Modest Machine

Modest Machine (2009-2010)

Modest Machine was assembled in the Providence Plantations in 2009, shortly before the end of the first great age of manufacturing. It was constructed of parts hand-picked from the greatest factories of the world. To this day it continues its myriad complex and clamorous functions, but its ultimate purpose remains unknown.

Modest Machine is an all-improv quintet of multi-instrumentalits playing new electronic and traditional acoustic instruments. Modest Machine draws inspiration from Jazz, Fusion and Electroacoustic Music. To Modest Machine, improvisation is like composition, except the deadline is a lot sooner. Modest Machine's piece and performance titles are often based on alternate takes on works of music we admire, although the music inside them often is not.

Live Recordings

Modest Machine Presents: Eclektronica II - The Basement, 323 Wickenden - July 3, 2010

Alex Dupuis: guitar
Lily Kendall: vocals on "Love Shack"
Casey Marks: bass
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics
Steve Schwartz: drums
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, flugelhorn, TOOB, electronics, vocals on "Love Shack"

Modest Machine Presents: Eclektronica - Live at Tazza - May 25, 2010

Alex Dupuis: guitar
Alex Kruckman: keys, alto sax, suxoblown
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics
Steve Schwartz: drums
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: UNDERGROUND THRILLER - Live score to Hitchcock's Psycho - The Basement, 323 Wickenden - May 21, 2010

Alex Dupuis: guitar
Alex Kruckman: keys, alto sax, suxoblown
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics
Steve Schwartz: drums
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, flugelhorn, TOOB, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: The Last Faultz - With apologies to The Bland. Live at Tazza, April 27, 2010

Alex Dupuis: guitar
Alex Kruckman: keys, alto sax
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics
Steve Schwartz: drums
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: The Spandex Underground - It's 2010 and velvet is so last century. Live at Tazza, March 30, 2010

Alex Dupuis: guitar
Alex Kruckman: keys
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics
Steve Schwartz: drums
Tom "Schwarzenegger" Baker: bass
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: The Talking Heaps - Live at Gilbert Stuart Middle School, March 23, 2010

Josh works at Gilbert Stuart Middle school with Americorps - we played for his kids!

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics
Alex Dupuis: bass, guitar
Steve Schwartz: drums
Alex Kruckman: keys
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: Naked Harem (BYOB) - Dirty music live at Tazza, Jan 26, 2010

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics
Alex Dupuis: bass
Steve Schwartz: drums
Alex Kruckman: keys
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: Music Music Music - Live at Tazza, Nov 24, 2009

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics
Alex Dupuis: bass
Jon Halmi: drums
Alex Kruckman: alto sax, keys, electronics
Josh Marshall: tenor sax, flute, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: The Machine Requires Servicing - Live at Tazza, Oct 27, 2009

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: brass, TOOB, electronics
Steve Schwartz: percussions, keys
Alex Kruckman: saxism
Josh Marshall: woodwinds, strings, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: 4 Minuets in 33 Sections - Live at Club Pixil, Oct 2, 2009

Club Pixil is part of the Pixilerations Festival

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB, electronics
Alex Dupuis: bass
Steve Schwartz: drums
Alex Kruckman: sax, keys, electronics
Josh Marshall: sax, flute, electronics

Modest Machine Presents: Deflater Mouse - Live at The Squealing Pig Boston, August 9, 2009

The Mouse that chews your bicycle tires in the night…

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpet, TOOB and Electronix
Alex Dupuis: guitar and bass
Steve Schwartz: drums
with special guests
Nat Seelen: clarinet
Christie Lee Gibson: voice

Modest Machine Presents: The Beagles Rub Her Soul - Live at Tazza July 14, 2009

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: George Martin (trumpet, TOOB and Electronix)
Alex Dupuis: George and Paul (guitar and bass)
Hoy Loper: John (keys)
Steve Schwartz: Ringo (drums and keys)

Modest Machine: All Over Curly Purple - Live at Tazza June 9, 2009

Luke DeStephano - Ratuig
Josh Marshall - Xas Ronet, Etulf, Ssab
Steve Schwartz - Smurd
Alex Dupuis - Ratuig, Ssab
Arvid Tomayko-Peters - Tepmurt, BOOT, Syek, Potpal

Modest Machine Presents: I'm Standing on a Stage, Different From the One You Are On Now - Live at Tazza May 26, 2009

(With apologies to Alvin Lucier)
Arvid Tomayko-Peters: trumpets, TOOBs and electronics
Alex Dupuis: guitars
David Symons: accordions
Josh Marshall: saxes and flutes
Josh Saul: drums and percussions

Modest Machine Presents: Ash Ra Tempest - Live at Tazza May 12, 2009

Arvid Tomayko-Peters: Resplendent In Divergence
Alex Kruckman: Transcendent In Convergence
Alexander Dupuis: Ascendant In Resurgence
Josh Marshall: Descendant Of Emergence
Steve Schwartz: Independent Of Vergence

Modest Machine Presents: The Lamp Lies Down on Broadway - Live at Tazza April 28, 2009

"It's the last great adventure left to mankind..." Echoes Of The Broadway Everglades, Live At Tazza

Starring:
Arvid Tomayko-Peters - The Supernatural Anaesthetist
Alex Kruckman - Rael Imperial Aerosol Kid
Alexander Dupuis - ...A Flower?
Josh Marshall - Lilywhite Lilith
Steve Schwartz - Arcturus

Modest Machine Presents: Pictures of an Exhibitionist - Live at Tazza March 24, 2009

Expose yourself to music.

Arvid TomayKco-Peters - Gadgets and Tubes
Alexander Dupuis - Sky-Saw
Alex KruKcman - ReKconciliatory Machines
Josh Marshall - FraKctures and Columns
Steve Schwartz - Batterie