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THE EVERYONE ORCHESTRA is a revolving cast of stellar musicians brought together by drummer/conductor Matt Butler for concerts, festival super jams and special benefit events. EO performances are designed to create space for each performers musical personality to shine, engage the audience as participants in the jam and to facilitate a massive celebratory coming together featuring a conductor directing both musicians and audience alike.
"We pass the musical talking stick around the collective group of players and take turns leading the stage, much like sharing music around a campfire. We also play musical improv games that I sometimes refer to as 'music sports.' Then we culminate in moments with everyone is on stage at once, playing conducted improvisations together, says Butler, who is also the founder of the group.
The list of Everyone Orchestra alumni reads like a who’s who of jam band music and beyond including members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, moe., String Cheese Incident, Derek Trucks Band, Railroad Earth, Hot Buttered Rum, Tea Leaf Green and Jimmy Herring, Darol Anger, Adrian Belew, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, live painters, dancers, hula hoopers, firespinners, stiltwalkers, activists, a presidential candidate, storytellers and hundreds of others among a growing legion of other performers (See list on the left).
Butler’s version of breaking down the barriers between musician and audience derives in part from desert art festival Burning Man’s ‘no spectators, only participants’ ethic and is undoubtedly influenced by his old friend and mentor Ken Kesey, the king of the Merry Pranksters.
While Butler is the primary conductor, the Orchestra has also been conducted by former Jamie Janover, Leftover Salmon bassman Tye North, Jon Fishman, SCI's Michael Travis, ALO's Dan Lebowitz and Zach Gill, other musicians and members of the audience.
Through the events and work of The Everyone Orchestra, more than $100,000 has been raised for contributions to non-profit and environmental organizations around the nation.
Visit our website at www.everyoneorchestra.com. You'll find the complete archive of participants and a whole lot more!
LIVE PAINTINGS EO NORTHEAST TOUR:| View Slideshow
