The Obsidian Animals return to The Jazz Station for an evening of original music by pianist Torrey Newhart!

Thomas Barber trumpet
Jessika Smith saxophone, flute
Jonathan Corona saxophone, clarinet
Jack Radsliff guitar
Torrey Newhart piano
Garret Baxter bass
Ken Mastrogiovanni drums

Torrey Newhart is a keyboardist located in Eugene. He graduated from the University of Oregon in 2014 with a Masters Degree in Music and was awarded "Most Outstanding Performer In Jazz Studies" the same year. Newhart performs well over a hundred shows, annually, with regional musicians in many configurations.

Why Obsidian Animals: When traveling, Torrey takes with him a small kitty carved from obsidian - the inspiration for “Obsidian Kitty”. No more than 1.5 inches tall, this kitty was sold to Torrey in Mexico on the steps of the Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan when he was seven years old. The kitty has now taken “selfies” in France, Switzerland, Italy and South Korea. In the Swiss Alps, kitty was the focus; while at the Vatican, kitty took priority over priceless sculptures. In addition to being a travel log, kitty now has a following of its own and has become the icon for the band - out discovering the beauty we find everywhere.

Obsidian Animals is a jazz ensemble with the intention of exposing listeners to a wide range of styles they might not normally hear together. While the music is primarily original material, the group also performs several rare pieces from various jazz traditions including the work of trumpeter Booker Little and pianist/vocalist Nina Simone.