Ned Rothenberg composes and performs on saxophones, bass clarinet, flute and shakuhachi (an end blown Japanese bamboo flute). He has been internationally acclaimed for his solo music which he has presented for the past 16 years in hundreds of concerts throughout North and South America, Europe and Japan. He leads the ensembles Double Band and Power Lines and was a founding member of the cooperative group New Winds (with Robert Dick, flutes and Herb Robertson, Trumpet). His newest project is Sync, a trio with guitarist/bassist Jerome Harris and Tabla virtuoso Samir Chatterjee. His co-collaborators in other projects have included Paul Dresher, Yuji Takahashi, Sainkho Namchylak, Richard Teitelbaum, Elliott Sharp, Samm Bennett, John Zorn, Katsuya Yokoyama, Kazuhisa Uchihashi and Fred Frith. He’s lived and worked in New York City since 1978.

Rothenberg’s musical interests are numerous and his work varies widely in its sonic, emotive and stylistic profiles. A strong underlying element of his instrumental voice is the extension of the woodwind language to incorporate polyphony and accurate microtonal organization through the manipulation of multiphonics, circular breathing, and overtone control, not only using his horns in their standard melodic role but also as rhythmic and harmonic engines in both solo and ensemble contexts. As a composer he can move from “Jazz-funk in cubist perspective, dizzying, yet visceral”* (Double Band) to a solo music that is “intense, slightly melancholic, rhapsodic without being sentimental”+, while avoiding the use of mere effect- “crafting distinct, evocative compositions that boast shape as well as texture^”. (*-Jon Pareles and +Edward Rothstein, NY Times and ^Neil Tesser, Chicago Reader).

A few of Rothenberg’s more notable sojourns have been 6 trips to Japan including a 6-month residency there during which he performed his music and studied shakuhachi with two of the foremost masters of the instrument, Goro Yamaguchi and Katsuya Yokoyama. 3 trips to the former Soviet Union in’89, ‘92 and ‘94 working solo, in various groups and in duo with Sainkho Namchylak. December ‘91 saw his first trip to South America where he presented his solo music. This is in addition to numerous tours in North America and Western Europe each year playing festivals, theatres and clubs as a leader or collaborator.

Ned Rothenberg’s discography includes: a solo CD, The Crux (Leo), Double Band’s ‘Over Lays’ and ‘Real & Imagined Time’, Power Lines’ premier recording (New World ), ‘Amulet’, duo with Tuvan vocalist Sainkho Namchylak (Leo), ‘Monkey Puzzle’, a duo with Evan Parker (Leo), a studio collaboration co-composed with Paul Dresher, ‘Opposites Attract’ (New World), 2 records by Semantics (Rift & SST), New Winds’ releases ‘Potion’,’Digging it Harder From Afar’ (Victo), ‘The Cliff’ and ‘Traction’ (Sound Aspects), Cafe 9.15 with the Japanese band Altered States (DIW) as well as 3 solo LPs: Trespass, Portal, and Trials of the Argo on Lumina. His work can also be heard on the Nonesuch, A&M, ECM, Recommended, Sub Rosa, Enemy and Virgin labels. (For a complete discography see url below)

Born in 1956 in Boston, Rothenberg graduated from Oberlin College and studied music at Oberlin Conservatory, Berklee School of Music, privately with Les Scott (saxophone & clarinet), and George Coleman (jazz improvisation). However, his trademark solo technique is self-taught. His musical efforts have been furthered by grants and commissions from the New York Foundation for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Cary Trust, Lila Wallace Foundation, Chamber Music America, Asian Cultural Council, Roulette, Jerome Foundation, Meet the Composer, and ASCAP.

For booking information or other info Email Ned Rothenberg: location1@location1.org
To order CD’s Email Bruce Gallanter at New York’s Downtown Music Gallery: dmg@panix.com
For full discography posted on the web: http://www.nwu.edu/jazz/artists/rothenberg.ned/discog.html#ned_discography