C. Kuklis

[I’m a musician.]
[I’m a graduate of the Jazz & Contemporary Music Program at The New School. I like to think of myself as more "Contemporary Music" than "Jazz." No disrespect to the tradition, or the masters of it (whom I’ve listened to thoroughly)... they’ve already played the best bop lines ever, swung the hardest, played the ting ting ta-tingiest. Musicians in my generation have no real point of reference for this music, and for me it seems illogical to retrace the paths that have already been cut when there’s still so much out there to explore.]
[I’ve been fortunate enough to perform at some badass venues, including: The Stone, Birdland, Goodbye Blue Monday, Jz @ Lncln Ctr, Southpaw, Death By Audio, & Cake Shop.]
[I play guitar and make spooky sounds that frighten your grandmother.]
[Once, I was playing guitar at home, and my mom came upstairs, burst through my door, and said: "Your music makes me want to THROW UP!!" I ask you, is there a better endorsement than that?]
[I dig crazy electronic devices that manipulate sound.]
I’m also involved in a few greatniftytype projects:
toy garden , an experimental free-composition guitar/drums duo, distilling the fundamental elements of sound & recombining to create focused improvisations which emphasize distinctions in timbre, density, tension, texture, & dynamics.
[w/ Luke Damrosch , drums & percussion & misc delightful noises]
The Plumes , a guitar/voice duo whose focus is the free improvisation of popular song utilizing a variety of acoustic, electric, & electronic sounds.
[w/ the sublimely excellent Mallory Glaser , voice]
Gemini , an experimental trio with 2 drummers [Luke Damrosch & Cem Misirlioglu ] & myself on guitar and electronics. Combines elements of rock, free improvisation, & live electronica/drum’n’bass.
Intermittent co-conspirators include:
- Bassist extroardinaire/irony enthusuast/composer of emojazz Lelah Simon .
- Talented acoustic singer-songwriter/ Italian stereotype Dante Cimadamore .
- King of the Canadian folk collective improvisation scene/ best lap steel player in New York City Myk Freedman
- Fellow upstate son/ leader of the sauciest big band ever to be semi-big (in Japan) [MK Groove Orchestra] / mind-erasing tenor saxophonist Mike Kammers
Past musical ventures include:
Hi Red Center