This is music that sounds like a conversation between a human brain and a very sophisticated machine. It is centered around the piano, but the notes often trigger electronic responses that bloom and decay in unpredictable ways. The sound is clean, precise, and often sparse, favoring clarity over density. It feels like watching a complex clockwork mechanism function in real-time, where every gear and lever is visible.
What makes this Chris Brown distinctive is his history as an instrument builder and pioneer of network music. Unlike standard electronic artists, his work is deeply rooted in the physical act of performance and the unpredictability of live interaction. He uses computers not as playback devices, but as improvising partners that listen and react to the acoustic instruments in the room, creating a feedback loop of organic and synthetic sounds.
Start with 'Lava' to hear his mastery of electroacoustic brass and percussion, or 'Rogue Wave' for a more focused look at his solo piano and electronic integration. It is the perfect starting point for anyone interested in the intersection of American experimentalism and modern technology. It requires patience but rewards the listener with a sense of profound, quiet discovery.
Chris Brown (born 1953) is an American composer, pianist and electronic musician, who creates music for acoustic instruments with interactive electronics, for computer networks, and for improvising ensembles. He was active early in his career as an inventor and builder of electroacoustic instruments; he has also performed widely as an improviser and pianist with groups as "Room" and the "Glenn Spearman Double Trio." In 1986 he co-founded the pioneering computer network music ensemble "The Hub". He is also known for his recorded performances of music by Henry Cowell, Luc Ferrari, and John Zorn. He has received commissions from the Berkeley Symphony, the Rova Saxophone Quartet, the Abel-Steinberg-Winant Trio, the Gerbode Foundation, the Phonos Foundation and the Creative Work Fund. His recent music includes the poly-rhythm installation "Talking Drum", the "Inventions" series for computers and interactive performers, and the radio performance "Transmissions" series, with composer Guillermo Galindo. His 1992 electroacoustic work "Lava", for brass, percussion, and electronics is produced by Tzadik Records. He teaches Composition and Electronic Music at Mills College in Oakland, where he is co-director of the Center for Contemporary Music (CCM).
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