Electronics Electronics Electronics and Voice
The Red Room is proud to present NYC based giants of experimental electronic music, Tom Hamilton and Al Margolis in Duo Form, complimented by local artists Sam Pluta and Bonnie Lander.
A night not to be missed!
TOM HAMILTON has composed and performed electronic music for over 50 years, and his work with
electronic music originated in the late-60s era of analog synthesis. He is a Fellow of the Civitella Ranieri
Foundation, and participated in a residency at the foundation’s center in Umbria. Hamilton’s performing
and recording colleagues have included Peter Zummo, Bruce Gremo, Bruce Arnold, Anna Pangalou,
Rich O’Donnell, Thomas Buckner, Al Margolis, id m theft able, and Thessia Machado, and he has also
performed with Composers Inside Electronics. Hamilton has released 16 CDs of his music and his CD
London Fix received an award in the Prix Ars Electronica He was the co-director of the 2004 Sounds
Like Now festival, and he co-produced the Cooler in the Shade/Warmer by the Stove new music series
in New York for 14 years. Hamilton is currently serving as the music director for five operas by (the late)
composer Robert Ashley, and has been a member of that company for 30 years. His audio production
is found on over 100 recordings of prominent contemporary musicians.
AL MARGOLIS was a leader in the 1980s American cassette underground through his cassette label
Sound of Pig Music and was co-founder of experimental music label Pogus Productions, which he
continues to run. Active under the name If, Bwana since 1984, making music that has swung between
fairly spontaneous studio constructions and more process-oriented composition. Margolis continues to
collaborate live with video artist Katherine Liberovskaya and performs as an electronic/acoustic duo
with Tom Hamilton. Other recent projects include duos with Walter Wright (Elka Bong) and Tom Law
(Duo Denum).
Drs. Lander & Pluta come together for a fiery duo performance of live vocals and electronic processing. These two have been a hit about town, with striking, chaotic good improvisations for the benefit of the thrill seeking listener who came for sound. Recently seen at High Zero Festival 2024 they are back in duo form.
Sam Pluta is a composer, electronics performer, and sound artist. Though his work has a wide breadth, his central focus is on using the computer as a performance instrument capable of sharing the stage with groups ranging from new music ensembles to world-class improvisers. By creating musical systems of shared agency, Pluta’s vibrant sonic universe focuses on the visceral interaction of instrumental performers with reactive computerized sound worlds. He has worked with Wet Ink Ensemble, Peter Evans Ensemble, Evan Parker Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, and PANG, and his performances and production can be found on over 50 albums of new music and jazz.
Classically trained soprano Bonnie Lander performs modern and experimental music with a “signature ability to embody a seemingly endless supply of vocal timbres and personalities.” Based in Baltimore, Bonnie is a member of the High Zero Foundation, SSAA vocal quartet the Charm City Trebles, and is a regular collaborator with Performing Arts Services in NYC.
