EXPULSION OF THE TRIUMPHANT BEAST David Rothenberg, clarinet, bass clarinet, electronics Lewis Porter, piano, keyboards Jazz scholar and “helluva piano player” Lewis Porter brings his erudition and stagewise experience to this album of expansive duets with clarinetist and musical philosopher David Rothenberg. They cover a few familiar tunes and perform improvisations that twist these familiar instruments in accessible but surprising directions. Elements of funk,ambient electronica, and classical impressionism all surface in this colorful collection which defies all expectations of what such a duo might sound like. Clarinetist David Rothenberg (davidrothenberg.net) has performed and recorded with Jan Bang, Scanner, Glen Velez, Karl Berger, Peter Gabriel, Ray Phiri, and the Karnataka College of Percussion. He has seven CDs out under his own name, including "On the Cliffs of the Heart," named one of the top ten releases of 1995 by Jazziz magazine. He is the author of Why Birds Sing, book and CD, published in seven languages and the subject of a BBC television documentary. His first CD on ECM Records, a duet album with pianist Marilyn Crispell came out in 2010. came out in May 2010. Le Monde called it “une petite miracle.” The Guardian heard “the clarinet subtleties of Jimmy Giuffre and the tonal adventurousness of Joe Maneri.” All About Jazz heard “sublime depth and intuition.” BBC Music Magazine said “if these pieces were pre-composed they’d be categorised as chamber music of a high order…. But of course it’s just jazz!” Known for a free and open attitude, Lewis Porter (Lewisporter.com) can contribute to any type of musical situation. His own groups swing like mad, taking a loose, open attitude to standard tunes and to Porter's own original compositions. Porter has appeared in concert with jazz masters such as Ravi Coltrane, Dave Liebman, Judi Silvano with Joe Lovano, Jane Ira Bloom, Wycliffe Gordon, Joe Morris, Marc Ribot, Mark Dresser, Gerry Hemingway, and many others. He has recorded two CDs as a leader for the Altrisuoni label--Second Voyage and Italian Encounter. The critics rave about the latter CD: "A HELLUVA PIANO PLAYER" (Jazz Times). "Mixing experimental with traditional, (he) plays up a storm." (Midwest Record) "Porter is a deep thinker.” (Swing Journal). Hi music is “founded upon depth and cunning use of space" (ejazznews.com). His latest CD is Transformation, duets with Berklee piano professor Marc Rossi, to be released in fall 2009. Porter was nominated for a Grammy in 1996.