Thollem McDonas's extensive travels as a performer have covered much of the North American continent and Europe. In the past 6 years he has added 21 albums to his discography on 9 different vanguard labels in 4 different countries. His musical experiences are extremely diverse and his ever expanding variety of approaches to music making result in dramatically new and different outcomes.
Preceding the concert, Thollem McDonas will give a short talk on harmony and improvisation.
Not long after birth Thollem began studying the keyboard repertoire from the medieval to the 20th century. After graduating with degrees in both piano performance and composition he dedicated his time for years in grassroots political and ecological movements before returning to his own music with his full focus in 2006. He is currently touring perpetually as a soloist, in collaboration with many other individuals and groups as well as leading large ensemble free improvisation workshops.
Thollem has performed in theaters, art galleries, universities, elementary schools, concert halls, jazz clubs, rock clubs, festivals, warehouses, house concerts, streets, forests, riots and on television, radio and the internet. He has performed piano concertos with symphonies, played in West African drumming troupes, Javanese gamelan ensembles, punk bands, free improv ensembles, and regularly collaborates as a comproviser for film and modern dance.
“Thollem's keyboard flights unleash cascades of notes of seemingly impossible velocity and no matter where he goes tonally, it always seems right, fresh and satisfying. He should be on everyone’s listening list who appreciates great piano music. As an improviser, he inhabits a world uniquely his own, rhythmically, harmonically and formally. A true original.” - Terry Riley
