Cinema Improv

This lovely episode features Mike Robinson (Sierra Ferrell, Maggie Rogers) on pedal steel, Jon Thompson on saxophones, Jesse Neuman on trumpet, Damian Calcagne (Pine Box Studio) on keys, Scott Colberg (Calexico, Margaret Glaspy) on bass and host Dave Butler (Guster) on drums improvising to Godfrey Reggio’s beautiful and haunting 1988 non-narrative film, Powaqqatsi.

Bassist Adam Minkoff (Graham Nash, Secret Chiefs 3), guitarist Jonathan Goldberger (Red Barrat, John Zorn), steel player Mike Robinson (Sierra Ferrell, Maggie Rogers), keyboardist Damian Calcagne (Pine Box Studio) and drummer Dave Butler (Guster) improvise a wild soundtrack to the 2002 ancient Chinese martial arts flick, Hero.

Back after a five year hiatus, we have keyboardist Damian Calcagne, guitarist Justin Mazer, bassist Jonathan Toscano, saxophonist Dan Myers and drummer Dave Butler (Guster) improvising a wild soundtrack to the 2015 post apocalyptic action juggernaut, Mad Max: Fury Road. We recorded this session at The Pine Box studio in Boonton, NJ.

Keyboardist Sarah Goldstone (Hurray For The Riff Raff), guitarist Dave Harrington (Darkside), bassist Caitlin Gray, and drummer Dave Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a beautiful and wide ranging soundtrack to Tarsem Singh’s 2008 adventure fantasy film, The Fall.

Bassist Scott Colberg (Calexico), guitarist Kirk Schoenherr (Nick Murphy fka Chet Faker), keyboardist Steve Okonski (The National Reserve), and drummer Dave Butler (Guster) swung by the studio to create a new improvised soundtrack to the classic 1971 American action road movie, Vanishing Point. 

For the 12th episode, we are lucky to have guitarist Jonny Lam (Sinkane, David Byrne), bassist Michael Ish Montgomery (Sinkane), percussionist Philip Mayer (Natalie Merchant, The Band's Visit musical), and drummer Dave Butler (Guster) in the studio.  Join us for an improvised soundtrack to one of the greatest films of our time, Raiders of the Lost Ark!

Guitarist Justin Mazer (Ryan Montbleau), bassist Caitlin Gray (Hurray for the Riff Raff), keyboardist Matt Trowbridge (RANA) and drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to Godfrey Reggio's cult classic documentary, Koyaanisqatsi.

Guitarist Dave Harrington (Darkside), guitarist/bassist Robbie Seahag Mangano (Tom Morello, Sean Lennon), Steve Okonski (The National Reserve) & drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to Gasper Noé's psychedelic melodramatic thriller, Enter The Void.

Guitarist Scott Metzger was inspired by playing on the Cinema Improv episode of 2001: A Space Odyssey, so he decided to make his own remix of the session. What he came up with is a very cool and weird piece of music that totally spins the original on its head.

Bassist Marc Friedman (The Slip, Ryan Montbleau), guitarist Scott Metzger (JRAD, Wolf!) & drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to an epic drama of adventure and space exploration, Stanley Kubrick’s masterpeice, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Guitarist Jon LaDeau (The National Reserve), bassist Andrew Altman (Railroad Earth) & drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the magical non-narritive documentary film, Baraka.

Guitarist Luca Benedetti, DJ Kevin Kendrick (turntables/synths) & drummer David Butler improvise a soundtrack to the 2011 experimental epic drama, The Tree of Life, one of Terrence Malick's finest films.

Guitarist Tyler Wenzel, bassist Justin Kimmel (Toubab Krewe), keyboardist Jorn Swart (Michael Bloom) and drummers Chauncey Yearwood (Pimps of Joytime, Soul Survivors) & David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the 1968 epic spaghetti western Once Upon A Time In The West.

For episode 5, we have a special performance by two exceptional guitarists, Josh Kaufman (Bob Weir, Josh Ritter, The National, War on Drugs) & Scott Metzger (JRAD, Wolf!, The Showdown Kids). They came by the studio to improvise a soundtrack, along with host David Butler on drums, to the 2008 Chinese supernatural fantasy film, Painted Skin.

Guitarist Robbie Seahag Mangano (The GOASTT, Tom Morello), bassist Jordan Scannella (Tortured Soul), and drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the 1990 Akira Kurosawa magical realism film, Dreams.

Guitarist Nick Bockrath (Cage The Elephant), bassist James Preston (Maybird), keyboardist Erik Deutsch (Leftover Salmon, Citizen Cope) and drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the 2013 sci fi adventure flick, Gravity.

Guitarist Scott Metzger (Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Amy Helm, Wolf!), bassist Andrew Altman (Railroad Earth) pedal steelist Philip Sterk and drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the 1988 French film, The Bear.

Guitarist Jamie McLean (Aaron Neville, Brett Dennen, Dirty Dozen Brass Band), vibraphonist Kevin Kendrick (A Big Yes And A Small No), bassist Justin Kimmel (Toubab Krewe) and drummer David Butler (Guster, Marco Benevento) improvise a soundtrack to the 2011 movie, Samsara.