Fiddle Sax Fusion Band ADVENT
Advent - A Musical Collaboration from Fiddle Sax Fusion Band and Arts at the Palace
In December 2024, Arts at the Palace proudly released Advent—a heartfelt project from the Fiddle Sax Fusion Band, created in collaboration with videographer Ryan John Lee. Advent is a seven-song album and four-part video series that blends jazz, fiddle, and chamber music into a unique soundscape of seasonal reflection and celebration.
The Video Series: A Journey Through Advent
The accompanying four-part video series brought the music to life with evocative visuals and thematic storytelling rooted in the liturgical season. Each video premiered weekly in December 2024:
"Of the Father's Love Begotten: Conception"
Opening the series with quiet mystery, this piece offered a meditation on divine beginnings. Mixed and mastered by Henry Howard; filmed by Ryan John Lee."Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming: Gestation"
With the introduction of Brandon McGhee’s synthesizers, the theme of growth and anticipation emerged, evoking spiritual and emotional build-up."O Come, O Come, Emmanuel: Birth"
Mark Shiner’s expressive percussion captured the ecstasy and agony of creation—complemented by McGhee’s synth drones and a subtle triangle part."Joy to the World: Celebration"
The final video celebrated community and artistry. It featured the band in their natural element, with dazzling visual edits from Lee and sparkling arpeggios from McGhee (heard but not seen).
After About the Album
As Brian Stark shared:
“The music for Advent began as a weekly offering of seasonally-appropriate tunes for Zoom church services. With a grant from the Colgate Research Council, we knew it was time to formally record and release this music.”
The entire album was recorded in the Palace Theater by Henry Howard, Executive Director of Arts at the Palace. His engineering captured the full warmth and character of the violin and saxophone. Longtime collaborator Brandon McGhee, based in Chicago, contributed synthesizer and keyboard layers that introduced elements of ambient and dance music to the mix. The album was mastered by Hamilton-based audio engineer Jeremy Johnston—an expert with both elite credentials and a deep connection to the local community.
Album artwork and video were created by Ryan John Lee, whose photography and filmmaking provided a visual counterpart to the album’s spiritual and emotional journey. The video series was filmed at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Hamilton, generously hosted by Fr. Brooks Cato. The church also became the band’s home for live Advent performances, offering a meaningful conclusion to the project’s original purpose.
Meet the Fiddle Sax Fusion Band
The Fiddle Sax Fusion Band began as a grassroots experiment in Urbana, Illinois, where husband-and-wife duo Jessie and Brian Stark started performing outside during the 2020 COVID lockdowns. Jessie, a former contest fiddler, and Brian, a jazz saxophonist, stumbled into a joyful, genre-blending style that became the foundation of the band’s musical identity.
After relocating to Hamilton, NY in 2023—where Brian began teaching at Colgate University—the band expanded to include percussionist Mark Shiner, a Catholic chaplain and longtime drum instructor. Mark’s spirited rhythms added a lively foundation to the ensemble, energizing their fiddle-sax fusion with drive and vitality.
Where to Listen
Advent is available to stream on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Instagram.
This project represents the power of collaboration, the resilience of creativity, and the unique role of the arts in helping us mark time, celebrate, and come together. If you’d like to support work like this in the future, we invite you to share the videos, subscribe to our updates, or make a contribution to Arts at the Palace. Thank you for listening—and for being part of this journey.
