With 12 years of touring, four CDs, and countless gigs in New York City at venues like Smalls and The Django under their belt, Spin Cycle continues to deliver hard-hitting, high-octane modern jazz that highlights their many years of experience and eclectic influences. Original music composed by leaders Scott Neumann (drums) and Tom Christensen (sax) forms the core of the band’s repertoire. Whether they come out swinging in true New York City fashion, feature songs inspired by visits to Cuba, or play a reimagined version of Leslie Gore’s It’s My Party, the band, as Downbeat magazine has noted, delivers “strong melodic hooks, rock solid grooves, advanced harmonies and aggressive, deftly executed improvisations”.

After years of friendship, countless outdoor adventures, and many years of gigging together in New York City, Tom and Scott decided to form Spin Cycle in 2014 as a collaborative project to feature their original music and develop their mutual idea of what a modern jazz band could be. Choosing the intimacy and fluidity of a quartet as the best way to highlight their writing, the band features their longtime friend, guitarist Pete McCann, who helps define the band’s sound by adding his unique brand of tonal colors and ability to handle any style of music. Spin Cycle is rounded out by bassist Matt Pavolka, a band leader, composer, and veteran of the New York jazz scene.

Although the members of Spin Cycle regularly play all over the world with established jazz artists, the band still tours several times per year and plays major jazz venues and festivals in the US, giving them a chance to introduce and sharpen new material. Equally at home on the stage of the Rochester International Jazz Festival as they are in the many clubs they have played across the country, Spin Cycle always delivers a diverse, finely crafted, and entertaining musical experience.

About the band members:

Tom Christensen – Saxophone

All Music Guide describes saxophonist and woodwind specialist Tom Christensen as having “the goods to be a major force within the global modern jazz arena. He has recorded and performed with jazz masters Toshiko Akiyoshi,  Joe Lovano, Paquito D’Rivera, Maria Schneider, Darcy James Argue, David Sanchez, Don Sebesky, John Hollenbeck, and The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Tom’s solo project, New York School (Playscape), was named one of the Top Ten Albums of the year by All About Jazz. Tom can be heard with Cecile McLorin Salvant on her recent project Ogresse, on Rufus Reid’s Grammy nominated CD Quiet Pride, David Liebman’s  A Tribute to Wayne Shorter, and Ryan Truesdell’s Grammy nominated The Gil Evans Project-Lines of Color. He is the author of several books on jazz pedagogy and teaches at The Fieldston School in New York City.

Scott Neumann – Drums

Scott studied music at North Texas State and was quickly recruited by Tony Scherr, who was playing bass with the Woody Herman Orchestra on his way to becoming a cog in Bill Frisell’s bands. Neumann played with the “thundering herd” for a year before moving to New York in 1988. In his early years in New York, Scott played sessions at his apartment in Queens with Christensen as well as with such up-and-coming players as Rick Margitza, Rich Perry, John Fedchock, Scott Wendholt, and Pete McGuinness, whose big band he later joined. On his first solo album in 2006, Osage County, he led a quartet including pianist David Berkman and saxophonist Sam Newsome. Scott quickly became a busy player on the New York scene, playing with such luminaries as Kenny Barron and Ben Allison. Neumann also accrued impressive credits as a vocal accompanist (for Ann Hampton Callaway, among others), Broadway musician (he made Swing! swing), and instructor (he directs the drum studies program at Lehigh University).

Pete McCann – Guitar

Jazz guitarist Pete McCann has been an integral part of the New York City jazz scene for over 30 years. He recently released Without Question, his seventh recording as a leader. A sought-after sideman from duos to big bands, he has played guitar on over 100 recordings, including the Dan Pugach Big Band, which won the Grammy for Best Large Ensemble in 2025. McCann has performed and/or recorded with Kenny Wheeler, Dave Liebman, Lee Konitz, The Manhattan Transfer, Patti Austin, Brian Blade, Grace Kelly, Bobby Previte, the Mahavishnu Project, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. 

Matt Pavolka – Bass

For over twenty years, bassist/composer Matt Pavolka has been a vital force in the New York Jazz and Creative Music scenes. In addition to his extensive work as a sideman, he leads three ensembles of his own: The Matt Pavolka Band with Ben Monder, Pete Rende, and Ted Poor, The Horns Band with Kirk Knuffke, Loren Stillman, Jacob Garchik, and Mark Ferber, and Pavogüchi, his duo with Masa Kamaguchi. 

                                                                                    

 

                                                                                    

Photography by Dennis Connors at https://www.instagram.com/denconfoto/