David Cross & Yumi Hara Cawkwell is an exciting new collaboration between two extremely original and engaging musicians with intriguing backgrounds: David Cross, one of the originators of rock violin, best known for his work with King Crimson during its most successful era, and Yumi Hara Cawkwell, ex-psychiatrist, critically acclaimed contemporary classical composer/performer (voice, keys, found sound)/DJ who has worked with a wide range of artists from pop to experimental, such as Frank Chickens, David Toop and PianoCircus.
In June 2007, they launched this project which explores a number of contradictions and what seem like striking polarities: ancient/modern; east/west; male/female; sensuous/cerebral; emotional/intellectual. Their adventurous but accessible debut performance utilising real-time loops, found sound (cicadas, water and temple bells) and the church organ at the Union Chapel, London, was described as ‘Moving and very beautiful, original and a breath of very fresh air (Tony Lowe)’.
Their music cuts across the boundaries of tonal and atonal music, acoustic and electroacoustic, progressive rock, contemporary classical, and even world –all integrated by what they have in common: the highest standard of musicianship, and understandings of the importance of attitude and state of mind in music making.
David Cross largely created rock violin playing from the early ‘70s, when there were no stylistic models around. His performance with King Crimson inspired many who didn’t know the violin could rock too. His range of expressive playing, sometimes extremely aggressive and dissonant, as displayed in ‘Larks Tongues in Aspic Part 2’, contrasted with the most beautifully touching, emotional sonority in ‘Trio’, is now further enhanced by using an electric instrument and live electronics. His output includes albums with Clearlight, Radius and the David Cross Band. He is a senior lecturer and the programme leader in Music Education at the London Metropolitan University.
Yumi Hara Cawkwell is a UK based Japanese composer/performer/DJ. Her groundbreaking works challenging geographical boundaries and the divisions between genres gained critical acclaim and several awards, and she was a finalist in the British Composer Awards 2006. Her music has been commissioned and performed by leading contemporary music ensembles such as PianoCircus, Ensemble Bash, OKEANOS and Keynote+ at major festivals including FuseLeeds, Corsham Festival and The Cutting Edge, and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. She is a lecturer in Music at the University of East London.
For detailed biographies of David and Yumi, please visit their individual MySpaces and websites.
www.david-cross.com
www.myspace.com/davidcross1
www.yumiharacawkwell.co.uk
www.myspace.com/yumiharacawkwell
