Knoest

Piotr Damasiewicz,
 Bart Maris – trumpet
; Tobias Klein – alto saxophone / clarinet
; Edoardo Marraffa – tenor saxophone

Josh Sinton – baritone saxophone; Matthias Muche, Jeb Bishop – trombone;
 Pascal Rousseau – tuba
; Jasper Stadhouders – guitar
; Goncalo Almeida – bass
; Philipp Moser, Onno Govaert – drums

Non-Western music encounters Western contemporary composed music and
anarchic European free improv clashes with tightly structured math metal. Typical
basic ingredients of Spinifex include: forceful grooves, intense improvisation,
virtuoso solos, psycho-rhythms and extreme dynamics. Spinifex features an explosive combination of musicians, all of whom are active on the cutting edge of the international creative music scene.
For spinifeX maXimus, the current lineup has been expanded with eight fantastic improvisors from Europe and the US, opening the doors to an even wider range of dynamics, new orchestral colors, creative energy and joyful improvising.

In 2013, the Spinifex quintet released their cd Hipsters Gone Ballistic, which received enthusiastic reviews.

Monsieur Délire, Monsieur Délire, january 2014: "Looking for a record that hits hard and never where you expect it? Bam! Hipsters Gone Ballistic is a neverending flurry of pops to the jaw. Ultratight tunes borrowing from jazzpunk and avant-prog. With guitarist Jasper Stadhouders, Gonçalo Almeida on bass, drummer Philipp Moser, and most of all the dual frontline of Gijs Levelt (trumpet) and Tobias Klein (alto sax). Recommended."
Eyal Hareuveni, allaboutjazz , february 2014:"... contrasting extremely tight, irregular structures and rhythms with explosive free improvisations and disciplined math- metal precision with playful Indian Karnatic rhythmic elements. All selections are played with sheer abandon and joyful passion, from the first second to the last one. All compositions feature restless shifts and complex dynamics as well as the highly collaborative and versatile interplay of this well-rehearsed quintet... the most impressive piece is an inspired, uplifting cover of Karnatic composer and singer Papanasam Sivan, "Sre Valli Devasenapathe," that sounds like a spin on their fellow countrymen The Ex's Ethiopian covers. No doubt, the hipsters went on a wild ride."

Tom Greenland, The New York City Jazz Record, june 2014: "…Hipsters Gone Ballistic opens with a driving additive rhythm in nine beats, which manages, for all its prickly accents, to instill a punk-rock vibe, something that might drive less-inhibited jazz fans to mosh. The recording is notable for its juxtaposition of complex figures, flawlessly doubled by trumpeter Gijs Levelt and alto saxophonist Tobias Klein, in contrast to unfettered, free-form sections, the two approaches relentlessly overlapping throughout. The frontline delivers skronky accompaniment to Philipp Moser’s
throbbing drumbeats, cadencing as one on “Flying Object Forth Worth”, ending memorably on the Klezmer-goes-Bollywood “Sre Valli Devasenapathe.”

Rui Eduardo Paes in jazz.pt
***** "Had I heard this record in time, it would have been included in the 'Best of 2014."

Tim Sprangers, Volkskrant: "The math-metal synergy sparkles with tight transitions which are compellingly interwoven with forceful soloing."

Spinifex was launched in 2005 by saxophonist Tobias Klein, trumpet player Gijs Levelt and flutist Ned McGowan. The first years their activities concentrated on a nonet, the Spinifex Orchestra. In 2008, Spinifex released the cd Triodia, which was very well received. Frans van Leeuwen wrote in the Dutch daily NRC Next:
"...the dynamics of this nine piece orchestra are tremendous. It can whisper, but also roar... With the rest of its repertoire too – colourful, rich in contrast and inspired – Spinifex at times approaches the most varied compositions of the late Charles Mingus."
The following years, Spinifex presented an octet called Spinifex Tuba Band as well as collaborations with Katrin Scherer's The Bliss, Emmanuel Scarpa's ensemble Umlaut with Marc Ducret & Antonin Rayon, the Turkish psychedelic folk band Gevende, and Indian musicians Dr Mysore Manjunath, Dr Suma Sudhindra, B.C. Manjunath and Priya Purushothaman.
In 2010, Klein and Levelt decided to establish Spinifex as a working band in a smaller, more flexible quintet line-up. With this current line-up, including guitarist Jasper Stadhouders (Cactus Truck), bassist Gonçalo Almeida (Lama, Albatre) and drummer Philipp Moser (Cilice), Spinifex has toured in Turkey, Portugal, India, Central/Eastern Europe and in Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok..
In 2015, Spinifex celebrates its 10-year anniversary with spinifeX maXimus.