Alvin Curran

Alvin Curran is a genre-defying American composer, improviser, and sound alchemist whose work dances between experimental electronics, avant-garde jazz, and playful sonic collages. A founding member of Rome’s radical 1960s collective Musica Elettronica Viva (MEV), Curran became known for merging raw improvisation with everyday sounds—think foghorns, typewriters, or bustling piazzas—to create immersive, boundary-blurring experiences. His recent releases, like the live reimagining of *On Hearing the Brooklyn Bridge Sing in Yiddish* or the sample-crafted nostalgia of *Toto Angelica*, showcase his knack for weaving history, humor, and hyper-inventive textures into music that feels both cerebral and wildly alive. Based in Rome for decades before returning to the U.S., Curran’s legacy as a teacher (including at Mills College) and a collaborator with icons like John Zorn keeps him rooted in experimental music’s ever-evolving fringe. Whether rattling shofars in *Shofar Rags* or reworking his *Inner Cities* piano series live, he’s still bending ears—and expectations—with curiosity-first creativity.

Genres

Avant-garde

Free Jazz

Experimental

Minimalism

Latest Release

ARCHEOLOGY // ARCHEOLOGIA

Alvin Curran

Single - Released December 6, 2024