Herculaneum

While attending DePaul University, Chicago-born drummer, composer, and bandleader Dylan Ryan began using within a jazz group that eventually became Herculaneum, a significant contributor towards the city’s creative music picture. Herculaneum’s eponymously entitled debut album found its way to 2003, and likewise to Ryan on both drums and xylophone, highlighted trombonist Nick Broste; trumpeter Patrick Newberry; bassist Greg Danek; and, on alto saxophone, David McDonnell (aka Icy Demons’ the Diminisher), Ryan’s duo partner in Michael Columbia, an experimental clothing that had released its eponymous debut the preceding calendar year. Released in 2006, sophomore Herculaneum record Orange Blossom highlighted the same lineup as the debut (with McDonnell today on clarinet furthermore to alto saxophone), while 2008’s Herculaneum III extended the lineup to a septet by adding guitarist John Beard and flutist Nate Lepine. Olives & Orchids premiered this year 2010 and UCHU in 2012; Ryan have been Herculaneum’s primary composer on prior albums but on these last mentioned two releases distributed composing credits with McDonnell, Lepine, and Newberry.