Dan Karlsberg Group

Detail: Snake-like ribbons writhe outward, a flurry of colors bursting in tiny explosions of motion. Strange birds and animate objects swoop and wriggle in an air that breathes, rippling. It's not a painting, nor a French Surrealist animation. It's the scene that unfolds before your closed eyes as you listen to the Dan Karlsberg Group.

A Cincinnati native, Karlsberg has been playing piano since the age of 5. After briefly considering a major in physics, Karlsberg decided to pursue a future in music. He completed both a B.A. in 2001 and an M.A. in 2007 in Piano Jazz performance at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Between degrees, he took up teaching music. His livelihood is completely devoted to and dependent on music. When asked if he sees himself doing this for the rest of his life, he says, "I hope to."

Not that it's easy. Karlsberg describes his routine -- no routine. Like many musicians, he has no steady paycheck. He often teaches during the evenings, but apart from that, his gigs are unpredictable. On a financial level, that means it's hard to pay the bills.

On another level, however, this lifestyle mirrors Dan's musical approach -- always a surprise. Steve Whipple on bass and Anthony Lee, Jr. on drums complete the trio and together they weave a tapestry of varying shades and textures that shift color depending on the angle from which they are viewed.