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| birth_date =
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| genre = Jazz, pop, rock
| genre = [[Avant-garde jazz]], [[Minimalist music|minimalism]]
| occupation = Musician
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = [[Double bass]], [[Guimbri]]
| instrument = [[Double bass]], [[Guimbri]]
| years_active = 1990–present
| years_active = 1990–present
| label =
| label =
| associated_acts = [[Tortoise (band)|Tortoise]], [[Town and Country (band)|Town and Country]], [[Natural Information Society]]
| current_member_of = [[Natural Information Society]]
| past_member_of = [[The Roots]], [[Town & Country (band)|Town & Country]]
| website =
| website =
}}
}}


'''Joshua Abrams''' is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/05/16/joshua-abrams-interview/#more-47091|title=Joshua Abrams is a Focused Force in Jazz and Film Scoring |last=Schube |first=Will|website=Band Camp|date=16 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22964-simultonality/|title=Joshua Abrams: Natural Information Society Simultonality |last=Masters|first=Marc|website=Pitchfork}}</ref>
'''Joshua Abrams''' is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist who plays the [[double bass]] and [[guimbri]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/05/16/joshua-abrams-interview/#more-47091|title=Joshua Abrams is a Focused Force in Jazz and Film Scoring |last=Schube |first=Will|website=Band Camp|date=16 May 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22964-simultonality/|title=Joshua Abrams: Natural Information Society Simultonality |last=Masters|first=Marc|website=Pitchfork}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
While living in Philadelphia in the late 1980s, Abrams was a member of Square Roots, a street music group that developed into [[The Roots]]. He moved to Chicago and played as a bassist with [[Tortoise (band)|Tortoise]], [[Town and Country (band)|Town and Country]], [[Hamid Drake]], and [[Matana Roberts]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/20/joshua-abrams-natural-information-society-simultonality-review-africa-soaring Review], ''[[The Guardian]]''</ref> Abrams was the house bass player at [[Fred Anderson (musician)|Fred Anderson]]'s [[Velvet Lounge]] and for several years he played a weekly club date with Tortoise's [[A Grape Dope|John Herndon]] and [[Jeff Parker (musician)|Jeff Parker.]]<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicworks.ca/featured-article/joshua-abrams%E2%80%99-national-information-society|title=Joshua Abrams' Natural Information Society: By Way of the Guimbri |last=Broomer|first=Stuart|website=Music Works Magazine}}</ref> He was a member of [[Mike Reed (musician)|Mike Reed]]'s Loose Assembly and [[Nicole Mitchell (musician)|Nicole Mitchell]]'s Black Earth Ensemble.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/arts/music/nicole-mitchell-black-earth-ensemble-mandorla-awakening.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=F34AB8C1634650530D02CBA672F4F9FA&gwt=pay |title=Nicole Mitchell, an Innovative Flutist With an Afrofuturist Vision|last=Russonello|first=Giovanni|website=New York Times|date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/departments/artist-profiles/mike-reed-doubled-up/ |title=Mike Reed: Doubled Up|last=Adler|first=David R.|website=Jazz Times Magazine}}</ref> In 2003, he played bass on [[Godspeed You! Black Emperor]]'s album ''[[Yanqui U.X.O.]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/godspeed_you_black_emperor-theres_only_hope|title=Godspeed You! Black Emperor: There's Only Hope |last=Khanna |first=Vish |website=Exclaim}}</ref> He has worked as a [[studio musician]] on recordings made in Chicago, such as [[Jandek]]'s ''Chicago Wednesday;'' [[Will Oldham|Bonnie "Prince" Billy]]'s ''[[Beware (Bonnie Prince Billy album)|Beware]]'' and albums from Chicago musicians such as [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]], [[David Grubbs]], and [[Sam Prekop]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/recipients/joshua-abrams|title=Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018: Joshua Abrams|website=Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018 Booklet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/joan_of_arc_celebrate_their_collaborators_with_dont_mind_control|title=Joan of Arc Celebrate Their Collaborators with Don't Mind Control |last=Hughes |first=Josiah |website=Exclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2005-10-21/entertainment/0510210175_1_sam-prekop-sea-and-cake-dot-eye|title=For Sam Prekop, going solo means enlisting old friends |last=Downing|first=Andy|website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>
While living in Philadelphia in the late 1980s, Abrams was a member of Square Roots, a street music group that developed into [[The Roots]]. He moved to [[Evanston, Illinois]] in 1991, and played in [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]] house bands for several years before forming [[Town & Country (band)|Town & Country]] in 1998 with [[Ben Vida]], Liz Payne, and Jim Dorling. Abrams was the house bass player at [[Fred Anderson (musician)|Fred Anderson]]'s [[Velvet Lounge]] and for several years he played a weekly club date with Tortoise's [[A Grape Dope|John Herndon]] and [[Jeff Parker (musician)|Jeff Parker.]]<ref name=":2">{{cite magazine |last=Broomer |first=Stuart |date=Fall 2015 |issue=123 |title=Joshua Abrams' Natural Information Society: By Way of the Guimbri |magazine=Music Works Magazine}}</ref> He was a member of [[Mike Reed (musician)|Mike Reed]]'s Loose Assembly and [[Nicole Mitchell (musician)|Nicole Mitchell]]'s Black Earth Ensemble.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/10/arts/music/nicole-mitchell-black-earth-ensemble-mandorla-awakening.html?mtrref=www.google.com&gwh=F34AB8C1634650530D02CBA672F4F9FA&gwt=pay |title=Nicole Mitchell, an Innovative Flutist With an Afrofuturist Vision|last=Russonello|first=Giovanni|website=New York Times|date=10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jazztimes.com/departments/artist-profiles/mike-reed-doubled-up/ |title=Mike Reed: Doubled Up|last=Adler|first=David R.|website=Jazz Times Magazine|date=25 April 2019 }}</ref> In 2003, he played bass on [[Godspeed You! Black Emperor]]'s album ''[[Yanqui U.X.O.]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/godspeed_you_black_emperor-theres_only_hope|title=Godspeed You! Black Emperor: There's Only Hope |last=Khanna |first=Vish |website=Exclaim}}</ref> He has worked as a [[studio musician]] on recordings made in Chicago, such as [[Jandek]]'s ''Chicago Wednesday;'' [[Will Oldham|Bonnie "Prince" Billy]]'s ''[[Beware (Bonnie Prince Billy album)|Beware]]'' and albums from Chicago musicians such as [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]], [[David Grubbs]], and [[Sam Prekop]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.foundationforcontemporaryarts.org/recipients/joshua-abrams|title=Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018: Joshua Abrams|website=Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018 Booklet}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/joan_of_arc_celebrate_their_collaborators_with_dont_mind_control|title=Joan of Arc Celebrate Their Collaborators with Don't Mind Control |last=Hughes |first=Josiah |website=Exclaim}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/10/21/for-sam-prekop-going-solo-means-enlisting-old-friends/|title=For Sam Prekop, going solo means enlisting old friends |last=Downing|first=Andy|website=Chicago Tribune|date=21 October 2005 }}</ref>


