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Carl Testa

Carl Testa is a composer, bassist, bass clarinetist, and electronicist who has been composing and performing creative music since 2000. He is primarily known as one of the members of multi-instrumentalist/composer Anthony Braxton’s Sextet, Septet and 12+1tet. He is featured on the 9 Compositions (Iridium) 2006 box set on Firehouse 12 records, on 12+1tet (Victoriaville) 2007 on Victo Records, as well as the Quartet (GTM) 2006 box set on Important Records. His debut recording as a leader, Uncertainty, features his compositions for clarinets, percussion, string bass, and electronics, which blends chamber music, free improvisation, jazz, and modern electronic music. Testa is a native of Chicago where he studied and performed with musicians likes Ernest Dawkins, Mwata Bowden, Aaron Getsug, Isaiah Spencer, David Boykins, Nicole Mitchell,Will Faber, Stephen Ptacek and others. He then moved to Connecticut in order to study with Anthony Braxton and Alvin Lucier at Wesleyan University. There he studied and performed with Anthony Braxton, Alvin Lucier, Neely Bruce, Ron Kuivila, Aaron Siegel, Daniel Raimi, Andrew Dewar, Anne Rhodes, David Jensenius, Dave Ruder, and many others. Go to http://carltesta.net for more information.

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98

Performance / Tour

Carl Testa (from Anthony Braxton 12tet+1) at Outpost on 10/22

Carl Testa (from Anthony Braxton 12tet+1) at Outpost on 10/22

Source: Kevin Frenette

Saturday—October 22, 2011 OUTPOST 186 186 1/2 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 8:00 PM Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet World renowned master bassist Carl Testa (from Anthony Braxton's 12+1tet) and Boston's own avant-jazz co-conspirators Kevin Frenette (guitar), James Rohr (piano) and John McLellan (drums) present an evening of improvised music centering on exceptionally intricate interplay, texture and timbre on Saturday, October 22. The Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet will take the stage at 8 p.m. at ...

79

Performance / Tour

Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet at Outpost 186 on 10/22

Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet at Outpost 186 on 10/22

Source: Kevin Frenette

Saturday, October 22, 2011 OUTPOST 186 186 1/2 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 8:00 PM Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet World renowned master bassist Carl Testa (from Anthony Braxton's 12+1tet) and Boston's own avant-jazz co-conspirators Kevin Frenette (guitar), James Rohr (piano) and John McLellan (drums) present an evening of improvised music centering on exceptionally intricate interplay, texture and timbre on Saturday, October 22. The Carl Testa/Kevin Frenette Quartet will take the stage at 8 p.m. ...

97

Performance / Tour

Kevin Frenette Trio / Carl Testa Trio on March 13 - New Haven, CT

Kevin Frenette Trio / Carl Testa Trio on March 13 - New Haven, CT

Source: Michael Ricci

Never Ending Books 810 State Street New Haven, CT 06511 8PM The Kevin Frenette Trio Kevin Frenette (guitar) James Rohr (fender rhodes) John McLellan (drums) and The Carl Testa Trio Carl Testa (string bass) Mike McGinnis (clarinet) Aaron Siegel (percussion) Boston area guitarist Kevin Frenette has performed throughout the Northeast USA making music that is inspired by both avant-garde jazz and contemporary improvisation. He studied guitar, ...

“Testa’s bass playing is fantastic. His forceful personality and beautifully resonant tone”. . . “is a powerful counterpoint to Braxton’s often high-pitched inventions: put together, the two men create an imposing vista of registeral perspective. ” Philip Clark from review of Quartet (GTM) 2006(The Wire, Summer 2008)

“I believe that Carl Testa is an example of what can happen when there is courage, dedication, and clear vision. My hope is to have many more opportunities playing music with this guy, and sharing information and learning together. Carl Testa is already a great musician, and the best is yet to come

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Iris

Between the Lines
2013

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Uncertainty

Between the Lines
2008

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