Anders Nilsson’s Hesa Gun

Anders Nilsson (guitar), Sam Kulik (trombone), David Ambrosio (bass), Vinnie Sperrazza (drums)

“Swedish-born and New York-based experimental guitarist Anders Nilsson produces music that is at once bracingly direct and utterly unclassifiable.” – Matt Miller

As an electric, acoustic, and 11-string alto guitarist, he has performed at festivals and concerts throughout Europe and North America. His solo guitar music is featured on the albums Night Guitar (2012) and Äventyr (2022). His own band Hesa Gun features his own compositions together with Sam Kulik – trombone, David Ambrosio- bass, Vinnie Sperazza – drums. He plays on over 40 albums and has performed and/or recorded with many artists such as Mohsen Namjoo, Gordon Beeferman, Jason Kao Hwang, Kalabalik, Paquito D’Rivera, Elliott Sharp, Fay Victor, and Angelblood. Nilsson’s work as a composer has produced 100+ compositions ranging from brief to epic solo works to large experimental ensemble works, many of which have been released on several acclaimed albums. He has also written music for string quartet, short films, butoh dance performances and theatre.

American musician Sam Kulik was born in western Massachusetts, but moved to Ohio in 2000 to study at Oberlin College. Upon moving to New York City in 2004, he quickly established himself among the city’s improvisational music scene, volunteering at John Zorn’s venue The Stone, and collaborating with experimental rock bands such as Skeletons and Parts & Labor. Primarily playing trombone, Kulik has also been proficient at a variety of other instruments, including tuba, bass, and electric guitar, and has played in a variety of musical projects ranging from folk to indie rock to classical to free jazz. Kulik’s 2012 album, Escape from Society, was inspired by the “song poem” phenomenon, and demonstrated his prowess as an offbeat songwriter. Kulik has guested on several recordings by N.Y.C. improv prankster duo Talibam!, and was co-credited on their 2011 album Discover AtlantASS, as well as Double Automatism, their 2015 collaboration with Japanese Fluxus-associated composer Yasunao Tone.

For the past 30 years, David Ambrosio has been one of New York City’s finest freelance musicians and educators. His current working projects as a leader are CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE: Blue Note Records in the Progressive ‘60s, featuring Grammy nominated saxophonist Donny McCaslin and drumming legend Victor Lewis; and the David Ambrosio Trio, featuring saxophonist Loren Stillman. In addition to his own ensembles, he is the co-leader of the David Ambrosio/Russ Meissner Sextet, 40Twenty, and Grupo Los Santos, as well as being a part of many other groups including George Schuller’s Circle Wide, the Matt Renzi Trio, Eri Yamamoto Trio, and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s BMI/New York Jazz Orchestra led by Ted Nash and Andy Farber. He has performed with such jazz greats as Kenny Werner, Joe Lovano, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, George Garzone, Joseph Jarmon, and Ralph Alessi. David has also frequently toured in Central and South East Asia on behalf of the US State Department as a performer and clinician. Currently he is on the faculty at Hunter College and the New York Jazz Workshop in NYC.

Vinnie Sperrazza is a Brooklyn-based jazz drummer. Born in 1979 in Utica, New York, music and drumming is a family affair for Sperrazza. His father plays and taught drums in Central New York, and his mother sang at church and did live sound for his father’s bands. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at William Paterson University in 2002 and moved to Brooklyn later that year. From 2004 until 2013, Sperrazza was focused on teaching drumset and jazz ensembles, privately and at local music schools. Meanwhile, he continued his musical studies in harmony, counterpoint, and composition with Paul Caputo. Sperrazza made a few noted recordings at this time, including John McNeil’s Hush Point and 40twenty with trombonist Jacob Garchik. By 2014, when Apocryphal, his first album of original compositions was released, Sperrazza was moving away from teaching to focus on performing. He has made a mark on the New York jazz community with his swinging, enthusiastic playing and his commitment to original projects. In 2017, he premiered the Mark Morris Dance Group’s Pepperland in Liverpool, England, with a score by pianist and composer Ethan Iverson, and has continued to tour with the company. He is a member of the Hank Roberts Sextet and Hank Roberts Trio, tours and records with the groups Landline, the Choir Invisible, Curtis-Garabedian-Sperrazza, Hearing Things, Vinnie Sperrazza-Jacob Sacks-Masa Kamaguchi PLAY, and trioTrio, works with bandleaders/composers Mike McGinnis and Michael Formanek, writes music, leads his own bands Apocryphal and Small Cities, organizes improvising groups, and continues his musical studies.