Artstar
ArtStar Spontaneous Art and Music
with Anthony P. Cerretani, painter/fretless bass
Constance Cooper, keyboards/voice
Michael Kwong, guitar
My name is Anthony P. Cerretani.
I am a self-taught visual artist and musician (electric fretted and fretless bass). I grew up in the beautiful Finger Lake region of New York in the small village of Waverly. I now live in a little loft in Brooklyn, painting and making music, hoping to inspire others of whatever age to keep creating and to live the life you love.
My paintings represent visualized music. Some were created live at band performances in New York parks, bars, subway stations, and streets. I organically find musicians and paint to their music to capture the moment in color. Each painting is completely created in the present, with no preconceived idea or thought, relying on my technique in the midst of mapping souls and vibrations in a space (a wonderful experience amidst any crazy venue or situation) or alone in the studio while I listen to LPs or playlists. This is how I create commissioned works. By listening to clients' favorite music, I can paint colorful works that represent many moments and memories of their lifetimes. Peace paint music love
I'm Constance Cooper, composer and vocal/keyboards/drum improviser. After inventing improvisation structures for groups such as the electro-acoustic trio FirstAvenue, and after winning first prize in the Gustav Mahler competition (Austria) for a double concerto for chamber orchestra with improvising violinist and cellist, I arrived at free improvisation performance--a long, satisfying journey for me from classical composer and performer.
Weaving vocal or keyboard sounds around and among the instruments I am improvising with, I (p)refabricate their wonderful pitches and noises, playing the role of a merry ensemble player, not that of a diva or dramatic being. I perform with two keyboards tuned a quarter-tone apart. Using this idiosyncratic setup, I feel so natural improvising that my interest in the perfectionism of classical works and studio recording has dropped off -- on Soundcloud, at APTImprov, I have posted many recent improvisations that were captured because someone had a cellphone or other tiny device. Improvisation cannot wait for a fully equipped studio.
I'm Michael Kwong, born in Rochester, NY and now a New York City resident. At 14, I began to study acoustic guitar and voice with Dennis Monroe. I released my first album "Alive and on the Streets," (originals and covers) in 2001. An all-originals album, "Grey Affections," appeared in Ohio in 2004. After extensive European travel, I saw the importance to myself of a simultaneous presence in visual arts (predominantly painting and drawing), and performance. I performed for several years with noise and experimental-music projects such as Output:Noise and The Rochester Killharmonic Orchestra, using an electric guitar with effects pedals. All the while I continued my singer-songwriter career. I incorporated my original paintings into the design of my third album, "The Turn," produced in 2009 by Mick Sarubbi and Tony Gross, while I was studying with the jazz guitarist Steve Greene. Fourth album in progress: please stay tuned.
