The NYChillharmonics, Sammy Miller and The Congregation, Ellis Ashbrook, SPACE CAPTAIN

The NYChillharmonic is a 22 piece ensemble/collective lead by Sara McDonald and located in NYC. The group is comprised of musicians that hail from all over the globe, but currently live and/or go to school within the five boroughs. While most people would assume that a band of this size and instrumentation would function as a traditional big band, the overall sound of the ensemble truly encompasses progressive rock, indie-pop, and classical genres.

This particular cast of (occasionally) rotating characters, came into existence during the late spring of 2014. Sara, the bandleader/composer/arranger of the project, had spent the last year writing for ensembles of various shapes and sizes, before settling on a 22 piece ensemble that would (she hoped) become the band of her dreams. It did. The group began performing all over the city at any and every venue that was willing and able to accommodate a group of their size. So far The Chill, for short, has managed to play about once a month at various rock and jazz venues within Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Sara has managed to spread the word of The Chill, so to speak, by taking the music to different states, as well as oversees, in order to promote the work that has been done in New York. Bands and Orchestras that have featured the music of The NYChillharmonic are, The Urbana Pops Symphony in Urbana Illinois, The Cologne University Big Band, in Cologne Germany, The Jazz Composers Big Band in New Jersey, and the Rausch und Töchter Jazz Orchestra in Munich Germany.

The music of The NYChillharmonic has been featured on WNYC Souncheck, WBAI NY, Buzz Artist, All About Jazz, ARTE, Divergent Paths with Dan Dunford and has also been written about in Hot House Jazz Magazine, Spiegel, and The Urbana Post.


"The perfect-player scholar"-The Wall Street Journal
"The Jazz Youth-Quake" -Vanity Fair

A native of Los Angeles, Sammy Miller has become known for his unique maturity and relentless focus on making music that "feels good" as a drummer, singer and bandleader. Upon completing his Master's at The Juilliard School, Sammy formed his ensemble, The Congregation. As a band they are focused on sharing the power of community through their music—joyful jazz. While independently the band members have performed/recorded with notable artist including Wynton Marsalis, O.A.R, Iron and Wine, and Lee Fields at venues including The White House, Lincoln Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, The Congregation has opted to stick together and create globally conscious music with the intention to spread joy throughout the world.


Ellis Ashbrook generates ferocious sounds and swarming vibrations. Swim in a psychedelic pool of aquatic delays. Be moved by a band that has rocked audiences all over the Northeast. Their songwriting reverberates beauty and heaviness with respect for the Funk and love of unique grooves. These players and singers have the prowess, technique, and tenacity to play original music that transcends trend.

Watch New Music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN3tkmXR5vs&feature=channel_video_title
New Live Ellis Ashbrook DVD Concert: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=D415FF1170B56F59


Space Captain is a soul collective based out of Brooklyn, NY