Only four copies of this rare CD gem exist on planet Earth. Every CD cover was individually crafted. Search for "SPIELPLATZ" at ITUNES and download the whole album for only $9.99!! Yeeah baby. Spielplatz is a New York based groove trio that came on the scene in early 2002. Spielplatz uniquely blends it's down tempo, psychedelic, house, afro-beat improvisations with DJ sensibilities. Spielplatz delivers to adventurous listeners who like a variety of sublime grooves, and who also appreciate that every show is different. Trumpeter Chuck MacKinnon sends out hypnotic loops, live samples, and acoustic/electric shock waves, which are surprising even to the rest of the band, and spurs them to create an instant party zone of inspired interaction. Bassist Nic Thys thinks way beyond the conventional range of electric bass and uses his instrument almost like an exploring child by de-tuning, bending, hammering, spinning, and generally enlarging the sound-scape of the instrument through the use of his huge hands. Drummer Roland Schneider propels the sound zones into outer space with his creativity and open mind. He also likes using toys and really cool sounding objects. Spielplatz categorizes their music as "exxxtratexxxtural" and is performing regularly in the New York area at lounges, dance clubs, and performance spaces. On December 31, New Years, 2002, Spielplatz performed their first concert abroad at the "Unterwegs Theater" in Heidelberg, Germany for an enthusiastic, dancing, sweating, and free-wheeling audience. Chuck MacKinnon - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Loops, and Electronic Effects - BIOGRAPHY Chuck MacKinnon has performed around the world with many of the top names in music including Leo Nocentelli of the Meters, Elastic Mystic, The Groove Collective, Norah Jones, Charlie Hunter, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Joe Henderson, Sam Rivers, Rufus Reid, Mark Levine, Bruce Forman, and The New York Horns. He is pioneering many new sounds for the trumpet, blending loops, delays, distortion, and live samples. Chuck is also a professional composer having completed five commissions for big band in the last two years. Chuck currently resides in New York City where he leads his own band, The Chuck MacKinnon Mactet, and is in constant demand as a sideman in a variety of jazz, afro-beat, hip-hop, rock, pop, and jam bands. Roland Schneider - Drums - BIOGRAPHY Roland Schneider has performed and toured with Muhal Richards Abrahams, Eddie Henderson, Mark Turner, Seamus Blake, and many other top musicians in New York. He has played at the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Burlington Festival, at Lincoln Center New York, and many other important venues. He has a great interest in South Indian percussion and is currently studying the Kanjira drum with master drummer Ganesh Kumar. His playing reflects many rhythmic influences from all around the world and he is well versed in both African and Brazilian rhythms. Roland is currently living in New York City where he performs with some of the best up and coming musicians on the scene. Nic Thys - Electric Bass - BIOGRAPHY Nic Thys has played/recorded with Harold Land, Lee Konitz, Bob Brookmeyer, Mike Stern, Zap Mama, Toots Thieleman, Kenny Werner, Chris Cheek, and many others. Originally from Belgium he now lives in New York but spends half of the time on the road touring with many groups. He is currently working with the Walter Lang Trio, the Mark Turner/Kris Defoort Quartet, the Joe Smith Melodic Workshop (featuring Bill McHenry), and Spielplatz. In New York he also leads his own rock/funk band, THYS, in which he is lead singer and bassist at the same time.