The Sonus Rex Label NYC With a documented activity as an innovative contributor to one of the world's leading creative performance arts communities-the New York City music scene, as well as nationally, in the United States and internationally since 1994. Sonus Rex, a Brooklyn New York registered (sole proprietorship) business in 2006, is shaped by longtime under the radar musical activity with little else but a pronounced personal artistic vision and mission. From (late 70s) 2-track to (early 80s) 16-track tape-recorded, and DIY produced, and fanzine distributed audio cassette compilations in a time when Progressive Jazz Fusion cross-bred with Punk, New Wave and Experimental Electronica. Transformed formative key experiences still embodied in the label's spirit and philosophy.
Encouraged by mentor, modern Jazz icon Paul Bley, and work alongside some of the most prolific jazz musicians of the new jazz generation with Guillermo Klein's large ensemble Big Van (Ref: NY Times, Jazz Times, All Music Guide 1995-97) in residency at Smalls Jazz Club, New York City, during the inception of the influential venue, and on tour in Argentina. As well as appearances as a featured soloist and arranger on Scandinavian recordings, broadcasts, festivals, concerts and tours, in support of mainstream Jazz artists Rob McConnell, Bobby Shew and Deborah Brown. And subsequently empowered by grants from Swedish Arts Grants Committee, Sten Hostfalt started his own label, g-wOw in 2002, to facilitate the production of recordings as a leader. That in 2006, morphed into Brooklyn NY registered Sonus Rex, to organize music production and education endeavors in New York City, and elsewhere in the United States, and internationally.
Today, celebrating nearly two decades in orbit, a catalog of nine releases, and the organization of hundreds of live concert events, all of which have included a long list of some of the most prolific improvising musicians, artists and audio engineers on the New York City and global creative music scene. As documented by members of the international jazz journalist community, John Kelman, Barry Cleveland, Grego Applegate Edwards, Larry Cosentino, Kenneth Egbert, Don Williamson and Natasha Washington, and Hank Shteamer. Via publications such as Signal To Noise, All About Jazz, Guitar Player, Cadence, Jazz Now, Jazz Review, Time Out NY, Altrisuoni (Italy), TomaJazz (Spain), Orkesterjournalen (Sweden), Jazz Guitar International, and JazzViews (UK).
Musicians and artists enlisted for activities of, or directly preceding what now is Sonus Rex, have included bassists Tim Luntzel, Richard Hammond, Matt Pavolka, Bruno Råberg, Matthew Garrison, and Shayna Dulberger, saxophonists Ole Mathisen, Blaise Siwula, Matthew Renzi, Don Houge, and Noah Preminger, drummers Marko Djordjevic, Dave Miller, Lise-Lotte Norelius, and Jimmy Weinstein, trumpet players Takuya Nakamura, Johnny Lapio, and David Boato, vocalists Melissa Kassel, Lilliana Santon, and Constance Cooper, keyboardist Evan Gallagher, vibraphonist Tom Beckham, violaist Robyn Siwula, violinist Katt Hernandez, bassoonist Claire de Brunner, trombonist Stan Nishimura, guitarist Bruce Arnold, spoken word poet Raymond Todd, choreographer and dance artist Savina Theodorou. Audio engineer/studio collaborations include Greg Thompson (Kampo NYC), Doug Henderson (Micro-Moose, Brooklyn NY), Eric Tew (Toxic Audio), and Peter Kontrimas, Boston, MA, Marc Trewella's (Full Circle Mastering), Philadelphia, PA, Göran Stegborn at (SAMI, Stockholm), and Mattz Larsson and Per Westerlund at the Swedish Radio Studios.
Venues and organizations that have hosted Sten Hostfalt's projects, as Sonus Rex, or preceding independent labels, or similarly related, including solo performances by Sten Hostfalt, include: New York City's ABC No Rio, The Bowery Poetry Club, Symphony Space, Knitting Factory (Leonard Street), Carlito's Cafe'/Art For Change, Shrine, University of the Streets, Goodbye Blue Monday, Eat Records, Stain Bar, Freddie's Backroom, Nublu, The Issue Project Room, and ShapeShifter Lab, Brooklyn, NY. Bowerbird, Philadelphia PA, Zeitgeist Gallery, and Lizard Lounge, Cambridge MA. The Willow, The Eastern Front, Ryles Jazz Club and WBRS Radio Brandeis, Boston MA. New World School of The Arts, Miami, FL. Fundacio' Joan Miro', Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Club Le Triton, Les Lilas, France (via the Swedish Arts Council, and the Arts Committee of Sweden). Uppsala Jazz Club. Sandviken Big Bang Jazz Festival, and the Swedish Radio.