In the early 00's, [[Delmark Records|Delmark]] released his acoustic quartet album ''Cipher'' and Lucky Kitchen released his solo soundscape albums.<ref name=":2" /> He recorded albums under the name "Reminder" for [[Scott Herren|Prefuse 73's Eastern Developments]] label and Easel.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.newcity.com/2014/02/19/lunch-with-joshua-abrams-on-new-releases-from-natural-information-society-in-2014/ |title=Lunch with Joshua: Abrams on New Releases from Natural Information Society in 2014|last=Preski|first=Kenneth|website=New City Chicago|date=19 February 2014}}</ref> In 2010, Abrams started the band [[Natural Information Society]] releasing albums by [[Eremite Records]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/arts/music/pop-rock-and-jazz-in-nyc-this-week.html|title=Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society |last=Russonello|first=Giovanni|date=April 20, 2017|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 2018 he received a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists award.
In the early 00's, [[Delmark Records|Delmark]] released his acoustic quartet album ''[[Cipher (Joshua Abrams album)|Cipher]]'' and Lucky Kitchen released his solo soundscape albums.<ref name=":2" /> He recorded albums under the name "Reminder" for [[Scott Herren|Prefuse 73's Eastern Developments]] label and Easel.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://music.newcity.com/2014/02/19/lunch-with-joshua-abrams-on-new-releases-from-natural-information-society-in-2014/ |title=Lunch with Joshua: Abrams on New Releases from Natural Information Society in 2014|last=Preski|first=Kenneth|website=New City Chicago|date=19 February 2014}}</ref> In 2010, Abrams started the band [[Natural Information Society]] releasing albums by [[Eremite Records]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/20/arts/music/pop-rock-and-jazz-in-nyc-this-week.html|title=Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society |last=Russonello|first=Giovanni|date=April 20, 2017|website=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> In 2018 he received a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists award.<ref name=":1" />


