Free Radicals is a jazz, funk, ska, reggae, African music, Indian music, punk, klesmer, polka and latin-jazz group committed to non-commercial original innovative music, political action and incessant rehearsing. Free Radicals live band includes six or seven members including Nick Cooper (drums), Tom Sutherland (organ) Peter Sullivan (alto and baritone saxes), Stuart Smith (guitar), Theo Bijarro (bass) and various other friends. On recordings, Free Radicals invites a group of 30 or more musicians and vocalists into the studio to help out.

Free Radicals began in 1996 with Nick and whoever he could find. The focus of the group was on improvisation and recording. Other musicians joined Free Radicals on stage and in the studio. The results of this collaboration make up about half of the first Free Radicals CD, The Rising Tide Sinks All. In 1997, the focus of the group switched away from improvisation to song writing and the band began rehearsing regularly three times a week. Horn players, keyboard players, guitarists, singers and rappers came in and out of the group. Pete Sullivan auditioned on baritone sax and has been with the band since. Rising Tide includes 55 musicians (including included Houston jazz legend Harry Sheppard on vibes and Subhendu Chakraborty on tablas), 75 minutes of music, 29 songs and almost as many styles -- funk, jazz, Nigerian, Indian, ska, hip-hop and reggae.

The album received positive reviews around the country on the band's first tours. The most enduring tour support has come from the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Free Radicals travels up to New York every three months to play there and elsewhere. Performing there, the band has received great press coverage, being recommended in the New Yorker twice.

Free Radicals has always been based around a commitment to charities, community and political progress. The 24 hour concert was a milestone event, when Free Radicals played without stopping for a second from noon November 21, 1999 to noon on the 22nd to raise money for Kid Care. The CDs have also had political themes.

The second studio CD, Our Lady of Eternal Sunny Delights, was released in 2000. Many of the guest musicians from the first CD join in and some Latin grooves are added.

With all the members writing songs and sections of each other's songs the effort is truly collaborative. Free Radicals has always had an open audition policy, allowing anyone who is willing to consider the strict rehearsal schedule try out. The band is currently recording a third studio CD.

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