The collective diversity of our individual influences fuels the Jelloslave sound, which draws from the European classical tradition reflected in the cellos, the Hindustani classical rhythms of the tablas, and a continuum of international drumming styles.

Underlying our unique voice and vision as an ensemble, is a musical philosophy rooted in the commitment to the evolving role and sonic possibilities of our relatively ancient and culturally specific instruments. What sets Jelloslave apart from other ensembles fusing multi-cultural elements, is our unique instrumentation, our unexpected arrangements, and the organic fluency with which we merge our foundational training with modern extended techniques. Our collaboration provides a rare opportunity to combine our classical foundation with sonic experimentation and outstanding grooves, resulting in an extraordinary and compelling soundscape.

Jelloslave’s signature instrumentation and influences is the palette that provides the context and color with which we create our original compositions and interpret the works of others. In addition to the compositions of cellists Jacqueline Ultan and Michelle Kinney, Jelloslave’s eclectic repertoire includes works by JS Bach, Manuel de Falla, tangos by Astor Piazzolla, songs by George Harrison, Leonard Cohen and Led Zeppelin.

After 10 years, Jelloslave has developed a confident, distinct and dynamic voice. We have self-produced two full-length recordings, Touch It (2003) and Purple Orange (2010), to critical acclaim, and have performed at all of the major local venues and festivals.

- Chris Roberts

- Rebecca Lang

For the past 15 years Gary has performed in several devotional (Kirtan) groups, and in a variety of creative contexts with many local musicians including Mike Michel, Saltee, Carnage, Felonious Bausch, Greg Herrigas, Pete Linman, Joe Savage, Mississippi Peace, Barb Meyer Band, Jeff Waryan, Casey Obrien, Dalyce Elliott, Tim Frantzig & long time friend and colleague and Jelloslave bandmate, Michelle Kinney.

Gary’s current projects include the Wild Moon Bhaktas, David Ballman’s The Midnight Choir, Spirit House Trio and Jelloslave.

As a touring drummer, Greg is currently playing with The Mickey Hart
Band. He has also performed on B.B. King’s ’02 US “Summer Blues Fest”
with The Shane Henry Group, Ruf Records ’04 European “Blues Caravan”
Tour with guitarist Sue Foley, and Cyndi Lauper’s ’06 “Body Acoustic
World Tour” with Mpls Reggae Pop group The RULE. In 2010 Greg toured
Iraq and Kuwait performing for the US/Coalition Forces with
singer/songwriter Keri Noble. And from 2008-2010 he toured and
recorded with Lorie Line and her Pop Chamber Orchestra. In 2011, Greg
performed for Todd Clouser’s A Love Electric European Tour and
additional dates in Mexico.

Currently Greg is producing his third of four commissions of his
original compositions for Ananya Dance Theatre, which premiered in
2012 in Trinidad and in Minneapolis, MN at the Southern Theater.

Greg also owns and produces music at The Bathtub Shrine Recording
Studio in NE Minneapolis.

Michelle enjoys several musical collaborations with ensemble projects including the spoken word free improvising band Coloring Time, and with her husband, composer and guitarist Chris Cunningham in his “micro orchestra” Mississippi Peace; and with Twin Cities luminaries such as Nirmala Rajasekar, Prudence Johnson and Gao Hong.

She also collaborates frequently as a composer for dance and theater, notably with Kevin Kling & Michael Sommers, Stuart Pimsler Dance Theater, Paula Mann and Time Track Productions, Carl Flink and BLM, and the infamous Laurie Van Wieren.

Finally, Michelle is a devoted mom to her most loyal (though captive) audience, Ruby and Ivan, and to Cocoa the fabulous mutt.

In recognition of her artistic work as a composer, Michelle has received awards and grants from New Music USA, The Bush Foundation, The Knight Foundation, The Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, NEA/Rockefeller, Meet the Composer, Harvestworks/Studio Pass, The American Composers Forum, and Minnesota State Arts Board.

Michelle earned a BA from Northwestern University, focusing on cello performance, composition and ethnomusicology/jazz studies (w/Paul Berliner). Returning to the Twin Cities, she spent 10 years composing and performing in Dance, Theater, Film and various performing ensembles, before moving to NYC for graduate school at NYU where she earned an MA in Performance Studies. Michelle spent 13 years in the downtown NYC music scene, and has worked with some of the most respected innovators in new music, including Henry Threadgill, Butch Morris, Jason Hwang, Brandon Ross, Myra Melford, Mary Ellen Childs, Bun Ching Lam, Shi-Zheng Chen, Fast Forward and John Zorn.

Jacqueline currently performs and composes in four unique and acclaimed projects: Saltee, Jelloslave, Starfolk, and Antigravity. Jacqueline was selected, along with 7 other twin cities artists, to present an evening of music with her four bands, for the 2011 premiere season of the Cedar Cultural Center’s new 416 Club Commissions program, funded by the Jerome Foundation. Jacqueline’s bands have been featured at the Twin Cities most prominent festivals and venues, including the WALKER ART CENTER, CEDAR CULTURAL CENTER, SOUTHERN THEATER, St. Paul’s Concrete and Grass and Sur Seine Festivals, The Northrop Summer Music Series, Macy’s Day of Music, Mill City Live Summer Concert Series, and many more. Jacqueline is a dedicated teacher and educator and has served on the faculty at the MacPhail Center for Music and the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for many years, while also maintaining a flourishing private home studio.