As a film composer, Abrams has written music for director [[Steve James (producer)|Steve James]] and for ''[[Life Itself (2014 film)|Life Itself]]'', ''[[The Interrupters]]'', ''[[The Trials of Muhammad Ali]]'', ''[[Abacus: Small Enough to Jail]]'', and the documentary series ''[[America to Me]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21177-music-for-life-itself-the-interrupters/ |title=Joshua Abrams: Music for Life Itself & The Interrupters|last=Leitko|first=Aaron|website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/watching/oscars-nominated-movies-where-to-stream.html|title=Oscars 2018: Where to Stream the Nominated Movies|last=Tobias|first=Scott|website=New York Times|date=23 January 2018}}</ref> He performed and composed music for the play ''At Twilight'' by [[Simon Starling]], with [[Theaster Gates]] at ''[[DOCUMENTA (13)|Documenta 13]],'' and in exhibitions by [[Lisa Alvarado]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://frieze.com/article/live-simon-starling |title=Live: Simon Starling|last=Sharratt|first=Chris|journal=Frieze|date=14 September 2016|issue=183}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
As a film composer, Abrams has written music for director [[Steve James (producer)|Steve James]] and for ''[[Life Itself (2014 film)|Life Itself]]'', ''[[The Interrupters (film)|The Interrupters]]'', ''[[The Trials of Muhammad Ali]]'', ''[[Abacus: Small Enough to Jail]]'', and the documentary series ''[[America to Me]]''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21177-music-for-life-itself-the-interrupters/ |title=Joshua Abrams: Music for Life Itself & The Interrupters|last=Leitko|first=Aaron|website=Pitchfork}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/23/watching/oscars-nominated-movies-where-to-stream.html|title=Oscars 2018: Where to Stream the Nominated Movies|last=Tobias|first=Scott|website=New York Times|date=23 January 2018}}</ref> He performed and composed music for the play ''At Twilight'' by [[Simon Starling]], with [[Theaster Gates]] at ''[[DOCUMENTA (13)|Documenta 13]],'' and in exhibitions by [[Lisa Alvarado]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://frieze.com/article/live-simon-starling |title=Live: Simon Starling|last=Sharratt|first=Chris|journal=Frieze|date=14 September 2016|issue=183}}</ref><ref name=":3" />


