Elliott Sharp

Elliott Sharp
Background information
Born (1951-03-01) March 1, 1951 (age 73)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
GenresContemporary classical, experimental, free improvisation, jazz, avant-garde
Occupation(s)Composer, musician, producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet
Years active1980s–present
LabelsSST, Tzadik, Clean Feed, Intuition, Homestead, Atavistic, Intakt, Extreme, Knitting Factory, zOaR
Websiteelliottsharp.com

Elliott Sharp (born March 1, 1951) is an American contemporary classical composer, multi-instrumentalist, performer, author, and visual artist.[1][2][3]

A central figure in the avant-garde and experimental music scene in New York City since the late 1970s,[4][5] Sharp has released over eighty-five recordings ranging from contemporary classical, avant-garde, free improvisation, jazz, experimental, and orchestral music to noise, no wave, and electronic music. He pioneered the use of personal computers in live performance with his Virtual Stance project of the 1980s.[6] He has used algorithms and fibonacci numbers in experimental composition since the 1970s, and has cited literature as an inspiration for his music and often favors improvisation.[7][8] He is an inveterate performer, playing mainly guitar, saxophone and bass clarinet. Sharp has led many ensembles over the years, including the blues-oriented Terraplane, Orchestra Carbon, and SysOrk, a group dedicated to the realization of algorithmic and graphic scores.[9][10]

  1. ^ "Classical Composers Database". October 2003. Archived from the original on 2013-11-14. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  2. ^ "Guitar Moderne Review of IrRational Music". 29 January 2019. Archived from the original on 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  3. ^ ""Sound In Light - Light In Sound: Graphic Scores by Elliott Sharp"". Archived from the original on 2023-09-28. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  4. ^ Atlantic Center has new batch of artists in residence Archived October 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Orlando Sentinel October 2009
  5. ^ "BOMB, Interview by Mike McGonigal". Archived from the original on 2023-12-03. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
  6. ^ Maris, E. Elliott Sharp/Tectonics:Solo Beijing Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Downtown Music Gallery Newsletter, April 26, 2007
  7. ^ Ambrose, P. Elliott Sharp's Instrumental Vision Archived 2009-08-27 at the Wayback Machine The Morning News, October 4, 2005
  8. ^ Tessalation Row,Elliott Sharp with the Soldier String Quartet All Music Guide
  9. ^ Cleveland, B. Elliott Sharp Archived 2008-01-20 at the Wayback Machine Guitar Player magazine, April 2007
  10. ^ "Elliott Sharp's SysOrk". Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-09-22.