Not On Mars is a soon-to-be-critically-acclaimed quintet from Madison, Wisconsin hell-bent on defying the conventional wisdom that jazz groups don’t rock, rock groups only play three chords, and jam bands can’t write a tune. You could call Not On Mars an electric jazz band, an instrumental rock band, or even a jam band and be correct, yet the whole is often greater than the sum of its parts and any single one of those labels fail to fully describe the band’s style. The music is instrumental, somewhere between jazz and rock, and always deeply rooted in funk. While most purists would be hard pressed to call Not On Mars a jazz group, the band likes to cover a few jazz standards by the likes of Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, and Freddie Hubbard, reworking the tunes with new instrumentation, funk and hip-hop beats, and dramatic solo sections. As a rock group, Not On Mars appeals to those listeners who’ve grown bored with the mainstream and want to be challenged a bit by their rock n’ roll. Not On Mars will prove that jazz can be music for dancing and that rock can be every bit as disciplined and intelligent as any other kind of music. Perhaps it is easiest to say that Not On Mars performs music that is louder than jazz, and smarter than rock.

Many Wisconsin music fans will see some familiar faces when they go to a Not On Mars performance. Guitarist Greg Dalbey has played many shows as with Wisconsin’s own originators of “slopgrass” Sloppy Joe, the ubiquitous Unkle Pecos, and the fantastic psychedelic/southern rock group The Country Funkins. Jed Heckman, also a guitarist, was a founding member of Hue, a band that developed a very dedicated following among the underage crowd in central Wisconsin back around the turn of the millennium. Bassist Frank Torrey was a member of Ground and several other Madison bands, and helped found the now defunct Madison Music Cooperative. Keyboardist Dylan Heckman was a founding member of the blues/rock band Northbound Train, which gigged incessantly throughout Wisconsin from 1997 to 2001. Drummer Chris Marr spent several years building his chops in the fertile music scene of Colorado’s ski towns before moving to Madison and finding the perfect band to showcase his deep groove, multi-genre versatility, and fluid rhythmic sense.

After spending most of 2004 writing, rehearsing, and fine-tuning their compositions, Not On Mars is poised to do big things in 2005. Their repertoire is a mix of roughly 70% original material and 30% covers. They are available for one, two, or three-set engagements and are able to emphasize either the jazz or the rock side of things, depending on the mood of the audience and the ambiance of the venue. The members of Not On Mars all have plenty of gig experience and know how to put on their show efficiently and professionally and conduct business courteously. Educated by the past and excited for the future, Not On Mars eagerly awaits the opportunity to grace your stage.