"Boneshaker are Mars Williams (reeds, toy instruments), Paal Nilssen-Love (drums & percussion) and Kent Kessler (bass), three prolific powerhouse musicians, carrying among them a Grammy nomination and decades of experience with the top ensembles in the world.
Norwegian phenomenon Paal Nilssen-Love has established himself over the last decade as one of the most important voices in improvised music from his generation. A powerful drummer of unbounded energy, he shows an ongoing ability to break physical and musical boundaries on his continuing hunt for new collaborations and experiences. Currently, Nilssen-Love is working with musicians such as Mats Gustafsson, Peter Brotzmann, Ken Vandermark, Evan Parker, Sten Sandell, Otomo Yoshihide and Frode Gjerstad.
Kent Kessler studied musique concrete at Chicago Musical College in the period from 1977-1983, playing in various punk rock and free-improv groups in Chicago and taking time off to wander in Brazil. Kessler started concentrating on the double bass, after having played trombone, guitar, electric bass, short-wave radio and various other instruments and non-instruments.
Mars Williams is an open-minded musician, composer and educator who commutes easily between free jazz, funk, hip-hop and rock. Mars has played and/or recorded with The Psychedelic Furs, Billy Idol, Massacre, Fred Frith, Bill Laswell, Ministry, Power Station, Die Warzau, The Waitresses, Kiki Dee, Pete Cosey, Billy Squier, DJ Logic, Wayne Kramer, John Scoffield, Charlie Hunter, Kurt Elling, The Mission UK, Swollen Monkeys, Naked Raygun, Friendly Fires, MC5, and virtually every leading figure of Chicago's and New York City's "downtown" scene. John Zorn credits Mars as "one of the true saxophone players -- someone who takes pleasure in the sheer act of blowing the horn. This tremendous enthusiasm is an essential part of his sound, and it comes through each note every time he plays. Whatever the situation, Mars plays exciting music. In many ways he has succeeded in redefining what versatility means to the modern saxophone player." "-Trost