== Discography ==
== Discography ==
⚫
===As leader or co-leader===
{{Div col}}
{{Div col}}
⚫
===As leader===
* ''Terminal 4'' with Terminal 4 (Truckstop/Atavistic, 2001)
* ''Terminal 4'' with Terminal 4 (Truckstop/Atavistic, 2001)
* ''Busride Interview'' (Lucky Kitchen, 2002)
* ''Busride Interview'' (Lucky Kitchen, 2002)
* ''Sticks and Stones'' with Sticks and Stones (482 Music, 2002)
* ''Sticks and Stones'' with Sticks and Stones (482 Music, 2002)
* ''Cipher'' (Delmark, 2003)
* ''[[Cipher (Joshua Abrams album)|Cipher]]'' (Delmark, 2003)
* ''After'' (Lucky Kitchen, 2003)
* ''After'' (Lucky Kitchen, 2003)
* ''Shed Grace'' with Sticks and Stones (Thrill Jockey, 2004)
* ''[[Shed Grace]]'' with Sticks and Stones (Thrill Jockey, 2004)
* ''Continuum'' (Eastern Developments, 2006) as Reminder
* ''Bright Blue Galilee'' with DRMWPN (Captcha, 2008)
* ''Bright Blue Galilee'' with DRMWPN (Captcha, 2008)
* ''Bird Show Band'' with Bird Show Band (Amish, 2010)
* ''Bird Show Band'' with Bird Show Band (Amish, 2010)
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* ''Stars Have Shapes'' with Exploding Star Orchestra (Delmark, 2010)
* ''Stars Have Shapes'' with Exploding Star Orchestra (Delmark, 2010)
* ''Natural Information'' (Eremite, 2010)
* ''Natural Information'' (Eremite, 2010)
* ''Represencing'' (Eremite, 2012)
* ''[[Represencing]]'' (Eremite, 2012)
* ''New Myth/Old Science'' with Living by Lanterns (Cuneiform, 2012)
* ''[[New Myth/Old Science]]'' with Living by Lanterns (Cuneiform, 2012)
* ''Unknown Known'' ([[RogueArt]], 2013)
* ''[[Unknown Known (album)|Unknown Known]]'' ([[RogueArt]], 2013)
* ''Goes Missing'' with the Cairo Gang (God? 2015)
* ''Goes Missing'' with the Cairo Gang (God? 2015)
* ''Automaginary'' with [[Natural Information Society]] (Drag City, 2015)
* ''[[Magnetoception (album)|Magnetoception]]'' with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2015)
* ''Magnetoception'' with [[Natural Information Society]] (Eremite, 2015)
* ''[[Automaginary]]'' with [[Natural Information Society]] (Drag City, 2015)
* ''Simultonality'' with [[Natural Information Society]] (Eremite, 2017)
* ''[[Simultonality]]'' with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2017)
* ''We Have Always Been Here'' with Galactic Unity Ensemble (JMY, 2017)
* ''We Have Always Been Here'' with Galactic Unity Ensemble (JMY, 2017)
* ''Excavations 1'' (Feeding Tube, 2018)
* ''Excavations 1'' (Feeding Tube, 2018)
* ''[[Ithra (album)|Ithra]]'' (Aerophonic, 2018) with [[Dave Rempis]] and [[Tomeka Reid]]
⚫
* ''Mandatory Reality'' with [[Natural Information Society]] (Eremite, 2019)
* "descension (Out of Our Constrictions)" with [[Natural Information Society]] and [[Evan Parker]] (Eremite, 2021)
* ''[[Mandatory Reality]]'' with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2019)
* ''[[Cloud Script]]'' (Rogueart, 2020)
* ''Sometimes There Were Four'' (self-released, 2020) with Forbes Graham, [[Ava Mendoza]], and Tyler Damon
* ''Music for Life Itself & The Interrupters'' (Eremite, 2020)
* ''[[descension (Out of Our Constrictions)]]'' with Natural Information Society and [[Evan Parker]] (Eremite, 2021)
⚫
* ''[[Mind Maintenance]]'' (Drag City, 2021) with [[Chad Taylor (drummer)|Chad Taylor]]
⚫
* ''[[Since Time Is Gravity]]'' with Natural Information Society and [[Ari Brown]] (Eremite, 2023)
{{Div col end}}


'''With [[Town & Country (band)|Town & Country]]'''
'''With [[Town & Country (band)|Town & Country]]'''
{{Div col}}
* ''Town and Country'' (BOXmedia, 1998)
* ''Town and Country'' (BOXmedia, 1998)
* ''Decoration Day'' (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* ''Decoration Day'' (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* ''It All Has to Do With It'' (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* ''It All Has to Do With It'' (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
* ''Up Above'' (Thrill Jockey, 2006)
* ''Up Above'' (Thrill Jockey, 2006)
{{Div col end}}


===As sideman===
===As sideman===
'''With [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]]'''
'''With [[Joan of Arc (band)|Joan of Arc]]'''
{{Div col}}
* ''Orchard Vale'' (Record Label, 2007)
* ''Orchard Vale'' (Record Label, 2007)
* ''[[Boo! Human]]'' (Polyvinyl, 2008)
* ''[[Boo! Human]]'' (Polyvinyl, 2008)
* ''[[Flowers (Joan of Arc album)|Flowers]]'' (Polyvinyl, 2009)
* ''[[Flowers (Joan of Arc album)|Flowers]]'' (Polyvinyl, 2009)
{{Div col end}}


'''With [[Nicole Mitchell (musician)|Nicole Mitchell]]'''
'''With [[Nicole Mitchell (musician)|Nicole Mitchell]]'''
{{Div col}}
* ''Afrika Rising'' (Dreamtime, 2002)
* ''Hope, Future and Destiny'' (Dreamtime, 2004)
* ''[[Afrika Rising]]'' (Dreamtime, 2002)
* ''Black Unstoppable'' (Delmark, 2007)
* ''[[Hope, Future and Destiny]]'' (Dreamtime, 2004)
* ''Renegades'' (Delmark, 2008)
* ''[[Black Unstoppable]]'' (Delmark, 2007)
* ''Xenogenesis Suite'' (Firehouse 12, 2008)
* ''[[Renegades (Nicole Mitchell album)|Renegades]]'' (Delmark, 2008)
* ''Aquarius'' (Delmark, 2013)
* ''[[Xenogenesis Suite]]'' (Firehouse 12, 2008)
* ''[[Aquarius (Nicole Mitchell album)|Aquarius]]'' (Delmark, 2013)
* ''Intergalactic Beings'' (FPE, 2014)
* ''[[Intergalactic Beings]]'' (FPE, 2014)
{{Div col end}}


