Chicago drummer Charles Rumback keeps busy working in many ensembles locally and abroad. In addition to leading his own quintet, he frequently works with artists such as Angela James, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Ron Miles and Nina Nastasia. Though his role often varies from project to project, Charles can be found accompanying songs, pushing the ensemble in free-improvised settings, or creating sonic landscapes all from behind the drumkit.

 

Originally from Kansas, Charles relocated to Chicago in 2001 and has played on many recordings as a sideman and collaborator, performing around the United States, Europe and Japan. Charles' first recording as a leader, 'Two Kinds of Art Thieves' was released in 2009 on Clean Feed Records. His second album as a leader, In the New Year comes out in December on ears & eyes Records and features Caroline Davis, Jeff Parker, Jason Stein and John Tate.

 

Ryley Walker is the reincarnation of the True American Guitar Player. That’s as much a testament to his roving, rambling ways, or as to the fact that his Guild D-35 guitar has endured a few stints in the pawnshop.

 

No one knows what the future holds for young Ryley Walker. Hardship and setbacks and dilapidated housing uncertainty only seem to spur him on creatively. Here, with this record, we risk limiting his access to personal disaster by flirting with success. A short lifetime of interminable practice and discipline have resulted in a masterpiece of an album, an album of a sort we haven’t seen since the 1970s.