Sunday April 12 * doors at 6:30, music at 7 * $20-30 * TICKETS

Transparent Productions presents Tom Teasley (percussion, voice, electronics) and Dave Ballou (trumpet)

As a global percussionist, composer, and sonic explorer, Tom Teasley creates music that dissolves boundaries—cultural, musical, and spiritual. Grounded in the belief that rhythm is a universal language capable of fostering dialogue across traditions and identities, his work draws inspiration from Middle Eastern frame drumming, West African grooves, Indian tala cycles, jazz improvisation, and contemporary electronic textures. The result is a synthesis that is immersive, expressive, and deeply human.

Teasley’s artistic journey has been shaped by collaborations across continents and disciplines. As a U.S. Department of State Cultural Envoy, he has shared musical conversations in Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, South Korea, Samoa, Oman, and Jerusalem, working alongside local musicians to foster cultural exchange and mutual understanding. These experiences have transformed his understanding of music as a bridge between past and future, self and other, tradition and innovation.

Widely recognized for his pioneering contributions to world percussion, Teasley has received numerous awards throughout his career, including multiple honors for World Percussionist of the Year, Outstanding Sound Design, and World Music Instrumentalist. A lifelong learner, he studied at the Peabody Conservatory and was mentored by percussion masters from both Western and non-Western traditions.

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Trumpeter/Composer Dave Ballou can be heard in a variety of settings; from solo trumpet improvisations to large ensembles performing notated compositions. His recordings as a leader can be found on the Steeplechase, CleanFeed and pfMentum record labels.  Ballou has performed or recorded with ensembles led by Rabih Abou-Kahlil, Steely Dan, Michael Formanek, Woody Herman, Andrew Hill, John Hollenbeck’s Large Ensemble, Sheila Jordan, Oliver Lake, Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano, Dewey Redman and Maria Schneider.  Ballou worked closely with the late Gunther Schuller performing as soloist on the definitive recording of Journey into Jazz with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and as a featured soloist for the world premiere of Schuller’s Encounters. He was an orchestra member for the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of 42nd St. (2001-2004).

Ballou is a Professor of Music at Towson University and member of the Jazz/Commercial music division and director of the Murray Jazz residency. He teaches classes jazz theory and improvisation, jazz arranging, studio jazz trumpet, and improvisation for all instrumentalists, jazz composition and coaches small jazz ensembles including the improvisation ensemble. He is a faculty member at the Litchfield Jazz Camp, and has taught at the Maryland Summer Jazz Camp, the Maine Jazz Camp and The Banff Institute.