'''With [[Mike Reed (musician)|Mike Reed]]'''
'''With [[Mike Reed (musician)|Mike Reed]]'''
{{Div col}}
* ''[[Last Year's Ghost]]'' (482 Music, 2007)
* ''[[Last Year's Ghost]]'' (482 Music, 2007)
* ''[[The Speed of Change]]'' (482 Music, 2008)
* ''[[The Speed of Change]]'' (482 Music, 2008)
* ''Empathetic Parts'' (482 Music, 2010)
* ''[[Empathetic Parts]]'' (482 Music, 2010)
{{Div col end}}


'''With [[Dave Rempis]]'''
'''With [[Dave Rempis]]'''
{{Div col}}
* ''Aphelion'' (Aerophonic, 2014)
* ''[[Aphelion (Dave Rempis album)|Aphelion]]'' (Aerophonic, 2014)
* ''Perihelion'' (Aerophonic, 2016)
* ''Perihelion'' (Aerophonic, 2016)
* ''Ithra'' (Aerophonic, 2018)
* ''Apsis'' (Aerophonic, 2019)
* ''Apsis'' (Aerophonic, 2019)
{{Div col end}}


'''With others'''
'''With others'''
{{Div col}}
* [[Fred Anderson (musician)|Fred Anderson]], ''[[From the River to the Ocean]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 2007)
* [[Fred Anderson (musician)|Fred Anderson]], ''[[From the River to the Ocean]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 2007)
* [[Bonnie Prince Billy]], ''[[Beware (Bonnie Prince Billy album)|Beware]]'' (Drag City, 2009)
* [[Bonnie Prince Billy]], ''[[Beware (Bonnie Prince Billy album)|Beware]]'' (Drag City, 2009)
Line 91: Line 110:
* Chris Connelly, ''Forgiveness & Exile'' (Jnana, 2008)
* Chris Connelly, ''Forgiveness & Exile'' (Jnana, 2008)
* [[Ernest Dawkins]], ''Un-till Emmett Till'' (DAWK Music 2009)
* [[Ernest Dawkins]], ''Un-till Emmett Till'' (DAWK Music 2009)
* [[Hamid Drake]], ''Blissful'' (Rogueart, 2008)
* [[Hamid Drake]], ''[[Blissful]]'' (Rogueart, 2008)
* Hamid Drake, ''Reggaeology'' (Rogueart, 2010)
* Hamid Drake, ''[[Reggaeology]]'' (Rogueart, 2010)
* [[Edith Frost]], ''[[It's a Game (Edith Frost album)|It's a Game]]'' (Drag City, 2005)
* [[Edith Frost]], ''[[It's a Game (Edith Frost album)|It's a Game]]'' (Drag City, 2005)
* [[David Grubbs]], ''[[The Thicket (album)|The Thicket]]'' (Drag City, 1998)
* [[David Grubbs]], ''[[The Thicket (album)|The Thicket]]'' (Drag City, 1998)
Line 101: Line 120:
* Rob Mazurek, ''Calma Gente'' (Submarine/Catune 2010)
* Rob Mazurek, ''Calma Gente'' (Submarine/Catune 2010)
* [[Loren Mazzacane Connors]], ''Hoffman Estates'' (Drag City, 1998)
* [[Loren Mazzacane Connors]], ''Hoffman Estates'' (Drag City, 1998)
* [[Makaya McCraven]], ''In the Moment'' (International Anthem, 2015)
* [[Makaya McCraven]], ''In the Moment'' ([[International Anthem Recording Company|International Anthem]], 2015)
* [[Joe McPhee]], ''A Pride of Lions'' (Bridge Sessions, 2018)
* [[Joe McPhee]], ''A Pride of Lions'' (Bridge Sessions, 2018)
⚫
* Mind Maintenance (with [[Chad Taylor (drummer)|Chad Taylor]]), "Mind Maintenance" (Drag City, 2021)
* [[Roscoe Mitchell]], ''[[Three Compositions]]'' (Rogueart, 2012)
* [[Roscoe Mitchell]], ''[[Three Compositions]]'' (Rogueart, 2012)
* [[Kjetil Moster]], ''Ran Do'' (Clean Feed, 2017)
* [[Kjetil Moster]], ''Ran Do'' (Clean Feed, 2017)
* [[Sam Prekop]], ''[[Sam Prekop (album)|Sam Prekop]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 1999)
* [[Sam Prekop]], ''[[Sam Prekop (album)|Sam Prekop]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 1999)
* Sam Prekop, ''[[Who's Your New Professor]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 2005)
* Sam Prekop, ''[[Who's Your New Professor]]'' (Thrill Jockey, 2005)
* [[Matana Roberts]], ''The Chicago Project'' (Central Control, 2007)
* [[Matana Roberts]], ''[[The Chicago Project]]'' (Central Control, 2008)
* [[The Roots]], ''[[Organix (album)|Organix]]'' (Remedy, 1993)
* [[The Roots]], ''[[Organix (album)|Organix]]'' (Remedy, 1993)
* [[Savath & Savalas]], ''Apropa't'' (Warp, 2004)
* [[Savath & Savalas]], ''Apropa't'' (Warp, 2004)
Line 126: Line 144:
* [https://jazztimes.com/archives/josh-abrams-cipher/ Review of ''Cipher'' at ''JazzTimes'']
* [https://jazztimes.com/archives/josh-abrams-cipher/ Review of ''Cipher'' at ''JazzTimes'']


