How To Create Words

Document Chicago #3 Grey Ghost was formed in the winter of 2002 as a way to combine electronic and acoustic improvisations into structures. Some of these structures are general forms for improvising, while others have developed to become more like songs. Aram Shelton plays alto saxophone while simultaneously using the powerbook for both real time sampling and live processing. Johnathan Crawford plays percussion and Kawai SX-240 synthesizer. The results can be startling: taking the appearance of having been extensively manipulated in a studio, but in fact created on the spot. Grey Ghost have played the range of Chicago clubs and galleries, including the Empty Bottle, Hot House, Hungry Brain and 3030; they have shared the stage with Jeff Parker & Michael Zerang, the Erik Trufffaz quartet, The Treehouse Project, David Boykin, the Nicole Mitchell trio, and Birth. Their first full-length album, How to Create Words, was primarily recorded live during two recording sessions, 9 months apart from each other. The album is a polished live recording, not something which can only be replicated in the studio. Johnathan Crawford creates visual art through graphic design and performs in the groups Head of Femur, which is led by members of Bright Eyes, and with singer songwriter Ed Gray. Aram Shelton is a performer on saxophone, clarinet and computer. He has been active in Chicago playing jazz and improvised music since 1999 and has played with Ken Vandermark, Jeb Bishop, Josh Abrams, Guillermo Gregorio, Matt Bauder, Steven Bernstein and Jeff Parker. He performs frequently in the groups Dragons 1976 and Rapid Croche, and from time to time with Ken Vandermark's Crisis Ensemble, the Chicago Improvisers Group, and the Scott Rosenberg Large Ensemble.