You know HOOPER PICCALERO- We sit across from you in Mr. Wrightson’s science class...you know; glasses, sweater, braces? Darlings of the Boston upper class? Named "Utmost Ambassadors of Razzle Dazzle Fluffy Spikey (sic) music?" Boston’s No. 1 state-subsidized music ensemble? The band from the weird dreams you don’t remember?
H O O P E R P I C C A L E R O
Unafraid of complexity, repetition, lyricism or silence, Hooper Piccalero creates refreshingly creative musical landscapes. With no drums or bass, the Boston-based quartet mostly disposes with solos and accompaniment in favor of overlapping layers of sound.
Drawing from influences including the Art Ensemble of Chicago and Sun Ra, Hooper Piccalero uses spoken word and theater in many of their compositions. In their piece “No Vignettesâ€, they phone NPR host Steve Inskeep; in their piece “What The Fuckâ€, Hooper Piccalero creates a verbal improvisation around three special words. They engage the audience and never fail to effect energy, freneticism, and fanaticism.
Hooper Piccalero is comprised of four classically-trained musicians; their formidable vocabulary of extended techniques affords the opportunity for pyrotechnic displays but also beautiful melodic statements. In addition to their own compositions, Hooper premieres works by contemporary composers including Norman Bolter and others. Their repertoire includes pieces by John Zohn, Karlheinz Stockhausen, and Christian Wolff.
Performing throughout North America, Hooper Piccalero has played at the NOW Series in Toronto; Jordan Hall, the Lily Pad, and the Boston Public Library in Boston; Radio Bean in Burlington; the Hotcakes Gallery in Milwaukee; and the Ennui Cafe in Chicago. Hooper Piccalero members have performed or recorded with Art Lande, Anthony Coleman, the DaHa Orchestra (lead by Andrew D’Angelo and Curtis Hasselbring), Summit Brass, Cleo Parker Robinson dance and timba sensation La Bolá.