Between 2008-2013 Sten Hostfalt and Blaise Siwula performed over 70 concerts together on the New York Downtown scene (as well as one concert out of state, in Paterson, NJ), mainly as a duo, but also in occasional trios with bassoonist Claire deBrunner, drummers Dave Miller and Shiro Onuma and Alto Saxophonist/Violaist Robyn Siwula. In addition to various related Downtown lineups from quartet to large ensemble. Among the Downtown venues played were ABC No Rio, University of The Streets, The Yippie Cafe', The Brecht Forum, Otto's Shrunken Head and the New York Public Library. Brooklyn venues Stain Bar, Freddy's Backroom and Goodbye Blue Monday, and Everything Goes Book Cafe' on Staten Island. As well as MusiXplore in Paterson NJ. In addition to collaborative concerts at Nublu (East Village) and Shrine (Harlem). Since 2013 they have appeared together in ensembles led by Evan Gallagher, Constance Cooper and Stan Nishimura. The album 'Now Matter' recorded March 19, 2008, and released on Sonus Rex label January, 2011 is a document of the first collaborative year. As is the track 'Stain Boogie', featured on Russian independent net-label Clinical Archive's 2008 digital compilation 'Clinical Jazz-ca200'. The track was recorded live at Stain Bar, Brooklyn NY where Siwula and Hostfalt held a residency through 2008-2009. While the yet unreleased 2013 recording 'Swinging with Spencer', is a portrait of the duo reflecting five years of continuous work live in concert together on the New York City Downtown music scene.
