One Cello x 16, is an ongoing project in which I layer the natural sound of the cello to create dense, ever-evolving musical structures.

To accomplish this, different kinds of sounds are captured by a combination of microphones and pickups attached to the body of the instrument. The cello seems capable of producing an infinite number of sounds and I'm always discovering new things. For example, to create a bed of rhythm, I might resort to hitting, scraping and brushing my poor instrument. I record those sounds using a foot-controlled computer, midi sequencer and various bits of digital hardware.

Although by necessity I must use a fair amount of technology to realize the music in a live setting, I try to keep this technology as unobtrusive as possible. During a performance, the arrangement of the just-recorded parts I can control with my feet so that I am free to play the cello. Each live piece is a combination of what I call "empty-score" (a blank musical framework in the form of pre-programmed midi sequences that I then play the music into), structured improvisation...and chance. In other words, no two performances are ever the same.

I have two recordings of the studio-version of One Cello x 16 and am currently working on a third.

 

	One Cello x 16: Natoma BUY CD Legions (War) Fern Tetrishead Sun Will Set We Insist Legions (Reverie) Frozen Angels Legions (Aftermath)
	One Cello x 16 (EP) BUY CD Exurgency Walking Man Arrival Updraught Coda

Video footage:

Tetrishead

The Legion

I perform music from One Cello x 16 quite regularly. To hear about upcoming performances, check the performances page, or you can subscribe to my mailing list.

 

directed by Adam Mason
2007, Renegade Films

A deliciously scary movie for which I composed and recorded an all-cello score. Premiered Sept 12, 2007 at the Toronto International Film Festival.

 

directed by Frauke Sandig and Eric Black
2004, Umbrella Films

Sundance 2005 (Documentary Competition), HotDocs Toronto 2005, Sydney 2005, Nyon 2005 (winner), IDA DocuWeek Los Angeles 2005, Leipzig 2005, Vancouver 2005, Mill Valley 2005, Sheffield 2005

music composed by Zoe Keating, Thomas Mävers & Tony Cross

Other film, tv and multimedia credits:

UK Channel 4 Aged 12 and Looking Ater the Family (2007)

Nearlife (2006)

I Am A Sex Addict (2005)

Oregon (2000)

NYTimes interactive presentation: China: Choking On Growth August 2007

music for KQED TV San Francisco: Spark

Comcast "Buzz" commerical, Dec 2006

Dance and theater credits:

American Repertory Ballet "Danzantes" by Melissa Barak, 2007

Nicholas Andre Dance Theater "Etched", 2007

Digby Dance "Here/Waiting", 2005

Kraft/Purver's

Woods For the Trees, San Francisco Fringe Festival 2003

Recorded with these lovely young lads in July 2007 at a log cabin in Arkansas. Their album "The Sound" will be out soon! Check 'em out.

I've joined Imogen onstage whenever I'm opening for her on tour. She is amazing in just about every way I can think of. Buy her albums and listen to them carefully. I know you will like them.

San Francisco trip-poppers Halou are made up of Ryan and Rebecca Coseboom and Mikael 'Count' Eldridge. Count is a producer with delicate ears and a pretty amazing resume. He is the one who applied all the final production sparkle to my album "One Cello x 16: Natoma".

Whenever I have time, I really enjoy playing with Charles Atlas. A beautiful band of beautiful people who make beautiful music. In 2003, I played the cello on their latest record. Hopefully no one can tell, but I recorded all the cello parts with a broken left index finger (a stress-fracture obtained while recording Frustration Plantation).
Ochre Records
Buy it here

A trio consisting of myself, violinist Tony Cross and percussionist Mark Bernfield. A swirling, improvisatory vortex of sound.

In 2002, I joined Melora Creager's infamous cello-rock sweatshop, Rasputina. I had a lot of fun performing and touring in the band, and I recorded two albums with them: a studio album, Frustration Plantation, released in 2004, and one live album, A Radial Recital, released the summer of 2005. I left Rasputina early in 2006 to focus on my solo efforts.

	A Radical Recital 2005
	Frustration Plantation 2004, Instinct