About ScrapArtsMusic
ScrapArtsMusic (SAM) is the brainchild of Gregory Kozak, a multi-talented Vancouver-based percussionist who learned the art of welding in order to create new instruments and expand his compositional palette. He’s a composer and musician schooled in jazz and world music, who draws inspiration from the avant-garde composers of the 20th century.
Gregory had grown frustrated by the limitations of conventional percussion performance. He set out to create new instruments and a ‘next generation’ ensemble that would bring his unique and energetic musical vision to life. Along with his artistic collaborator and ScrapArtsMusic co-founder Justine Murdy, he scoured construction sites and scrap yards looking for great-sounding plastic pipes, hoses, coils, plumbing fixtures, wooden planks, steel bowls and sheet aluminum—anything with the potential to make music. From industrial surplus he fashioned over a hundred beautiful one-of-a-kind instruments that gave him access to an entirely new sonic realm. Intentionally wanting to explore the movement possibilities embodied in percussion music, Kozak put the instruments on wheels, enabling them to move with the players in fluidly synchronized choreography. Kozak then invited a group of stellar percussionists to join him on stage, and SAM was born.
SAM made its inaugural performance in Vancouver in 1998, and word quickly spread about the local musicians with a unique spin on music, movement, rhythm and recycling. Within short order, the group was invited to perform before large crowds at NHL games, NBA games, Earth Day Celebrations, and the Pacific National Exhibition*. Since then, SAM has developed 90 minutes of original repertoire composed for mobile, invented instruments, and has thrilled thousands of audience members across Canada, the United States, Europe, Mexico, Australia and China.
While SAM has become renowned for its energetic, highly physical performances, the group keeps its focus first and foremost on the music. Using hand-forged instruments to play original music, SAM builds on the traditions of world percussion and “outsider music” fuelled by genre-defying trailblazers such as Harry Partch, Wendy Mae Chambers and the Baschet Brothers. SAM’s music draws on established world music traditions and infuses it with 21st Century sensibilities to create infectious music that sounds like nothing else. The Belfast Telegraph praised SAM as “… both ear and eye boggling… original music expertly played and choreographed into a remarkable show.” Australia’s The Age declared “… an exciting sonic mix of rhythmic interplay and juxtaposed sounds from the most finely polished scrap metal I ever seen. ... Even for the percussively jaded, this group is a knock-out.” And the Topeka Capital-Journal noted “The quintet's emotionally stirring music made the point that percussion music can be more than mere stomps or bangs on cans."
In 2001, SAM released Phon, a CD of original music. The CD was recorded early in that year at the Banff Centre in the Canadian Rockies, and good friend -- and one of the world's greatest drummers -- Kenny Aronoff flew in to co-produce the recording. Kenny's masterful drumming is featured on this recording of Conundrum. Eight other tracks were laid down and the group has toured the world with these pieces forming the core of their energetic performances.
In 2002, the group was nominated for a prestigious West Coast Music Award in the popular category of Best Live Performance. In 2003, Gregory Kozak was commissioned to create a new work-- Composition for Sighchordions and Strings-- for the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and SAM. It premiered to great acclaim at the Kimmel Center. The high quality of musicianship and the energy and playfulness of the choreography have given SAM surprisingly wide appeal.
Each year, SAM continues to bring its dynamic and bold performances to a growing global audience. SAM has accepted invitations to perform at numerous international cultural festivals, including the prestigious Belfast Festival in Northern Ireland and Fórum Universal de las Culturas 2007 in Monterrey, Mexico. SAM has also headlined at world-renowned percussion events including Big Bang and Tromp Festivals in Holland, World Percussion Spectacular in Australia, and PASIC in the USA. In 2008 & 2009, SAM took its adrenaline-laced performances and innovative workshops to festivals and theatres across Europe, the UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Guatemala, Mexico and the USA. The year 2010 promises more excitement when the ensemble will be featured at the 2010 Olympic Games Ceremonies.
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