Peter Zummo
Encyclopedia
Peter Zummo is an American
composer and musician. He plays the trombone
, valve trombone, euphonium
, synthesizer
, other electronic instruments, and also sings. He is associated with the postminimalist and Downtown
aesthetics, and he describes his music as "minimalism plus a whole lot more."
He holds a M.A. degree in music (1975), and a B.A. degree (with honors) in music (1970) all from Wesleyan University
. He has studied with Carmine Caruso, Roswell Rudd
, Stuart Dempster
, James Fulkerson
, Dick Griffin
, Makanda Ken McIntyre
, and Sam Rivers
.
In his playing, Zummo frequently uses the circular breathing
technique, which allows him to extend drone
s for a long period of time. He is a core member of New York City
's DownTown Ensemble and has performed and/or recorded with John Lurie
's Lounge Lizards, Daniel Goode
, Arthur Russell, and Guy Klucevsek
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer and musician. He plays the trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
, valve trombone, euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, other electronic instruments, and also sings. He is associated with the postminimalist and Downtown
Downtown music
Downtown music is a subdivision of American music, closely related to experimental music. The scene the term describes began in 1960, when Yoko Ono—one of the Fluxus artists, at that time still seven years away from meeting John Lennon—opened her loft at 112 Chambers Street to be used...
aesthetics, and he describes his music as "minimalism plus a whole lot more."
He holds a M.A. degree in music (1975), and a B.A. degree (with honors) in music (1970) all from Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University
Wesleyan University is a private liberal arts college founded in 1831 and located in Middletown, Connecticut. According to the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, Wesleyan is the only Baccalaureate College in the nation that emphasizes undergraduate instruction in the arts and...
. He has studied with Carmine Caruso, Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd
Roswell Rudd is a Grammy Award-nominated American jazz trombonist and composer....
, Stuart Dempster
Stuart Dempster
Stuart Dempster is a trombonist, didjeridu player, improvisor, and composer.-Biography:After Dempster completed his studies at San Francisco State College, he was appointed assistant professor at the California State College at Hayward, and instructor at the San Francisco Conservatory...
, James Fulkerson
James Fulkerson
James Fulkerson is an American composer, now living in the Netherlands, of mostly stage, orchestral, chamber, vocal, piano, electroacoustic, and multimedia works...
, Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin is an American trombonist known for his work in free jazz, especially with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Charles Mingus...
, Makanda Ken McIntyre
Makanda Ken McIntyre
Makanda Ken McIntyre was an American jazz musician and composer.-Biography:McIntyre was born in Boston, Massachusetts...
, and Sam Rivers
Sam Rivers
Samuel Carthorne Rivers , is an American jazz musician and composer. He performs on soprano and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, flute, harmonica and piano....
.
In his playing, Zummo frequently uses the circular breathing
Circular breathing
Circular breathing is a technique used by players of some wind instruments to produce a continuous tone without interruption. This is accomplished by breathing in through the nose while simultaneously pushing air out through the mouth using air stored in the cheeks.It is used extensively in playing...
technique, which allows him to extend drone
Drone (music)
In music, a drone is a harmonic or monophonic effect or accompaniment where a note or chord is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. The word drone is also used to refer to any part of a musical instrument that is just used to produce such an effect.-A musical effect:A drone...
s for a long period of time. He is a core member of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's DownTown Ensemble and has performed and/or recorded with John Lurie
John Lurie
John Lurie is an American actor, musician, painter and producer. He is co-founder of The Lounge Lizards, a jazz ensemble. Lurie has acted in 19 films including Stranger than Paradise and Down by Law, composed and performed music for 20 television and film works, and he produced and starred in...
's Lounge Lizards, Daniel Goode
Daniel Goode
Daniel Goode is an American composer and clarinetist.Daniel Goode was born in New York City. After graduating in 1957 from Oberlin College, he studied composition at Columbia University with Henry Cowell and Otto Luening, receiving an MA 1962...
, Arthur Russell, and Guy Klucevsek
Guy Klucevsek
Guy Klucevsek is an American-born accordionist and composer.Klucevsek is one of relatively few accordion players active in jazz and free improvisation....
.
With Yvette Perez
- '"Birdbrain - I Fly"' (Persian Cardinal)
- H.E.R. - Songs About the Mysteries of Housework and Nature (Persian Cardinal)
With Arthur Russell
- 24-24 Music (1982). Sleeping Bag Records. With Will Socolov.
- Tower of Meaning (1983). Chatham Square.
- Instrumentals (1984). Crepsecule. Recorded with The Flying Lizards and Glenn Lamaro, Bill Ruyle, and Jon SholleJon SholleJon Sholle, born April 2, 1949 in New York City, is an American guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, and musician who plays mainly jazz, bluegrass, rock, country, roots music, and folk music.-As musician:...
. - Another Thought (1994). Point Music 438 891-2. Compiled with help from Mikel RouseMikel RouseMikel Rouse is an American composer. He has been associated with a Downtown New York movement known as totalism, and is best known for his operas, including Dennis Cleveland, about a television talk show host, which Rouse wrote and starred in.Rouse writes music that is idiomatically and...
. - Calling Out of Context (2004). Audika Records. Compiled by Steve Knutson.
- The World of Arthur RussellThe World of Arthur RussellThe World of Arthur Russell is a compilation album by Arthur Russell, released in 2004 on Soul Jazz Records.-Track listing:#"Go Bang" – 7:36#"Wax the Van" – 5:27#"Is It All Over My Face" – 6:57...
(2004). Soul Jazz RecordsSoul Jazz RecordsSoul Jazz Records is a British-based record label. The label started in the 1990s, releasing compilation albums of predominantly black music, including reggae, soul, ska, Dub and jazz...
. - First Thought Best Thought (2006). Audika Records. [Includes Instrumentals Volume 1 & 2, Reach One, Tower of Meaning, and Sketch for the Face of Helen].
- Springfield EP (2006). Audika Records.
- Another Thought (Re-released 2006). Orange Mountain Music.
External links
- Peter Zummo page
- Petter Zummo page from Frog Peak Music site
- Peter Zummo page, from Kalvos & Damian's New Music Bazaar