George Cartwright

George Cartwright, composer, saxophonist, bandleader,

Born in the Mississippi Delta George has been performing composed and improvised musics for over 20 years. From totally improvised concepts to the relatively structured beat music of his band Curlew his experiences have been considerable. From a starting point at Karl Berger's Creative Music Studio in 1977 and a move to NYC fall of 1979 he has seen and participated in musical changes and challenges no one could foresee. And he's loved it.

Few contemporary composer/performers have had as varied and extensive experience in the changing concepts of avant music and maintained as high a quality of work. His compositions are at once direct and mysterious, possessing a clarity and focus that show both Ellington and Ornette assimilated in the the most unique of ways. With melodies wrangled to their essence, structures dense, clear and unpredictable it is a music that stands on its own.

In the summer of 2003 George received a McKnight Composer’s Fellowship.

Recent performances as band leader and composer:

Three Legged Race’s Summer Blizzard- August 7 through 11, 2003
The Walker Art Center’s New Music New Voices series- November 7, 2003
The Walker Art Center’s Choreographer’s Evening- November 29, 2003
The Cedar Cultural Center- Oct 27, 2003
George has worked with:

In Minnesota : Adam Linz, Carei Thomas, Jt Bates, Alden Ikeda, Michelle Kinney
Jacquelin Ferrier-Ultan, Anthony Cox, Michael Lewis, Dean Granros, Tim Glenn,
Davu Seru, Anne Elias, Meg Emery-Elias, Andrew Broder, Andrew Lafkis, David Means Troy Zaushny, and others.

Outside Minnesota he has performed and worked with;

Ornette Coleman, David Thomas, Chris Stamey, Myra Melford, Kip Hanrahan, Alex Chilton, Bill Laswell, Sonny Sharrock, Fred Frith, Butch Morris, Jad Fair, The Box Tops, Samm Bennett, Paul Haines, Amy Denio, Kevin Norton, Ann Rupel, Robbie McCauley, Tom Varner, Mark Dresser, Carei Thomas, Davey Williams, Chris Cochrane, Michael Lytle, and many others.

Education: Mississippi State University BA, Jackson State University, Memphis State University, The University of Southern Mississippi, The Creative Music Studio and private studies with Jimmy Guiffre, Les Scott, Byard Lancaster, Kalaparusha and Wilber Moreland.