the
ROBERT
EVEREST EXPEDITION
The Robert Everest Expedition
is a Minneapolis-based Latin-American and Mediterranean influenced
group whose music ranges from American jazz to Brazilian funk,
Spanish flamenco to Italian folk, Cuban Son to Mexican
Huapango, and several original compositions in many different
musical styles and languages. This music cannot be classified,
and therein lies the magic that the audience experiences. The
musicians are united by their exploration into world music and
their constant hunger to grow individually and as a group. All
of them are involved in a wide variety of musical endeavors, and
the Robert Everest Expedition is an attempt to integrate all of
the far-reaching interests of these four (plus more, at times)
eclectic musicians into one ensemble. After an evening of music
with this group many audience members feel they have been around
the world and have thoroughly enjoyed the ride!
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Robert Everest
is a musician, singer, and songwriter whose ravenous appetite
for the music of the world will never allow him to be confined
to any one particular style. A native Minnesotan, he was first
introduced to the piano at age 5, and at age 12 he acquired
his first guitar, which remains his primary instrument, although
he still composes and performs on piano, as well as many stringed
instruments from around the world, including mandolin, Cuban
tres, Andean charango, and Brazilian cavaquinho. Robert also
played bass guitar and percussion in the world music group
Kangaroo, which produced 2 recordings between 1996 and 1998. |
Though mostly self-taught, Robert has
studied jazz guitar in Minneapolis, classical guitar in Portugal,
flamenco in Spain, Tango in Argentina, and many other Latin American
styles of music throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean.
His vocal technique has developed through many years of singing
and instruction, including four years with the University of Minnesota
Jazz Singers. During the last 20 years Robert’s second life
calling has been foreign language. With a degree in linguistics
from the University of Minnesota, and many travels and studies
in Latin America and Southern Europe, Robert has become fluent
in several romance languages, which he brings to the stage in
the songs he performs.
Over the last few years Robert has become
the quintessential full-time musician, performing an average of
4-5 times per week, rehearsing, teaching, managing several ensembles,
and recording. He has recorded two solo CDs of music from Latin
America, which have received national radio play and taken him
to many international tour destinations. He has also recorded
with his Brazilian quintet, Beira Mar Brasil, which performs regularly
in the Twin Cities. Robert has been dreaming of having an original
world music quartet for many years, and upon meeting Marco, Michael,
and Tony, this dream has become a reality.
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Marco
Sambrotta was
born in Rome, Italy and began playing guitar at age 7. At
age 9 he was introduced to the piano, which to this day remains
his primary instrument of expertise. He studied music at the
Vatican Conservatory in Rome, and in 1985 he moved to the
United States and studied music composition at Whitworth College
in Spokane Washington, where he lived from 1985 to 1990. After
living in Rome again during the next 5 years, Marco moved
back to the United States in 1995, this time settling in Minneapolis,
MN. |
In the 10 years he has been living in Minneapolis,
Marco has explored a variety of musical settings, including ensemble
and solo performances on piano, guitar, and vocals. Marco and
Robert were introduced in the summer of 2001 by mutual Italian
friend and fellow musician Alessandro Giua. Throughout the following
years this partnership grew and became the foundation of the Everest
Expedition, through hundreds of hours of collaboration - composing,
arranging, recording, and performing together. Marco, like Robert,
is constantly exploring many different styles of music from around
the world, and has composed music in a myriad of musical genres.
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Michael Bissonnette,
originally from New Bedford, Massachusetts, has been studying
drum set and percussion for over 30 years. After receiving
a music degree in 1983, he moved from Massachusetts to California,
where he performed at Tibbies' Music Hall in Huntington Harbor
from 1984 to 1990, and played drums at Knotts' Berry Farm's
Can-Can Show for six and a half years. During this time Michael
met Canyon Recording Artist Xavier Quijas Yxayotl, who taught
him about the music and musical instruments of ancient Mexico. |
Subsequently, Michael learned how to make
many different types of indigenous percussion instruments, began
to collect instruments from all over the world, and energetically
dove into many different styles of world music. Other musical
ventures in California included participation in the musical performances
of the Orange County High School of the Arts, and two summers
with the Starview Residential Facility in Torrance. During this
time he worked with severely emotionally disturbed children ages
9 to 17. Through Michael’s facilitation of drum circles
at Starview, the students developed team-working skills, and improved
focusing abilities and self-esteem.
In 1999 Michael’s marriage brought
him to Minneapolis, where he continues to perform, record, teach
percussion and drum set lessons, and facilitate community drum
circles in the Minneapolis area. He can be seen performing with
Katie McMahon, the original voice of Riverdance, and other great
local musicians such as Laura Mackenzie, Robert Everest, Heart
of the City, and Glen Helgeson. Some of the percussion instruments
that Michael plays include the berimbau, cuica, and pandeiro from
Brazil; the doumbec from the Middle East; the djembe, log drums
and caxixi from Africa; the Irish bodhran; the Aztec Death Whistle,
the American drum set, and spoons. Michael and Robert met in September
2002 while performing in the Latin Renaissance concert at Orchestra
Hall in Minneapolis.
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Tony
Axtell, another native Minnesotan, graduated
from the Musician's Institute Of Technology in Los Angeles,
CA with a degree in bass studies. A true multi-instrumentalist,
he is an accomplished bassist, keyboardist, drummer, guitarist,
vocalist, and a prolific composer, arranger, and producer.
Tony's fretless bass work can be heard on the title cut from
the latest Ricky Peterson CD, "Souvenir" (Windham
Hill) as well as his vocals on the CD's first single "Can
We Still Be Friends?". Tony produces several CD’s
per year for |
Stillwater-based, Faith Inkubators and
has also produced music for the Target stores CD series.
Throughout his 25 year career, Tony has
toured nationally and internationally with an array of artists
including jazz vocalist and Grammy nominee Mark Murphy, Japanese
producer/keyboardist and multi-Grammy winner Toshi Hinata &
his band "Apple", R&B funk group the "KAJ Orchestra",
the fusion group "Samoa", guitarist Jimi Behringer,
and saxophone player Ronny Loew. Career highlights include recording
with David Sanborn's keyboardist and musical director, Ricky Peterson,
touring with vocalist Mark Murphy, an appearance with an all-star
big band for First Lady Hilary Clinton at the State Theatre, and
an impromptu performance with Wynton Marsalis. Tony has also collaborated
with musician/songwriter Marissa Dodge and vocalist/songwriter
Diana Grasselli, formerly of Desmond Child and Rouge. Tony recently
produced a CD project for internationally known Japanese pianist
Yukiko Isomura. Tony and Robert met at Tony's birthday party in
2003 at the Artist's Quarter in St. Paul where they performed
together for the first time. More information at www.tonyaxtell.com

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photos by Bryan Aaker |
Other musicians
that perform regularly with the Robert Everest Expedition
include bassist Jocko MacNelly and drummer Andy Artz, who,
along with Peruvian percussionist, Chico Chávez, and
Prairie Home Companion veteran violinist, Gary Schulte, are
featured on the new CD, which is now available for order.
The Robert Everest Expedition
can be hired for club dates, music festivals, wedding receptions,
restaurant entertainment, corporate events, and house parties.
Go to the Contact page to inquire
about booking the Robert Everest Expedition.
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Check
the performance calendar for upcoming shows.
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