The Older the Moon, the Brighter it Shines

Grant Calvin Weston - Drums
Paul Giess - Trumpet + Electronics
Timothy Ragsdale - Bass

Live in High School Park

Videography - Vince Johnson + Willem Cousineau
Audio Recording - Mark Tomlinson

Thank you to friends of high school park for hosting us !


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 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, and Guthrie Ramsey.

Over the last year Paul has been leading a musical ensemble named “Untethered”. The group is an intergenerational conversation that utilizes Spontaneous Creative Composition to venture to and from the musical unknown. The group will be releasing an album August of 2025 titled “Grasping for the Moon” and will be making their NYC debut the same month as well. Paul’s other current artistic output is the “Rubr Duki Dance Party” an immersive performance art piece that uses play, drawing writing and dance to encourage audience members to discover their Inner Rubber Ducky.

More broadly, Paul’s performances have been featured at prestigious venues including NYC Winter Jazz Festival, Lancaster Ave Jazz Festival, Morocco's Timitar Festival, The Barnes Foundation, The Kimmel Center and Snug Harbor. His 2021 album "Hymn's Vol 1," was released on Ropeadope Records label and features V. Shayne Frederick. Giess's compositional talents earned him the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency from the American Composers Forum in 2018. Additional his compositional work 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.