The Occasion

A short-lived band from the New York area, the Occasion released two well-received and well-respected albums in their time, and drew comparisons to such artists as Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd, and John Cale. After having settled on their lineup and their positions, the Occasion began to play and tweak with the notion of a frontperson hogging the spotlight. Vocals became more of a tag team affair, with pianist Brent Cordero, guitarist Jordi Wheeler, and drummer Charles Burst each tackling the work in rotation. Rounding out the membership of the Occasion were Sara Shaw on tape loops and percussion, and Marlon Sporer on bass. Their first album, The Occasion, was released in 2004. Their second, Cannery Hours, followed in 2005. The band dissolved soon after, with Sporer moving to Jeremiah Rifles, Shaw finding a place in Effi Briest, and Wheeler and Burst both sharing musical adventures with Mike Wexler. ~ Chris True