Colin STETSON
Stetson was born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI, where he became proficient on assorted saxophones, clarinet, and flute. He earned a degree in music from his hometown school the University of Michigan in 1997. While still in college, he co-founded Transmission (which later became Transmission Trio), and in 1998 they relocated to San Francisco and released their first of three records in 1999. Stetson also branched out to play live with the likes of Fred Frith, Peter Kowald, Ned Rothenberg, and Kenny Wollesen, and kept up his Detroit/Ann Arbor connections as well. Before moving west, he had played on his friend RECLOOSE's debut EP for Planet E, and their collaborations continued over the years, culminating in the DJ's acclaimed full-length Cardiology in 2002. Also that year, TOM WAITS tapped Stetson for reed work on his ALICE and BLOOD MONEY albums. His most recent appearances with Waits have been on the soundtrack to the animated feature Shrek 2 and Waits' boxed set, ORPHANS. His full-length debut as a leader came in the summer of 2003 with the quintet recording Slow Descent. Since relocating to NYC in 2004, Stetson has performed regularly with the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Jeremiah Lockwood's SWAY MACHINERY, and the ever present Transmission as well as performances with Sinead O'Connor, Burning Spear and Medeski, Martin, and Wood, ANTHONY BRAXTON and TV ON THE RADIO. He is currently touring with the band, ARCADE FIRE, playing clarinet, bass clarinet, french horn, cornet and bass saxophone.