The Melting Pot | Ryder Cooley & Bradford Reed: Grains of Euphora

Bradford Reed and Ryder Cooley combine strings, reeds, keys, bows and steel to create euphoric, mesmerizing plateaus of sound, intertwined with pizzicato ostinatos and improvisatory elements as the musicians respond to the energy of the room.

The electro-acoustic duet blends the dreamy sounds of bowed saw with harmonic overtones of pencilina, a zither-like instrument designed by Bradford. The music segues into traditional reedy melodies and drones on the accordion, then back again to the whispery moans of the saw interspersed with rhythmic pulses on the pencilina. Traversing a broad sonic palette, Grains of Euphora can be categorized as simultaneously symphonious and rambunctious.

The Melting Pot, a secular series by FPC Hudson, brings together musical talent and culinary artisans, pairing homemade soup with stellar live music.