Paul Stranahan - Jazz & Fusion Music

Broadview Collective:

Broadview Collective
from left to right: Paul Stranahan, Jeff Charmek, Mike Barna

Broadview Collective is a modern eclectic, improvisational and experimental ensemble. It is truly a collective in that all the members of the band contribute their own compositions and interact with each other while performing. The band is best described as a three-piece progressive, experimental, jazz-fusion band that performs all original compositions.

The Musicians

Mike Barna is a guitarist, composer, and educator who graduated with honors from Berklee College of Music with a major in composition. He then went on to earn his Masters Degree from Cleveland State University. Since then he has been composing for various combinations of instruments (including electronic), performing with several groups, and has recorded nine CD's of original music. He is also a music educator, teaching 40-50 private lessons weekly.

Jeff Charmek has been playing guitar for 18 years. He has played with many bands spanning numerous genres including jazz, blues, pop, heavy metal, psychedelic and fusion to name a few. He is a guitar player that strives to constantly find new ground both compositionally and technically on the guitar. His music spans a wide range of genres and techniques, all with a style that is instantly recognizable. He currently has four solo albums and many others in conjunction with other musicians.

Paul Stranahan plays drums and performs on two CD's from his own group The Paul Stranahan Trio. The first CD is a 2000 release called "Solar" which has seven jazz standards and two originals by Paul and the second is from 2003 entitled "Climbing Somewhere" which features all his original compositions. Mike Barna can also be heard on this CD. Paul also plays drums with an instrumental-jazz-rock band called Rare Blend and can be heard on their CD's called "Infinity" and "Evolution Theory." Paul has a B.A. in music from Capital University and teaches private drum lessons in the Cleveland area. More information can be found on his website www.paulstranahan.com.

Did you read the recent Free Times review about "Broadview Collective"? Please read on....

"Much like Birth, the avant-garde jazz act that was kicking around town a couple years back, the guys in the Broadview Collective approach jazz without a sense of reverence. And that's a good thing. The opening track here, "It's About Time," sounds like a King Crimson guitar duel, as Mike Barna and Jeff Charmek trade licks like two wrestlers trying to pin each other. The liner notes list Barna as the guy playing in the left channel and Charmek as the man you can hear in the right. Not sure if that's just and inside joke, but it makes for some good musical fireworks. Admittedly, the noodling gets a little out of hand in "Piece for Two Guitars," and "Cool Riff" is a little too reminiscent of those indulgent Steve Howe solo albums. But the frantic fretwork of "Monkies Uncle" and the spooky theatrics of "Gollum" make up for it. Anchoring the whole thing is drummer Paul Stranahan, who also gigs in his own band, the Paul Stranahan Trio, and keeps time with Rare Blend. He' s in good form here too and keeps up even when the pace quickens. The guys haven't played out much due to their busy schedules, but when they do, they'd do best to take this hard-rocking stuff to the indie club circuit, which they do, apparently, since four of the tracks were recorded live at the Grog shop."

- Jeff Niesel

And here's another review that Broadview Collective received in 'Scene' Magazine:

"There must be a reason this trio of fusioneers hasn't picked up a bass player. Perhaps guitarists Mike Barna and Jeff Charmek and drummer Paul Stranahan don't think it's too likely that there's another player out there who could easily find his way into their intimate and engaging set-up. Whether each player is strong on instinct or through listening to his partners, or some mix of the two, the three consistently navigate the twin paths of structure and spontaneity with a well developed personal lingo. The compositions, mostly quirky in character, succeed in creating varied improvisational scapes. Both fleet-fingered guitarists

provide abundant tonal change-ups as well. While it may be contrary to the band's collective nature to single out one player, it's Stranahan's gift for coloration and for firing up the proceedings that most often emerges as BC's most interesting element. A worthy effort. "

Check out BVC's latest CD:

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Call 216-269-9156 for bookings.