Mark Helias

A versatile bassist with a specific flair for the avant-garde, Tag Helias can be an underappreciated composer, no slouch having a funk groove either. Helias was created in Brunswick, N.J., in 1950, and didn’t start playing bass until age group 20; nevertheless, he finished up learning music at Yale, graduating in 1976. In 1977, he created BassDrumBone with trombonist Ray Anderson and drummer Gerry Hemingway, and started appearing like a sideman on albums by famous brands Anthony Braxton, Dewey Redman, Barry Altschul, and Anthony Davis. In 1981, Helias co-founded the free of charge funk ensemble Slickaphonics with Anderson, and added a significant amount of compositions towards the group’s repertoire. Helias’ 1st album like a innovator arrived for Enja in 1984 with Break up Picture. In 1985, he co-founded the world-fusion group Nu, alongside Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Carlos Ward, and Nana Vasconcelos. The group break up in 1987 and Helias documented his second recording, The Current Arranged; it was accompanied by Desert Blue 2 yrs later. Furthermore, Helias performed like a sideman with (amongst others) Cecil Taylor, Muhal Richard Abrams, Oliver Lake, and Mose Allison, not forgetting the J.B. Horns. In 1992, Helias documented the quartet/quintet recording Attack the near future and experienced his structure “Upside the Drawback” premiered from the String Trio of NY. 1994 brought Loopin’ the Great, his last main studio project for quite some time. During the past due ’90s, Helias created a trio known as Open up Loose, which in the beginning presented drummer Tom Rainey and Ellery Eskelin on tenor; they debuted on 1998’s Arrive Ahead Back again, his first recording not really released by Enja. In 1999, Tony Malaby changed Eskelin (captured around the 2000 live documenting New College), and Gerald Cleaver started acquiring Rainey’s place sometimes. Furthermore, Helias also performed within a duo with fellow bassist Tag Dresser.