 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
While Jeff's main axe remains the acoustic piano, he has picked up an assortment of exotic instruments over the years, each of which brings unique color to the projects in which he participates. Below are a few instruments from his collection. All are available for recording sessions; the big ones – the organs – are for in-house use only.
Jeff uses a full chromatic set of tuned quartz crystal bowls. In addition to the usual dreamy stuff, he makes much use of the bowls rhythmically, slapping them with his hands for a marimba-like effect. In performance, Jeff often combines the crystal bowls with bronze bowls, bells, and cymbals.
The Continuum Fingerboard is a unique and powerful midi controller that allows for three axis control – velocity, left/right, and up/down – as well as essentially infinite variability in terms of microtones. It also has an enormous range. The Continuum is often used with the Capybara, an external sound processor for use in the Kyma sound design environment.
Jeff also plays an array of small, toy-like instruments – namely the Melodica and a street instrument from India called the Keytar. He's recently been caught composing on a mountain dulcimer. He also has a Theremin, which elicits mostly guffaws (through no fault of the instrument, however – if you haven't heard Clara Rockmore play, prepare yourself!)
|
|
A 24-stringed tap instrument that crosses piano technique with electric guitar and bass construction; a pianistic cousin of the Chapman Stick. The harpejji does a fine guitar/bass impersonation, but that's beside the point; its real strength lies in the utterly unique layout of its frets, which allows for distinctive voicings spanning multiple octaves. Dreamy! Discover more about the harpejji at 
Tulips on your organ! (sorry.) Jeff's first instrument was the organ, and he's got a few vintage ones hanging around: a '52 Hammond A with a Leslie, a two-manual Rodgers church organ, and a three manual Rodgers theater organ with a real glockenspiel. Both of the Rodgers are from the 1970s; all three bring lovely analog warmth to those cold, digital nights.
|
|
© 2011, The Partnership for Art and Music, LLP. All rights reserved. Principal photography by Hugh Shining Moon. Site design by J S Kingfisher and Art101.com. |