SHORT BIO

Brett Carson explores the dynamic intersection of media and the exploration of myth and ritual through his compositions, at once volatile and highly structured. Drawing inspiration from the work of Sun Ra, John Cage, and Olivier Messiaen, his work aims toward the deconstruction and reassembling of an altered musical and linguistic reality. 

A native of Georgia, Brett became active in Atlanta's experimental music scene while working in more conventional contexts, particularly as a jazz pianist. He relocated to Oakland, CA in 2012, and has since performed and/or recorded with a number of musicians including Bill Baird, Brian Baumbusch, Nicolas Collins, George Lewis, Roscoe Mitchell, 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)". He holds an MA in Composition from Mills College, where he studied with Roscoe Mitchell, Zeena Parkins, Fred Frith, Les Stuck, Joan Jeanrenaud, and Robert Schwartz.