Rhys Chatham

Rhys Chatham

Rhys Chatham is an American avant-garde composer, guitarist and trumpet player. He is associated with minimalist, drone and experimental approaches, and his work connects avant-garde composition with punk and no wave.

Early career and New York work

Born in New York City and based in France, Chatham becomes the first music director of The Kitchen in New York in the early 1970s. His early compositions draw heavily on La Monte Young and other minimalist composers. As a concert producer, he presents work by Maryanne Amacher, Robert Ashley, Philip Glass, Meredith Monk, Pauline Oliveros and Steve Reich, as well as early alternative rock figures including Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and Fred Frith.

Punk, no wave and guitar ensembles

By 1977, Chatham’s music is strongly influenced by punk rock, including after he sees an early Ramones concert. He develops an interest in what later becomes known as no wave, shaped in part by the minimalist leanings of Tony Conrad, with whom he plays in an early group. In 1977 he begins performing Guitar Trio around downtown Manhattan with an ensemble that includes Glenn Branca. During this period he writes several pieces for large guitar ensembles, including Drastic Classicism, made in collaboration with dancer Karole Armitage.

Trumpet work and later projects

Chatham begins taking trumpet lessons in 1983. His later work includes improvisatory trumpet solos, performed by Chatham himself, using amplification and effects associated with his guitar work, over synthesized dance rhythms by Martin Wheeler. These recordings are released on Ninja Tune in the late 1990s.

Selected recognition

In 2002, Chatham receives renewed attention with the boxed set An Angel Moves Too Fast to See, titled after his composition for 100 guitars. In 2005, the City of Paris commissions him to write Crimson Grail, a work for 400 electric guitars, for the Nuit Blanche Festival.