Concert: Jim Donica: Urban Survival

Urban Survival has been pleasing jazz audiences since 1996. They have played all over the country at venues large and small including: Birdland (NYC), The Knitting Factory(NYC), Newberry Opera House(SC), The Jazz Factory (Louisville KY)  Blues Alley (DC) etc .... They have recorded two CD’s, Urban Survival in 1998 and Storry Hill in 2004. The band was founded by Bass Player Jim Donica, Pianist Eric Olsen, and Drummer Chris Bowman. In 2024 we added sax player Bob Shaut. Urban Survival features music from both bassist Jim Donica and Pianist Eric Olsen. Describe as “jazz for the resilient” Urban Survival’s music is dynamic, surprising, and beautiful and is a fusion of classical, avante, and straight ahead jazz influences.
New York based jazz bassist and composer Jim Donica has been impressing audiences all over the world for over 30 years. As a sideman he has played and recorded with the best of the best such as, trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, jazz guitarist David Becker and bebop guitar phenom Ron Affif. He has been an anchor for Broadway Icon Chita Rivera for the last 15 years. He has also had a 20 year Broadway career. Performance credits include Peter Erskine, Frank Kimbrough, Gloria Gaynor, Sherman Ferguson, Bruce Barth, David Budway, Randy Brecker, Woody Witt, George Garzone and Dave Koz. As a band leader he put out two recordings which showcase his writing as well as his bass playing. The first being "Stepping Up" (2005) with drummer Peter Erskine, trumpeter Randy Brecker, pianist Bruce Barth, saxophonist Tim Armacost, and saxophonist Justin Flynn. His second, “A Heroic Plan" (2009) features Tim Horner-drums, Tim Armacost-sax, and the late Frank Kimbrough-piano. 
Eric Olsen has two Master of Music degrees, with High Distinction, from Indiana University, in jazz and classical piano, and a Bachelor of Music degree, magna cum laude, in piano and organ, from Syracuse University.  He has crafted a distinguished career in both jazz and classical music, as a pianist and composer, harpsichordist, synthesist, organist, conductor, and accompanist.  He has recorded twenty albums to great critical acclaim, with artists Randy Brecker, Ted Nash, George Garzone, Don Braden, Ratzo Harris, Tim Horner, Peter Olsen, Bucky Pizzarelli, Lou Caimano, Jan Carden, Kevin Maynor, Jim Donica, Chris Bowman, and Larry Newcomb, and performed with jazz luminaries Billy Hart and Eliot Zigmund. He has appeared in concert from Carnegie Hall to Birdland, with orchestra in Taiwan, throughout the United States, and overseas in France, Germany, India, the Fiji Islands, and New Zealand.  He is on the faculty at Caldwell University, Montclair State University, Lindeblad School of Music, and is Music Director at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church in Linden, NJ.  More information is available at www.olsensoundscape.com.
 Drummer and percussive colorist Chris Bowman is the Dynamic engine that brings an unpredictable excitement to the Urban Survival Experience. He has played with the who’s who of modern Jazz including George Garzone, Dave Bryant, Jon Hassel, Paul Bley, Annette Peacock, Frank Kinbrough, Dave Binney, Bern Nix, Woody Witt,  on and on… He has played all over the world as a master free drumming expresionist. His creativity is not only expressed through his drumming but also in his colorful and plentiful paintings. 
The Bands newest member is sax player Bob Shaut who fits the band like a glove. One of the East Coasts underrated masters. His Tone and approach is reminiscent of mid Career Wayne Shorter but is highly developed with his own character. His credits include Third Ghost With Chris Bowman, and Charlie Knicley, His own Sax Life which recorded an album in 2001, and he also recorded Shaut’s Thoughts in 1981.  Bob is a beloved member of the Hudson Valley Jazz Community as a sideman leader and High School music teacher. Generations of musicians have been positively impacted by his passion for the music and we are all better off for his musical contributions.