The band Volcano, was formed in New York City where a group of talented musicians came together to record an album of unique songs, with beautiful eastern melodies, western harmony and groove, played in a jazz fashion. Each member of the band has their unique style that gives Volcano a distinct sound. The founder of the band Yavuz AKYAZICI came to New York City in 1990 to study jazz. He attended The New School Jazz program where he met great musicians like Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, Buster Williams, Vic Juris, Cary De Nigris and Charlie Persip. He started playing in the New York Jazz scene shortly after starting his education. He has performed in many Jazz clubs like Birdland, Knitting Factory, 55 Bar, Auggies. After School, he formed his Trio with bassist Joe Fonda and Drummer Selim Selcuk. His interest in composition was maturing when he was trying to bring his Turkish roots into Jazz music. After years of improvising over jazz standard changes, he started to write his own music where he brought eastern rhythm and melodies together with western harmony. His two consecutive Quartets were featuring Tenor Player Jeff Silverbush and Alto Player Ori Kaplan. Then, he met Eric Person at a gig for Turkish Art Festival and immediately fell in love with his playing. He wrote the tune Mr. EP which was recorded in the band’s second album-in-the-works, Bridge, just for the love of Eric Person’s playing. The Band Volcano was formed by Yavuz AKYAZICI in 2005 from his most favorite musicians of New York Jazz Scene. The Band’s first album was recorded in a rug warehouse in New York City which had no heat for the whole time during the session. Eric Person described the session as poetic even under these hard conditions. You can hear the band clicking together on tunes like Birth where group improvisation and concentration is first rate. Volcano’s first album Gamzelim is recently released and their second Bridge is in the works. Sax Player Eric Person has been active on the New York City and International scene for 20 years. He has studied at the St. Louis Conservatory of Music and has played with many of the greats in modern music: Dave Holland, McCoy Tyner, Chico Hamilton, Ben Harper, World Saxophone Quartet, Ronald Shannon Jackson and many more. Drummer Matt Wilson started playing drums in the third grade after seeing Buddy Rich on the Lucy Show. He studied at Wichita State University and spent time in the Midwest, both as a freelancer and as a teacher In 1987, he moved to Boston, where he was soon playing with Either/Orchestra and Charlie Kohlhase Quintet. In 1992, Matt Wilson relocated to New York, where he has since played with Redman, Charlie Haden, Cecil McBee, Lee Konitz, Fred Hersch, Tim Hagans, Ingrid Jensen, and others. Matt Wilson voted #1 rising star drummer in 2005 Downbeat Critics Poll for 3rd in a row!!! Bass Player Joe Fonda is a composer, bassist, recording artist, interdisciplinary performer, and producer. An accomplished international Jazz artist, Fonda has performed with his own ensembles throughout the United States and Europe, and as a side man with Archie Shepp, Ken McIntyre, Lou Donaldson, Bill and Kenny Barron, Leo Smith, Perry Robinson, Dave Douglas, Curtis Fuller, Mark Whitecage, Marion Brown, and Bill Dixon. Fonda was the bassist with the renowned Anthony Braxton sextet, octet, tentet, from 1984 through 1999. Fonda also sat on the Board of Directors from 1994 to 1999, and was the President from 1997 to 1999 of the newly formed Tri-Centric Foundation. He has also performed with the 38-piece Tri-Centric orchestra under the direction of Anthony Braxton, and was the bassist for the premiere performance of Anthony Braxton’s opera, Shalla Fears for the Poor, performed at the John Jay Theater in New York, New York, October 1996.