{{Joshua Abrams (musician)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


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[[Category:American jazz composers]]
[[Category:American jazz composers]]
[[Category:American jazz double-bassists]]
[[Category:American jazz double-bassists]]
[[Category:Male double-bassists]]
[[Category:American male double-bassists]]
[[Category:American male jazz composers]]
[[Category:American male jazz composers]]
[[Category:The Roots members]]
[[Category:The Roots members]]
[[Category:RogueArt artists]]
[[Category:RogueArt artists]]
[[Category:Natural Information Society members]]

Latest revision as of 01:29, 11 September 2024

Joshua Abrams
Joshua Abrams in Aarhus, Denmark, 2018
Joshua Abrams in Aarhus, Denmark, 2018
Background information
BornPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
GenresAvant-garde jazz, minimalism
OccupationMusician
Instrument(s)Double bass, Guimbri
Years active1990–present
Member ofNatural Information Society
Formerly ofThe Roots, Town & Country

Joshua Abrams is an American composer and multi-instrumentalist who plays the double bass and guimbri.[1][2]

Career

[edit]

While living in Philadelphia in the late 1980s, Abrams was a member of Square Roots, a street music group that developed into The Roots. He moved to Evanston, Illinois in 1991, and played in Chicago house bands for several years before forming Town & Country in 1998 with Ben Vida, Liz Payne, and Jim Dorling. Abrams was the house bass player at Fred Anderson's Velvet Lounge and for several years he played a weekly club date with Tortoise's John Herndon and Jeff Parker.[3] He was a member of Mike Reed's Loose Assembly and Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble.[4][5] In 2003, he played bass on Godspeed You! Black Emperor's album Yanqui U.X.O..[6] He has worked as a studio musician on recordings made in Chicago, such as Jandek's Chicago Wednesday; Bonnie "Prince" Billy's Beware and albums from Chicago musicians such as Joan of Arc, David Grubbs, and Sam Prekop.[7][8][9]

In the early 00's, Delmark released his acoustic quartet album Cipher and Lucky Kitchen released his solo soundscape albums.[3] He recorded albums under the name "Reminder" for Prefuse 73's Eastern Developments label and Easel.[3][10] In 2010, Abrams started the band Natural Information Society releasing albums by Eremite Records.[11][3] In 2018 he received a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Grants to Artists award.[7]

As a film composer, Abrams has written music for director Steve James and for Life Itself, The Interrupters, The Trials of Muhammad Ali, Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, and the documentary series America to Me.[1][12][13] He performed and composed music for the play At Twilight by Simon Starling, with Theaster Gates at Documenta 13, and in exhibitions by Lisa Alvarado.[7][14][11]

Discography

[edit]

