Pulse is a New York City federation of six award-winning composers: Darcy James Argue, Jamie Begian, Joseph C. Phillips Jr., JC Sanford, Joshua Shneider, and Yumiko Sunami. The Pulse performing ensemble is a collection of some of the finest musicians in New York City. Well-versed in jazz, classical, rock, and world music, the Pulse musicians have also performed with Philip Glass, Charles Mingus, Alarm Will Sound, Gil Evans, Steve Reich, Wynton Marsalis, David Bowie, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Fred Hersch, Bill Evans, Joe Lovano, Maria Schneider, Dawn Upshaw, Terence Blanchard, Gamelan Dharma Swara, Paul Nash, John Abercrombie and Michael Brecker.

Joy Askew is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has performed with Peter Gabriel, Laurie Anderson, Joe Jackson, Jack Bruce and others including with her own band.