Between 2008-2013 Sten Hostfalt and Blaise Siwula performed over 70 concerts together on the New York City Downtown scene (as well as one single concert out of state, in Paterson, NJ). They appeared 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 C.O.M.A at ABC No Rio, The University of The Streets, The Yippie Cafe', The Brecht Forum, Otto's Shrunken Head and the New York Public Library's Mulberry Street branch. Brooklyn venues Stain Bar, Freddy's Backroom and Goodbye Blue Monday, and Everything Goes Book Cafe' on Staten Island and MusiXplore in Paterson NJ. In addition to collaborative concerts at Nublu, East Village with drummer Jimmy Weinstein, and vocalist Liliana Santon, and Shrine, in Harlem, with drummer Federico Ughi, and bassist Shayna Dulberger. Since 2013 they have appeared together in groups led by composer, and Vintage Casio keyboardist Evan Gallagher (ex. John Zorn's Cobra), trombonist Stan Nishimura, and microtonal composer/vocalist/pianist Constance Cooper. As well as in shared events with countless others, including Downtown luminaries Tim Berne, Herb Robertson, Bob Stewart, Ray Anderson, Bern Nix and Daniel Carter. 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 the duo appeared regularly, often enough in 2008-2009 to refer to it as a residency. While the unreleased 2013 recording 'Swinging with Spencer', is a portrait reflective of five years of continuous work together live in concert on the NYC Downtown scene.
