Avant-Garde

Coockoo is a young and eccentric, alternative rock band, based in Moscow. Internet success in January 2009 with their provocative single; Groupies’ Anthem (F.U.C.K) brought instant popularity within the Russian underground music scene. During the proceeding year they have built on this success playing regularly at some of the finest music venues in Moscow. The year has continued positively with rotations on national radio and performances being screened on Russian Music TV channels.

Julia Shammas Holter is a classically-trained keytarist from Echo Park. After infiltrating Human Ear Music headquarters dressed as an intern, she wrote and recorded her own release on the label. Her music is witty, surreal and optimistic. She plays without sarcasm in the terrains that divide sentimentality, passion, and control. Her songs are written instinctively, and treated with an off-kilter fastidiousness, working orchestral variety from minimal instrumentation.

Yoko Ono is a Japanese artist who is most widely known for her relationship with John Lennon of The Beatles. When Yoko first met John Lennon, she was an artist exhibiting in the UK. Working with artist group Fluxus throughout the 1960s, Ono dabbled in conceptual art and filmmaking - as well as music. Ono collaborated with experimental luminaries such as John Cage and jazz legend Ornette Coleman. In 1961, years before meeting Lennon, she had her first major public performance in a concert at the 258-seat Carnegie Recital Hall (not the larger "Main Hall").

Bill Frisell was born in Baltimore, but was raised in Denver, CO. Once a classical clarinetist, he established a firm base in his traditional harmonic knowledge early on in life. Throughout high school and college he also played guitar in various rock and R&B groups in the Denver area. During high school, however, he became profoundly interested in jazz guitar. In 1971 Frisell attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, and also began studying with Jim Hall, one of the prominent jazz guitarists of the 1960s.