TALAMANTI
SYLVIE COURVOISIER piano
PATRICIA BRENNAN vibraphone
The name TALAMANTI is inspired by the word tlamantli, from the native Mexican language of Nahuatl. Its meaning refers to two objects that simultaneously share similarities and differences. The music of this duo creates a space for those similarities and differences to flourish. The compositions are inspired by the uniqueness of the instrumentation and the limitless sonic possibilities of the combination of both instruments. Both, the extraordinary pianist Sylvie Courvoisier along with mallet percussionist Patricia Brennan, explore and push the sonic boundaries that their respective instruments present as well as develop a new collective improvisational language that expands on the legacy of this unusual instrument pairing within jazz and improvisational music. This duo made its debut with a premiere performance at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY on December 6, 2023. The debut recording of this duo is expected to be released in 2025 (they recorded in May 2024).
photo Veronique Hoegger 2024
OF THE NEAR AND FAR
MODNEY violin
PALA GARCIA violin
KYLE ARMBRUST viola
MICHAEL NICOLAS cello
SYLVIE COURVOISIER piano
MILES OKAZAKI guitar
KIM CAAS bass
JOHN HOLLENBECK drums & percussion,
ARKTUREYE electronics
PATRICIA BRENNAN vibraphone with electronics, marimba, and compositions.
ELI GREENHOE conducts the ensemble
Of the Near and Far is a ten-piece ensemble project led by vibraphonist, marimbist, and composer Patricia Brennan, featuring a unique blend of string quartet, jazz quintet, and live electronics. This ensemble was created during Brennan’s 2024 Jazz Gallery Residency Commission and brings together some of today’s most innovative musicians across genres. The world premiere took place on December 6, 2024, at The Jazz Gallery, and the project’s debut album will be released on October 24, 2025, via Pyroclastic Records. The first single drops on August 8, 2025.
Inspired by the vastness of the night sky, Of the Near and Far draws on Brennan’s lifelong fascination with astronomy and the geometries of constellations. By mapping these celestial shapes onto musical structures, she crafts a sonic language that is both conceptually rigorous and emotionally resonant. Building on the foundation of her acclaimed 2024 album Breaking Stretch, Brennan expands her creative vision by blending classical composition, electronic experimentation, and her deep love for 1990s alt-rock. The ensemble’s sound is genre-defying — merging jazz improvisation, classical string writing, and avant-garde textures rooted in contemporary chamber and percussion music. Each piece is inspired by a specific constellation or astronomical idea — from the mythic drama of “Andromeda” to the mechanical elegance of “Antlia.” The album weaves together themes of science, myth, and emotion, forming a deeply personal exploration of our shared connection to the universe. Through Of the Near and Far, Brennan invites listeners on a cosmic journey — one that links the internal rhythms of human experience with the infinite patterns of the stars.