Photo credit: Steve Kaye
Brett Carson is a composer, pianist, improviser, and occasional theater artist based in Oakland CA. His compositional work, which has been described as "fascinatingly intense" (Stephen Smoliar, SF Classical Voice), explores the intersection and juxtaposition of diverse conceptual strata delving into the realms of myth, ritual, and unconscious impulse. Drawing from a plurality of influences, including Sun Ra, Olivier Messiaen, Captain Beefheart, and the literary work of André Breton, Jorge Luis Borges, and J.R.R.Tolkien, he seeks to establish alternative logical systems and cosmologies.
In addition to his compositional work, he has performed as a pianist and keyboardist across the US, Europe, and South America in new music, free improvisation, jazz, and rock contexts. He has been the pianist for the Art Ensemble of Chicago since 2019. Additionally, he has played/recorded with a wide variety of other musicians including Bill Baird, Brian Baumbusch, Nicolas Collins, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell (solo projects), Bill Noertker, Rent Romus, and William Winant.
Recent projects include the jazz/improvisation group Quattuor Elephantis and a mytho-dramatic song cycle "Mysterious Descent". Recent works for theater include the 2017 premiere of his one act play, "Mary's Dilemma, or That Sinking Feeling," and the 2018 premiere of his experimental chamber opera "Just Visiting (X-Ray Vision)".
Press Quotes:
"Confusing, absurd and occasionally beautiful – like existence itself, and the weird myths we create to explain it." - Lexi Glass, KFJC
"...Carson mixes modern classical music, traditional song form, and old-timey melodrama. It’s all presented with a sense of high drama but there are also touches of silliness and absurdity..." - wedgeradio.wordpress.com
In addition to his compositional work, he has performed as a pianist and keyboardist across the US, Europe, and South America in new music, free improvisation, jazz, and rock contexts. He has been the pianist for the Art Ensemble of Chicago since 2019. Additionally, he has played/recorded with a wide variety of other musicians including Bill Baird, Brian Baumbusch, Nicolas Collins, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell (solo projects), Bill Noertker, Rent Romus, and William Winant.
Recent projects include the jazz/improvisation group Quattuor Elephantis and a mytho-dramatic song cycle "Mysterious Descent". Recent works for theater include the 2017 premiere of his one act play, "Mary's Dilemma, or That Sinking Feeling," and the 2018 premiere of his experimental chamber opera "Just Visiting (X-Ray Vision)".
Press Quotes:
"Confusing, absurd and occasionally beautiful – like existence itself, and the weird myths we create to explain it." - Lexi Glass, KFJC
"...Carson mixes modern classical music, traditional song form, and old-timey melodrama. It’s all presented with a sense of high drama but there are also touches of silliness and absurdity..." - wedgeradio.wordpress.com