One of the world’s premiere exponents of her instrument, Susan Alcorn has taken the pedal steel guitar far beyond its traditional role in country music. Having first paid her dues in Texas country & western bands, she began to expand the vocabulary of her instrument through her study of 20th century classical music, visionary jazz, and world musics. Though known as for her solo work, she has collaborated with numerous artists including Pauline Oliveros, Chris Cutler, the London Improvisors Orchestra, the Glasgow Improvisors Orchestra, Joe McPhee, Ken Vandermark, Nate Wooley, Ingrid Laubrock and Leila Bourdreuil, George Burtm Evan Parker, Michael Formanek, Zane Campbell, and Mary Halvorson among others. The UK Guardian writes, “As an improvisor and composer, Alcorn has proven to be visionary. Her pieces reveal the complexity of her instrument and her musical experience while never straying from a very direct, intense, and personal musical expression.”
Home | Mysite (susanalcorn.net)
Relative Pitch Records is a NYC-based independent record label specializing in avant-garde, free jazz, free improvisation, experimental.
Music | Relative Pitch Records (bandcamp.com)
From Union Pool by Susan Alcorn, Patrick Holmes, Ryan Sawyer, Relative Pitch Records, 2023 on #neuguitars #blog #SusanAlcorn
This adventurous set catches lightning in a bottle. They hit the ground running and never let up. Susan Alcorn’s pedal steel soloing is phenomenal while Ryan Sawyer drives the trio forward as Patrick Holmes’ clarinet keeps pace with both of them. A breathless set of high energy free improvisation at its best.
credits
releases January 27, 2023
Susan Alcorn – pedal steel guitar
Patrick Holmes – clarinet
Ryan Sawyer – drums
Recorded March 20, 2022 at Union Pool by H. Robert Escurel
Mastered by Ed Tetreault
NeuGuitars 