Free Funk vs. Space Trumpet - 3-21-24 (part 2)

Untethered - Live at the Black Squirrel Club 3/21/25 - Part 2

0:00
1:00 - Space Funk
2:20 - Electric Trumpet
3:00 - Space Float

Grant Calvin Weston - Drums
Paul Giess - Trumpet and Electronics
Lee Clarke - Synth and Guitar
Timothy Ragsdale - Bass

“Love is the absence of judgment.” ― Dalai Lama





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Untethered -
Untethered, a band playing spontaneous creative compositions, formed in the summer of 2024. Bringing to stage a seasoned master, Grant Calvin Weston, to engage in sound and dialogue with varying groups of musicians from a younger generation. Through inventive and unpredictable improvisations they display musical personalities that have range and depth. Hold a deep pocketed funk next to chamber music esque sound design. The raw energy of a punk band next to a sensitive lyrical ballad. Untethered is just as its name suggests, without a net and tied only to internal structures. Intricate, profound and otherworldly. Grant Calvin Weston, Paul Giess, Timothy Ragsdale and Lee Clarke bring their collective musical languages to the stage in an ever unique way, allowing each performance’s one-of-a-kind experience to resonate with their audience.

Grant Calvin Weston -
At 17, Calvin joined Ornette Coleman's Prime Time Band, with bass player Jamalaadean Tacuma, his close friend from Philly, which toured extensively in North America and Europe. After recording four albums with Prime Time, Calvin went on to play and record with guitarist James "Blood" Ulmer, until he joined John Lurie Lounge Lizards in 1990.
During the late 90s Calvin recorded and toured with Billy Martin of Medeski Martin and Wood, Tricky, Eyvind Kang, Derek Bailey, Marc Ribot, and James Carter. He also played on several movie soundtracks including "Get Shorty". For his latest project, Calvin Westons Big Tree, Calvin explores the many musical influences of his career as bandleader and composer. He also has a band with world guitarist, Vernon Reid and bass player, Jamalaadean Tacuma, Free Form Funky Freqs which has released 3 albums since their inception.

Paul Giess -
Paul Giess is a dynamic musician whose "lyrical, highly expressive trumpet work" (Downbeat Magazine) has shared stages alongside renowned artists including Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Grant Calvin Weston, Lee Clarke, Yolanda Wisher, Billy Martin, and Guthrie Ramsey. His performances have been featured at prestigious venues including NYC Winter Jazz Festival, Lancaster Ave Jazz Festival, and Morocco's Timitar Festival in Agadir, the Barnes Foundation,Kimmel Center and Snug Harbor. His 2021 album "Hymn's Vol 1," was released on Ropeadope Records label features V. Shayne Frederick. Giess's compositional talents earned him the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency from the American Composers Forum in 2018, and can be found featured on WHYY's "Philadelphia Revealed" podcast.

Timothy Ragsdale -
Timothy Ragsdale has quickly become one of the top call bass players around Philly’s jazz, r&b and soul scenes. Tim’s artistry knows no boundaries, holding down the low end for artists including The Sun Ra Arkestra, The Black Pearl Orchestra, Jekalyn Carr, Marvin Sapp, Maya Simone, and Julia Dexter among others. Most recently, Tim’s bass playing was credited on Marshall Allen’s debut solo album “New Dawn”. Timothy's musical journey began playing in churches in Philadelphia, later studying at West Chester University where he earned a BA in Classical Music Performance. With a mission to inspire growth, and love through music, Timothy’s bass is a soundtrack for healing, relaxation, and elevates others frequencies. His playing is transformative and conveys the power of music as a universal language, spreading positivity and enriching lives.

Lee Clarke -
Lee Clarke is a Philadelphia-based producer, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist. Drawing on a background in jazz, R&B and experimental music, he has produced Ivy Sole, Kingsley Ibeneche and an additional plethora of Philadelphia artists across genres, garnering attention from Pitchfork, NPR, The Fader, okayplayer and Afropunk. After years behind the scenes, his first solo project, ‘Off Nights’, was released on Astro Nautico in 2020. He has since released two LPs, including 2022’s ‘Genes’ which won Bandcamp’s album of the Day, and 2024’s ‘Lunar Retreat’.