Sorry - we sold out of hard copies. Particle Zoo is only available through digital distribution... You'll like SHIM if you find the music of Ken Vandermark, Steve Lacy, Dave Douglas and Charles Mingus interesting. SHIM was ensemble-in-residence with the EMIT series curated at the Salvador Dali Museum. The sextet began as an experimental improvisatory ensemble that performed at art galleries and mutated into an avant-jazz group combining compositional structure with improvisation. SHIM was given five "Best of the Bay” music awards by Weekly Planet Magazine and was featured on the JazzSouth radio series program #32. The instrumentation for SHIM is trumpet (Keith Hedger), saxophone (David Pate), clarinets (David Irwin), trombone (David Manson), bass (Matt Fagen & Doug Mathew) and drums (Jim Stewart). Some of the artists with which SHIM has appeared and/or collaborated with include ROVA Sax Quartet, Sam Rivers Trio, Eugene Chadbourne, Joe McPhee, Davey Williams of Curlew, Amy Denio, Ned Rothenberg, Gerry Hemingway 4tet, the Shaking Ray Levis and other innovators in creative music. A review of Particle Zoo by Cadence critic, Michael Rosenstein: “Some may head down to St. Petersburg, Florida in search of the fountain of youth, some may go looking for a surreal experience at the Salvador Dali Museum, but those looking for adventurous improvisation will surely be down there looking to hook up with the collective unit SHIM. Their first CD (11/98, p.117) was an informal, self produced affair that delivered impressive, original charts and a keen group approach to improvisation. This follow up, offers their take on nine more originals penned by trombonist Manson and trumpet player Hedger. The two have a knack for creating catchy themes with quirky meters, providing some basic compositional structure, and then letting the band loose. They make effective use of the two reeds, two brass, two basses, and drums, creating rich arrangements that open up for extensive solo space for all. It helps having an ensemble full of distinctive players. Hedger has a tone steeped in the post-bop tradition, with a liquid sense of phrasing that allows him to squeeze out slow, muted musings or lithely fly over rapid-fire pulsing meters. His free flights over Fagen¹s coursing electric bass and Stewart's churning drums on the title tune are one of the CDs highlights. Where Hedger¹s playing is spiky and biting, Manson has a suave, smooth edge. Yet he can also dig into a gutbucket growl, sliding across the melodies with limber gritty energy. Irwin switches back and forth between clarinet and bass clarinet and is equally compelling on each. Check out his Eastern tinged playing on 'Dervish,' which sets his sultry, snaking bass clarinet lines over a coursing free pulse. Pate is a powerhouse, particularly on tenor. He takes off from the very first tune, diving in with a scorching solo. The two bassists drive the pulse throughout, with Matthews¹ acoustic instrument playing off the funky edge of Fagen¹s electric bass. Stewart keeps things moving, his drumming dancing across the odd meters. On Hedger¹s 'PF Flyers' he kicks the free interplay along with a caterwauling rock energy, while on the collective 'Inka,' he lays back with shimmering textures. This release is yet further proof that there is plenty of exciting improvising happening these days, in every corner of the country. And clearly, St. Petersburg, Florida has some stellar proponents.”