Eric Dolphy, Edmund Welles, Ben Gribble, Evan Ziporyn, Schorn-Puntin Duo, klezmer, heavy metal, improvisation, Bang on a Can, Bach
Above: Jonathan Russell's Duo Bass Clarinet Concerto, performed by Sqwonk and the San Francisco Composers Chamber Orchestra
Sounds Like
Classical music meets heavy metal, klezmer, blues, and minimalism, and all of this on the raw, resonant timbre of two bass clarinets.
Above: "Undo" by Ken Thomson performed at the Bang on a Can Summer Institute at Mass Moca
Above: "Black" by Marc Mellits, performed at the Bang on a Can Summer Institute at Mass Moca
In a certain sense, Sqwonk came into existence some time in the spring of 2005. This is when Jon Russell and Jeff Anderle started playing bass clarinet duets together, leading up to a joint recital in May, the discovery of the name Sqwonk that autumn, and History soon thereafter. In another, deeper sense, Sqwonk has always existed, in the fiery heart of the volcano, in the primal scream of the pterodactyl, and in the laughter of small children and rodents.
Thanks for including me in your group of friends. I REALLY like the sound of your duo. I played bass clarinet for a year when I was a teen. I loved it! Please have a look and listen to FIELDS BEFORE US on my main web site. I hope we might have the chance to work together in the future.
