Pocket, consisting of David Dvorin (guitar), Matt Langley (saxophones), Randy McKean (contralto clarinet), and Tim Bulkley (percussion), combines the freewheeling groove and grit of mid-century blues and jazz with the intimacy and instrumental interplay of chamber music. Dvorin’s original compositions and unique arrangements emphasize rhythmic feel along with a more adventurous exploration of harmony and texture.
Pocket began as the band Flounder in 2018 when Dvorin assembled a group to perform a concert of his original works at CSU Chico State, where he teaches composition. That lineup—Tim Bulkley on drums, Cliff Childers on trombone and harmonica, and Randy McKean on bass clarinet, took their name from Dvorin’s composition (and nod to the Beatles) “I’m the Flounder.”
The quartet continued as a working group, over the next 5 years performing Dvorin’s rocking brand of blues and jazz throughout Northern California, and releasing their self-titled CD on Cure-All Records in 2021.
Tragedy struck in early 2023 when Childers passed away unexpectedly. Cancelling their upcoming gigs, the remaining trio of McKean, Bulkley and Dvorin entered a period of soul-searching, uncertain whether to continue as a band. After a long weekend holed up in a cabin in Stinson Beach, playing and recording improvisations together, the three reaffirmed their collective bond yet were still unsure of the next step.
As Dvorin was developing a new book of compositions for a 2024 concert at Chico State, Bulkley and McKean suggested Langley as a new collaborator. His fiercely inventive playing and hard-bop style seemed the perfect fit for Dvorin’s adventurous yet tradition-informed tunes. They immediately locked in together at their first session, and Pocket—taking its name from the heavy groove, was born.
