Christof Kurzmann (laptop/ppooll) and Ken Vandermark (reeds) have been working together in various projects since 2009, when they both first collaborated in Kurzmann’s critically acclaimed ensemble, El Infierno Musical. Since then they have worked in a number of groups, most regularly with Vandermark’s band, Made To Break. Throughout the past decade they have also performed as a duo many times, including a tour in Brazil in 2012, as part of the Resonance Ensemble residency during the Krakow Jazz Autumn Festival of 2013, and with concerts in Argentina during February of 2017. In October of 2019 they will tour in the Czech Republic and Austria, and will also record material for a new album.
Their duo music has featured interpretations of Joe McPhee’s poetry, Kurzmann’s real-time processing of completely improvised music, a unique rhythmic basis that incorporates the sound possibilities ppooll software and Vandermark’s melodic phrasing and approach to extended techniques on his instruments. Without doubt, this is an incredibly innovative, forward thinking ensemble, one that is willing to investigate text and sound from the past through the use of 21st century materials.
Christof Kurzmann (ppooll/electronics, reeds, vocals)
Is an Austrian musician, performer, composer and curator. After a successfull start with his Avant-Rock-Band “Extended Versions” he continued in 1994 his work in the field of experimental electronic music. Since that time Christof has collaborated with some of the most significant artists working in contemporary music and improvisation- including Toto Alvarez, Martin Brandlmayr, Steve Bates, John Butcher, Eden Carrasco, Kai Fagaschinski, Luc Ferrari, Bernhard Fleischmann, Michaela Grill, Mats Gustafsson, Sofia Jernberg, Margareth Kammerer, Leonel Kaplan, Andrea Neumann, Marina Rosenfeld, Ursula Rucked, Burkhard Stangl, Michael Thieke, and Clayton Thomas- in groups such as El Infierno Musical, The Magic I.D., Orchester 33 1/3 and Schee. During the course of his career, Christof has performed throughout Europe, Japan, North and South Amercia. He has also been a music curator since the mid 1980’s, and in 1999 founded the record label, charhizma, which has released more than 30 cds.