Strange Changes leans heavily on the talents of multi-instrumentalist Erik Van Dam, master of the bari, tenor, alto, and soprano saxophones. Having studied with the highly acclaimed Joe Lovano and later George Garzone, Erik has gone on to draw inspiration from many influences, including Lovano, Sam Rivers, and Eric Dolphy. Erik has crafted a sound of his own.  He has also spent time working and performing with Bob Moses, Bill Lowe, Stan Strickland, and Fred Ho’s Monkey Orchestra. Former performance ensembles include Erik’s jazz trio TRIOSOPHY, his all improvisational quartet SRUTI, as well as 80′s-90′s cover band THE CRUSACK APPROACH, and a nine piece funk group VMF.  In addition to being a musician, Erik is an avid creative painter and sculptor who teaches art professionally in a local school system.