Desertion Trio

Desertion Trio trace the varied history of instrumental electric guitar music through a complex musical system that weds post-bop and vanguard jazz to psych, blues, funk, surf, country-rock, and vanguard improvisation. Founded by veteran guitarist Nick Millevoi in 2016 -- whose long résumé includes stints with John Zorn, Chris Forsyth & the Solar Motel Band, and co-leading punk-jazz power trio Many Arms -- Desertion Trio's lineup included Many Arms bassist Johnny DeBlase and former drummer Kevin Shea (Mostly Other People Do the Killing). They issued Midtown Tilt, their 2018 debut on Shhpuma billed to Desertion Trio w/ Jamie Saft. After touring the United States and Europe, they re-teamed for 2019's Twilight Time with Sun Ra Arkestra vocalist Tara Middleton and Mostly Other People Do the Killing keyboardist Ron Stabinsky in guest roles. The album, titled for the Platters' 1958 international smash, found the band covering songs associated with popular artists of the early rock, exotica, and doo wop eras including Santo & Johnny, Gene Pitney, Joe Meek, and Les Baxter in a strictly 21st century musical parlance. Before the onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic and its subsequent quarantine, Desertion Trio, with new drummer Jason Nazary, recorded their third album and Cuneiform debut, Numbers Maker, without guest overdubs or retakes, in front of a live audience at New Haven, Connecticut’s Firehouse 12 studio.
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