Date Palms revolves around the core duo of Gregg Kowalsky (keyboards, electronics) and Marielle Jakobsons (violin, flute, electronics). They employ traditional rock instrumentation to create music informed by Indian classical music, country, minimalism, and spiritual jazz, arriving at a style that is wholly their own.
On their third album, The Dusted Sessions, the duo expanded the line-up to include Ben Bracken on electric bass, Michael Elrod on tanpura, and Noah Philips on electric guitar (a first for the band). Kowalsky and Jakobsons are both accomplished solo musicians in their own right: Kowalsky has released ambient albums on Kranky as well as a collaborative release with Josef Van Wissem on Amish, and Jakobsons has released music on the Digitalis and Students of Decay labels. Date Palms uses the sound an imagery of the dustbowl and the American West to express something truly cosmic and unique within the already highly individualistic Bay Area underground.
The Dusted Sessions was recorded by Phil Manley (Trans Am, The F**king Champs, Oneida, Wooden Shjips) at LCR in San Francisco, including a session during the annular solar eclipse of May 21st, 2012. The group will be performing throughout the US and Europe as a quintet.
Release Date ‘The Dusted Sessions’ 10/06/13 (Thrill Jockey.)
