Album Notes

Saxophonist/composer/sound artist Briggan Krauss attended Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music performance in 1992. While in Seattle he met and worked with many great musicians, many of whom he still works with today (Eyvind Kang, Robin Holcolmb, Mike Sarin, Skerik and Bill Frisell to name a few), and he also began his long association with Wayne Horvitz when he joined his legendary avant electric group "Pig Pen". In 1994 Briggan moved to Brooklyn, New York where he still lives today.
Besides leading his own projects, Briggan is a founding member of the legendary group "Sex Mob" and has performed and recorded with musicians such as John Zorn, Wayne Horvitz, Bill Frisell, Skerik, Eyvind Kang, Robin Holcomb, Anthony Coleman, Madeski Martin and Wood, Skuli Sverrisson, Jim Black, Ikue Mori, Joey Baron, Kato Hideki, Satoko Fuji, the New York Composer’s Orchestra and many others.
As a studio musician Briggan can be heard on several recordings by artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Trey Anastasio, Joan Wasser, Antony. Briggan has also participated in several shows produced by Hal Willner including tributes to Neil Young, Doc Pomus and Leonard Cohen which featured artists such as Lou Reed, Nick Cave, Laurie Anderson, Beth Orton and Cat Power among many others.
Briggan has made records as a leader on Knitting Factory Records, self-released records of sound art compositions and has appeared on over forty other recordings as a sideman.
“Good Kitty” is Briggan Krauss' debut recording which features an unusual trio of himself on alto saxophone, clarinet/tenor saxophonist Chris Speed, and drummer Mike Sarin. "Good Kitty" was released on Knitting Factory Records in 1996.
The music on "Good Kitty" is a snapshot of the musical influences that Briggan was exposed to upon entering the fertile musical world of New York City in 1994. Compositionally there are elements of jazz, Balkan music, rock music, folk melodies, nursery rhymes as well as completely improvised music. The instrumentation of this group provides a unique setting in which the sound of the saxophone is highlighted in every detail. This recording finds the first examples of the use of various mutes and other extended techniques by Briggan as well as amazing work by saxophonist and clarinetist Chris Speed. Percussionist Mike Sarin also is an equal partner in making melody as well as rhythm as are the other two musicians in this group.
This trio recording is full of energy and amazing interplay between three young musicians making exciting new music.