As leader or co-leader

[edit]
  • Terminal 4 with Terminal 4 (Truckstop/Atavistic, 2001)
  • Busride Interview (Lucky Kitchen, 2002)
  • Sticks and Stones with Sticks and Stones (482 Music, 2002)
  • Cipher (Delmark, 2003)
  • After (Lucky Kitchen, 2003)
  • Shed Grace with Sticks and Stones (Thrill Jockey, 2004)
  • Continuum (Eastern Developments, 2006) as Reminder
  • Bright Blue Galilee with DRMWPN (Captcha, 2008)
  • Bird Show Band with Bird Show Band (Amish, 2010)
  • Twyxt Wyrd with the Cairo Gang (Blackest Rainbow, 2010)
  • Stars Have Shapes with Exploding Star Orchestra (Delmark, 2010)
  • Natural Information (Eremite, 2010)
  • Represencing (Eremite, 2012)
  • New Myth/Old Science with Living by Lanterns (Cuneiform, 2012)
  • Unknown Known (RogueArt, 2013)
  • Goes Missing with the Cairo Gang (God? 2015)
  • Magnetoception with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2015)
  • Automaginary with Natural Information Society (Drag City, 2015)
  • Simultonality with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2017)
  • We Have Always Been Here with Galactic Unity Ensemble (JMY, 2017)
  • Excavations 1 (Feeding Tube, 2018)
  • Ithra (Aerophonic, 2018) with Dave Rempis and Tomeka Reid
  • Mandatory Reality with Natural Information Society (Eremite, 2019)
  • Cloud Script (Rogueart, 2020)
  • Sometimes There Were Four (self-released, 2020) with Forbes Graham, Ava Mendoza, and Tyler Damon
  • Music for Life Itself & The Interrupters (Eremite, 2020)
  • descension (Out of Our Constrictions) with Natural Information Society and Evan Parker (Eremite, 2021)
  • Mind Maintenance (Drag City, 2021) with Chad Taylor
  • Since Time Is Gravity with Natural Information Society and Ari Brown (Eremite, 2023)

With Town & Country

  • Town and Country (BOXmedia, 1998)
  • Decoration Day (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
  • It All Has to Do With It (Thrill Jockey, 2000)
  • Up Above (Thrill Jockey, 2006)

As sideman

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With Joan of Arc

  • Orchard Vale (Record Label, 2007)
  • Boo! Human (Polyvinyl, 2008)
  • Flowers (Polyvinyl, 2009)

With Nicole Mitchell

With Mike Reed

With Dave Rempis

  • Aphelion (Aerophonic, 2014)
  • Perihelion (Aerophonic, 2016)
  • Apsis (Aerophonic, 2019)

With others

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Schube, Will (16 May 2017). "Joshua Abrams is a Focused Force in Jazz and Film Scoring". Band Camp.
  2. ^ Masters, Marc. "Joshua Abrams: Natural Information Society Simultonality". Pitchfork.
  3. ^ a b c d Broomer, Stuart (Fall 2015). "Joshua Abrams' Natural Information Society: By Way of the Guimbri". Music Works Magazine. No. 123.
  4. ^ Russonello, Giovanni (10 January 2018). "Nicole Mitchell, an Innovative Flutist With an Afrofuturist Vision". New York Times.
  5. ^ Adler, David R. (25 April 2019). "Mike Reed: Doubled Up". Jazz Times Magazine.
  6. ^ Khanna, Vish. "Godspeed You! Black Emperor: There's Only Hope". Exclaim.
  7. ^ a b c "Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018: Joshua Abrams". Foundation for Contemporary Arts 2018 Booklet.
  8. ^ Hughes, Josiah. "Joan of Arc Celebrate Their Collaborators with Don't Mind Control". Exclaim.
  9. ^ Downing, Andy (21 October 2005). "For Sam Prekop, going solo means enlisting old friends". Chicago Tribune.
  10. ^ Preski, Kenneth (19 February 2014). "Lunch with Joshua: Abrams on New Releases from Natural Information Society in 2014". New City Chicago.
  11. ^ a b Russonello, Giovanni (April 20, 2017). "Joshua Abrams and Natural Information Society". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Leitko, Aaron. "Joshua Abrams: Music for Life Itself & The Interrupters". Pitchfork.
  13. ^ Tobias, Scott (23 January 2018). "Oscars 2018: Where to Stream the Nominated Movies". New York Times.
  14. ^ Sharratt, Chris (14 September 2016). "Live: Simon Starling". Frieze (183).
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