Aaron Kerr--acoustic and electric cello. You can find the other musicians I perform with under myspace pages for Swallows, The Sleeper Pins, Bobb Fantauzzo, and Semiconductor Orchestra. Please check them out as they are all quite diverse!
影響
Pablo Casals, Lynn Harrell, Brian May, Trevor Rabin, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Thelonius Monk, Soundgarden, Morphine, Slayer, and Hendrix.
風格近似
(in brief) It's a crossover sound; modern classical and heavy metal squished together to make something unique. Some say it sounds like fire, some say my bow is like a samurai blade...or a chainsaw...or a soft stick churning smooth butter...why don't you hear for yourself! Check it out!
I would define the type of music that I compose as modern instrumental music that has many influences and often uses improvisation. In 2006 I finished my first solo CD, "Arco 71" and it is the culmination of everything I've done as a musician: 25 years of performing and 15 years of composing. In the same year I also received a McKnight Foundation Music Fellowship. I have made many recordings, but I finally feel I have something that describes me best.
I currently play with six groups that are stylistically different: Swallows, JazZen, Semiconductor, The Sleeper Pins, Dissonant Creatures, and Heavy Pedal Cello. Swallows is an indy-rock group with folk, Americana, and goth influences. JazZen is a duo I'm in with Native American flute wizard Bobb Fantauzzo. Our music incorporates jazz and dreamy new-age type styles. Semiconductor is the creation of my good friend, Greg Tippett. It uses conduction, or conducted improvisation, to control what is essentially a jam session with a mixed group of instruments. The Sleeper Pins is a 4 piece group of musicians from varying backgrounds. We play indie music with an acoustic edge and tightly structured songs with imaginative lyrics and subtle instrumentation. Dissonant Creatures is a new project made up of members of Swallows and Sleeper Pins. We put out a self-titled album this year and it was picked up by New Leaf distribution. It is a departure from "Arco 71," in that there is more instrumentation and ambient avant-garde weirdness going on. Lastly, and most recently, Heavy Pedal Cello is a duo with Tyson Allison from Sleeper Pins that is completely improvised and spur of the moment. I play acoustic or electric cello that is run through a bunch of effects pedals that Tyson twiddles knobs on while also playing percussion. It is crazy and unpredictable and we just did some recordings that we will release in 2010 on Emperor Penguin Records.
I continue to compose for both myself and others, and recently have added teaching to my list of activities. I'm writing new curriculum for cellists to help them learn to improvise on their instrument--something that was woefully lacking when I was learning how to do it. Eventually, I'd like to set up workshops for cellists interested in learning to improvise.
The November edition of Crop Circles airs tomorrow (Monday) on breakthruradio.com, and you're on again. Hope you enjoy, and thanks again for music to make the Midwest proud!
The newest edition of Crop Circles airs tomorrow, 10/5, on breakthruradio.com, and you're on it! Love that Cairo track--it reminds me of the heyday of New Zealand bedroom rock (a la This Kind of Punishment). Anyway, thanks for the fine music, and hope you enjoy the show.
Aaron -
It's always a pleasure playing with you ... you have a great sound and great musical sensibilities. I look forward to doing more in the coming year!
Bobb
P.S. Check out New Audio Clips on my site: www.bobbfantauzzo.com for a clip of us doing "Strains of Trane".
Your children are adorable and kind - until they are portrayed in my movie. Which is done, by the way. Coming soon to your local Half-Price Books. On your stash shelf. You rockstar you.
