Cutter Heads

Chris Brown, composer, pianist, and electronic musician, creates music for acoustic instruments with interactive electronics, for computer networks, and for improvising ensembles. Collaboration and improvisation are consistent themes in his work, which is also founded on a practice of inventing and building electronic instruments. He teaches electronic music at Mills College, in Oakland, California, where he is Co-Director of the Center for Contemporary Music (CCM).

Fred Frith, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and fellow-explorer, creates music for and with acoustic and electric instruments, using the recording process as his primary compositional medium and working with film and video-makers, choreographers, painters, and sculptors, as well as musicians. Collaboration and improvisation are insistent themes in his work, which is also founded on a practice of re-invention and de-construction. He teaches composition and improvisation at Mills College, in Oakland, California, where he is continually inspired by his activities as football coach and avid bird-watcher.