or recorded with artists such as Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker, Maynard Ferguson, Curtis Stigers and The Village Vanguard Orchestra, among many others.

Tickets are $10-$5.

For more information, call 574-310-9977 or visit merrimansplayhouse.org or spincyclemusic.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Spin Cycle brings its contemporary jazz to Merrimans' Playhouse