Papercuts

Over the years, both Jason Kahn and Jon Mueller have explored different means of percussion, finding texture and rhythm in not only acoustic drums, but in their relation to electronic devices. This pursuit also included work with other, non-drum related material. Papercuts is a critical document of this pursuit. Recorded over the course of a year, it was created entirely with various grades of handmade and commercial paper. With an extensive and delicate approach to mixing and electronic processing, this work retains the source of the recording, the grit and feel of dried pulp, and the texture of its interaction with movement and malleability. Here rhythms appear naturally, without intentional effort, to create a new discovery in the world of percussion.

Jason Kahn was originally a percussionist, and later began integrating live electronics into his playing. His solo performances involve laptop, analogue synthesizer or minimal percussion–either singularly or in combination. Currently residing in Zürich, Switzerland, he has performed or recorded with Günter Müller, Dieb13, Erik M, Voice Crack, Evan Parker, Christian Marclay, Kevin Drumm, Steve Roden, John Hudak, Kim Cascone, Greg Kelley, Bhob Rainey, Toshimaru Nakamura, Otomo Yoshihide, Sachiko M, Taku Sugimoto, Tetuzi Akiyama, Utah Kawasaki, and Koji Asano. From 1994-99, he was a member of American composer Arnold Dreyblatt’s group «The Orchestra of Excited Strings,» performing installations, multi-media pieces and concerts. He started the CD label cut in 1996, which has ten releases to date. He has composed music for theater and dance and has performed throughout Europe, North America, Japan, Israel, Turkey, Russia and Australia.

Percussionist Jon Mueller has worked within a variety of genres with the likes of Pele, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Asmus Tietchens, Achim Wollscheid, Aranos, Bhob Rainey, Matt Turner, Boris Hauf, Hal Rammel, and has performed as part of Fred Lonberg-Holm’s Lightbox Orchestra. He has composed music for dance and film, has numerous recordings available throughout the world, and has performed throughout North America and Japan.