Unfulfilled Desires (UD) is an international indie jazz-funk-rock collective with a diverse line-up of players on both sides of the Atlantic. The band’s fresh and eclectic sound is the combined expression of the jazz, classical, rock, funk, and avant garde backgrounds of the revolving international lineup of players. From France, Germany, Chile, and the US, these talented and creative improvisational musicians span three continents to create a unique musical expression that both includes and transcends their cultural and musical influences. The sound is a brash combination of jazz virtuosity, funk-rock groove, and raw soul.

The visionary heart and core foundation of the band is the Massachusetts-based team of fusion drummer Andrew Cohen and classically trained sax, EWI and flute player Rodrigo Tarraza. In 2000, they and a few friends started jamming together in the Berkshires and Unfulfilled Desires was born. Since then the band has consistently evolved through different formations, rocking clubs from New York to Paris to Tel Aviv with a dynamic and sophisticated sound. UD has released two indie CDs Live at the Iron Horse (2003) and Enlightened Dog (2005). And their latest Punk Funk is scheduled for release in summer 2008.

The current European collective of the band, known as UD East, has been playing together on and off with great intensity and collaborative creativity since 2004. Their sound is defined by the super funky pocket playing of Paris-based electric bassist Christophe Bonnard, the powerful and uber-creative rock guitar of German-born Matthias Vogel, and the warm jazzy and supportive vibes of Hamburg-based Jeff Alpert.

But after four years of playing as often as possible with an ocean between them, Cohen and Tarraza thought to find some local US musicians and form a states-side collective of UD as well—both to keep their creative juices flowing and their fans satiated. They were fortunate to be introduced to three top-notch Berkshires-based musicians who complete the free-form jamming quintet now known as UD West. This incarnation of the band features the elegant sophistication of John Suters on electric guitar, the steady and deeply musical groove of Carl Oman on electric bass, and the newest addition, funky and fun-loving keyboardist Ben Kohn. Together, they add a new dimension to the band with a jazzier, powerfully engaging sound.

Throughout the year, Unfulfilled Desires East and West tours the US and Europe inspiring audiences numbering 50-500+ to dance and dissolve into their hypnotic grooves. Last summer, they played sold out performances in Israel’s top jazz clubs. They’ve shared the stage with contemporary jazz greats Mike Stern, The Bad Plus, Oz Noy Trio, and guitar virtuosos David Fiuczynski with his band Screaming Headless Torsos as well as Fareed Haque’s Garaj Mahal. Special guest band member, saxophonist, Jim Campagnola joins UD East whenever available.

On a recent European tour, Time Out London described them as “a hard-driving jazz-funk quintet playing virtuosic jazz and jazz-rock” and chose them as “Hot Pick of the Week.” And David Mossman, owner of the legendary New Vortex Jazz Club in London, defined them as “Steps Ahead and Miles Davis brought into the 21st Century.”

Band Leaders

Andrew Cohen: Drummer and Founder—began playing drums in his teens while living in Rome. He later attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and has trained professionally with Sonny Igoe and the legendary Gary Chaffee. Not only is Andrew the creative visionary behind Unfulfilled Desires—he’s also a world-renowned spiritual teacher, pioneering voice in the field of evolutionary spirituality, and founder of the international nonprofit organization EnlightenNext and its award-winning magazine, What Is Enlightenment? Through his revolutionary philosophy, magazine, and books, and his work with thousands of people around the world, Andrew is dedicated to creating nothing less than a revolution in consciousness and culture. Unfulfilled Desires is an expression of this revolution in culture through music.

Rodrigo Tarraza: Sax, Electronic Wind, Flute—is a Chilean-born, classically trained professional flutist. He toured, performed, and recorded with many international orchestras before moving to sax and electronic wind and playing bossa nova, improvisational jazz, and avant-garde music. In 1995, he founded Ensemble Les Inegales, which released several recordings in Europe. Rodrigo has taught at the San Francisco Conservatory, the New England Conservatory, and several universities in South America. In addition to his work with Unfulfilled Desires, he performs baroque flute with the Berkshire Baroque Trio and other groups, and teaches a course on music and the evolution of consciousness.

UD West

Jon Suters: Electric Guitar—grew up in a musical family and began studying classical guitar at thirteen. In his late teens, he joined a German rock group, Pearls at Swine, and toured the US and Germany for two years before settling in the Berkshires, where he’s made a living as both a performer and music educator. Jon has appeared on numerous albums as a sideman, played for various productions of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, and toured with several different groups. He currently lives in Lenox, MA and is well-known in the area as a both a bass and guitar player.

Carl Oman: Electric Bass—began his professional music career as a percussionist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra from 1969 to 1975. In the 1990’s, he began playing electric bass and currently performs with a variety of jazz-fusion and Latin groups throughout New England, including Creacion, Patty and the IOU’s, Sonny & Perley, and Unfulfilled Desires. Carl, a resident of North Adams, MA, teaches percussion and electric bass at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and through private instruction.

Ben Kohn: Keyboards—Berkshires-born and raised keyboardist Ben Kohn studied music at Westfield State College and also at Berklee College of Music. Upon graduation, he moved to New York City performing with a variety of jazz groups for several years before returning to the Berkshires. He now plays with the area’s best local jazz and blues musicians including Charles Neville, Chris Smither, Charlie Toklaz, Perry Robinson, and the Mary Verdi Band. Ben is also featured on several jazz and blues CDs with Jason Short and Mary Verdi.

James Campagnola: Tenor Sax—Regular special guest saxophonist, keyboardist, composer, bandleader, and one of New York’s most sought-after session musicians, began his professional recording career in New York City in 1975. He has performed throughout the world both as a bandleader and as a featured soloist with such notable artists as: Eric Clapton, Natalie Cole, Larry Coryell, Roberta Flack, David Sanborn, Brian Auger, Bo Diddley, Jon Lord, The Young Rascals, Kenny Kirkland, Jan Akkerman, The Four Tops, David Bromberg, and many others. Jim’s music and performance have been featured on hundreds of CDs, film scores, and television commercials and he has performed at some of New York City’s legendary jazz venues including The Blue Note, Birdland, and The Knitting Factory.

UD East

Christophe Bonnard: Bass Guitar—began playing bass as the age of twelve. Later, he studied at the CIM School of Jazz and the American School of Modern Music, both in Paris. In the mid-1980s, he and guitarist Matthias Vogel started a trio called Non Grata, playing original compositions of jazz, funk, and rock. They’ve produced five CDs together and have performed throughout Europe. Christophe has played with numerous other jazz and funk bands and has taught bass at several schools in Paris.

Matthias Vogel: Electric Guitar—was born in Germany and began playing rock and folk guitar in his early teens. His interest later moved to jazz and he studied as the American School of Modern Music in Paris, where he met Christophe Bonnard and together they started the Non Grata Trio. Matthias has composed music and lyrics in French and English for several recordings. In the late 1990s, he started another band called French Garage, which played psychedelic fusion rock and recorded two CDs.

Jeff Alpert: Vibraphones—began his musical studies at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City where the movie Fame was filmed, and in which Jeff played percussion. After completing his orchestral percussion studies with Vic Firth at the New England Conservatory, Jeff turned his attention to jazz and improvisation on the vibraphones. In 1991, he moved to Europe, where he’s performed with such renowned musicians as Chico Freeman and Dee Dee Bridgewater. Jeff currently performs with jazz singer Cynthia Utterbach in France as well as his own trio in Hamburg, Germany, where he’s lived since 1997.