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A Cosmic Connection (ACC) has been a constant development for eight years now. All members hail from northwest Wyoming in the small town of Greybull near Yellowstone. ACC is said to be reminiscent of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, blending their professionally jazz trained sensibilities with their undeniable roots of experimental music & punk rock, into an indisputably original fusion sound. Being the diverse musicians they are, is a must, especially in the rural Wyoming area, where making their livelihood with music is much more difficult than most all metropolitan scenes around the world. This difficulty has only made them better musicians, leading them to become a musically competent group capable of playing for many diverse occasions. ACC is so diverse that they have been hired for straight-ahead jazz club gigs, fusion/funk shows, weddings, and even light dinner music at restaurants; with each individual reaching far beyond in their own right of stylistic disciplines. A Cosmic Connection is: saxophonist Dillon Brannock age 20, drummer/percussionist Caleb Van Gelder age 20, guitarist Shawn Kebler age 21 and bassist Caleb Mattis age 21.
A Cosmic Connection came to be in the most natural way it could have. Guitarist Shawn and drummer Caleb started playing together eight years ago back in middle school. Their first creations were that of punk rock, which lead them to form a very successful band in the Wyoming/Montana area. Overtime they became enamored and curious of jazz and began to listen to and study it. By 2002 Caleb Van Gelder was studying jazz and Latin percussion with renowned jazz drummer Ronnie Bedford from New York City, who has played with the likes of Joe Pass, Sarah Vaughn, Benny Goodman, Buddy DeFranco, & Pee Wee Russell. Shawn Kebler began studying with guitarist Jeff Troxel who attended Berklee College of Music and the prestigious USC’s jazz program. By this time they began recruiting their friends to play and experiment with them. Out of this experimentation eventually arose what is now ACC.
All members reside in the northwest Wyoming area. Shawn and Caleb Van Gelder teach private lessons to the old and young alike. All members maintain a busy schedule of performing with ACC and other groups. Shawn Kebler has performed with the likes of Ronnie Bedford & was recipient of the Outstanding Soloist Award in 2006 at UNC Greeley’s Jazz Festival, one of the nation’s premier university jazz festivals, & also received a Certificate of Completion from the prestigious Player’s School of Music in Florida. Caleb Van Gelder toured in 06’ with artist Jalan Crossland, a Wyoming State Flatpick & runner-up U.S. Fingerpick Champion, and has performed with many of Wyoming’s premiere artists like bassist Bill Plummer, guitarist Peter Queal, & saxophonist Craig Olson. Dillon Brannock studied with Craig Olson & has played with the likes of Jalan Crossland at Mt. Rushmore in SD & was recipient of the Outstanding Soloist Award in 2007 at UNC Greeley’s Jazz Festival. The three also toured in the NWC Big Band with the quartet of Hank Jones, Bob Magnusson, Roger Kellaway, & Ronnie Bedford. ACC was the Saturday night closing act at the 2007 NoWoodstock music festival in Tensleep, Wyoming. Both Dillon and Caleb Van Gelder spent the summer of ‘07 traveling in Brazil listening, learning, and studying the music & culture. Bringing in many different influences to their music, from straight-ahead jazz, Latin, funk, be-bop, avant-garde, fusion, to rump-shakin’ hip-hop, ACC’s diversity is sought after by many diverse types of clubs and music connoisseurs.
