Peter Perfido & Markus Schieferdecker : " Many Moons Ago" Quartet

                    Featuring :

                Bob Degen (USA )-Piano ,

              David Friedman (USA) -Vibraphone

             Markus Schieferdecker (D) -Bass  

           Peter Perfido (USA) -Drums

       "....As with the cyclical phases of the moon , so our paths cross and diverge...."

         Markus Schieferdecker and Peter Perfido first started performing together in the early 90's.  They have participated in numerous projects together. As a rhythm team, they breathe, groove and interlock seamlessly with their musical partners.  Having travelled many roads and accumulated a great depth of experience playing together throughout Europe, their new project : "Many Moons Ago" is the embodiment of this enduring partnership.   

      Bob Degen's career has been a long and fruitful one. Bob started playing professionally at the age of 10. Thanks to the inluence of his father, Robert Sr. a guitarist and composer, Bob witnessed the history of jazz take place in New York on 52nd St. amongst other venues. He attended the Berklee College of Music in the early 60's and studied privately with the legendary Madame Chaloff at the New England Conservatory.He performed throughout the eastern USA with Phil Woods , Buddy DeFranco , Paul Motian , Kent Carter , Charlie Mariano and many other great players.

     He came to Europe in 1965 and worked with Art Farmer , Albert Mangelsdorff , Dexter Gordon , Leo Wright , Carmel Jones and Attia Zoller.

       Residing in Frankfurt since the early 70's , Bob has been involved in projects such as "Voices" with Heinz Sauer , Ralf Hübner and Gunther Kronberg . Adelhard Roidinder's "Schattseite" group with Harry Pepl , Heinz Sauer , Aina Kemanis and Michael Di Pasqua.  Gunther Lenz "Springtime" , the Wolfgang Engstfield quartet and the Heinz Sauer quartet featuring Isla Eckinger and Makaya Ntshoko. As a leader , Bob has presented and recorded with various formations featuring ; Terumasa Hino , Cameron Brown , Harvie Schwartz , Michael Formanek and Bill Stewart.

       David Friedman is one of the most influential mallet percussionists world wide.

He has crossed over many musical frontiers performing with diverse artists such as : Leonard Bernstein , Bobby McFerrin ,Yoko Ono , Wayne Shorter and Luciano Berio.

   A dedicated educator as well , David has published what is regarded as the "bible" for mallet intruments with his book , "Dampening and Pedaling". He was also the head of the Jazz Department at the Hochschule der Kunst (HDK) in Berlin for over 15 years.

    With Dave Samuels , he co-founded the group "Double Image" in 1977. 

 Featuring bassist , Harvie S. and drummer/ percussionist , Michael Di Pasqua.  This unique combination of vibraphone and marimba brought them into the forefront  of contemporary jazz . Other projects in the jazz world have been recordings and performances with giants like , Chet Baker , George Mraz , Joe Farrell , Bob Moses , Geri Allen , Jon Christensen , Joe Henderson and Joe Chambers.

     About 40 years ago (many moons ago indeed), Bob Degen and David Friedman first crossed paths as US expatriates exploring the European jazz scene. They have been very active in various projects, many of which are well documented on recordings with Enja records. Their respective paths have led both of them far and wide and now bring them together again to share the stage with Markus and Peter. 

         This Quartet is extremely aware of the sound textures they create. Their repertoire draws from the compositions of Bob, David, and Markus as well as the

"4 M's of Jazz" : Monk, Mingus, Motian, and Moses.

     As the moon pulls the sea back and forth through it's phases , so do these four kindred spirits ineffably interact in explorations through sound and improvisation.