Marbin

Marbin originated in Israel during 2007 when saxophonist Danny Markovitch and guitarist Dani Rabin first formed the group as a duo. Following their relocation to the Chicago area, the pair completed a self-titled debut album that appeared in 2009. Around the same time they connected with Pat Metheny Group drummer Paul Wertico, who brought them into his Mid-East/Mid-West Alliance ensemble; that project issued the album Impressions of a City in 2009 as well. Wertico and bassist Steve Rodby, another Pat Metheny Group veteran, subsequently expanded the duo into a quartet that signed with Leonardo Pavkovic’s MoonJune label and recorded Breaking the Cycle, released by the imprint in 2011. The sessions also featured percussionist Jamey Haddad, drummer Makaya McCraven, and vocalists Leslie Beukelman, Matt Davidson, and Daniel White.

Marbin’s second MoonJune album, Last Chapter of Dreaming, reached listeners in early 2013 with Markovitch and Rabin now joined by drummer Justyn Lawrence and bassist Jae Gentile while Wertico, Rodby, and percussionists Haddad and Zohar Fresco contributed as guests. The same four musicians later captured the live set The Third Set, which MoonJune issued in September 2014. The following October brought the studio release Aggressive Hippies, again spotlighting Rabin and Markovitch but now supported by drummer Greg Essig and bassist John W. Lauler.