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Kalimba
I've been chasing sounds my whole life, and this has led me to collecting instruments from all kinds of backgrounds and origins. I bought my first kalimba on the street in New York in '97 or so. My deeper attachment to the kalimba goes back to playing Lion King on Broadway. I had been subbing in the bass for Tom Barney for several years. So, nearby is the guitar chair, I in the presence of the amazing Kevin Kuhn, and I start to think I can do everything the guitar book requires. So I asked him, and I started watching that book. Sure enough, I start subbing in the guitar chair on Lion King, which does not just have a double, it triples or rather, actually, quadruples with electric guitar, classical guitar, ukulele, and three different tunings of kalimba. That's where this whole journey starts, a secret weapon in my film scoring. I ended up using kalimba on the scores to Everything's Jake, A New High, and Giant Place Detail. I just love the rhythmic nature and plinky mystery of it. And I suppose, the toy / “take it anywhere” aspect of it. A universe in your hands as an instrument you only play with two thumbs. What a wondrous curious thing! With two thumbs, you can create a fantastic sonic world.
21 No Limits
0:48
30 garbage lesson
1:18
27 without a home
1:39
25 Jake's Theme
1:32
05 piquing her interest
1:00
19 Late Night Muse _ J & L
2:36
13 A Waiting Experiment _ Success
3:24
26 Big Details
1:09
8 Stretch Circle
0:47
Stay On Task _ Women (from Giant Place Detail)
1:48
Stay on Task (from Giant Place Detail)
Biography
Sundance Fellow Christopher North (he/him, b 1969) is an award winning composer (Film, Theater, Dance and the Concert Stage), singer/songwriter (eclectic albums, songs for children’s TV and placements in Films), multi-instrumentalist (Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, CBGBs, Grammy award-winning recordings), conductor (Hollywood Chamber Orchestra debut, Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space) and producer. A Texan in NYC since 1997, he’s thriving in Brooklyn with over 20 genre crossing albums, scores to over 60 films (inc. award-winning and Grammy Nominated) and a growing opus of arts songs, chamber music and symphonic works. An enthusiastic educator and Associate Professor in the Berklee College of Music Songwriting Department, he has also taught at the 92NY since 1997. As a freelance sideman, he has played bass for Quincy Jones, with The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) and Rosanne Cash, in orchestras and on Broadway. He’s been heard as a singer (in choirs with the NY Philharmonic, on Grammy Award Winning Recordings), whistler (for Disney) and multi-instrumentalist on countless scores, albums, video games and commercials. A 2015 Sundance Institute Lab Fellow, collaborating brings out his best, for which VARIETY says he's a "notable asset” to work “well served by a fine soundtrack.” His favorite creation is his teenager Koi and his hobbies include painting, photography, and walking in cemeteries.