Doug Wyatt

I'm a composer/pianist/synthesist based in the San Francisco Bay Area. I've been playing piano since I could reach the keys, and working with synthesizers since 1978. My music ranges from electronic soundscapes to modern compositions, using creative sound design and elements of jazz improvisation, impressionism and surrealism. It ranges from rhythmic to atmospheric, harsh to lush, alien and synthetic to warmly familiar. Listeners often describe the music as evoking feelings of exploration and communication with the subconscious.

Yes, intermittently. I've played everything from informal jams in coffeehouses and small bars to large concerts and I love it. The most special concert was in April 2000 at the Smithsonian in Washington DC, as part of Mother Mallard. During David Borden's The Continuing Story of Counterpoint, Part 9 I had something approaching an ecstatic experience. It's a 15 minute piece where David and I play constant 16th notes in kaleidoscoping time signatures. Then Keith Emerson joined us for a couple of pieces -- I got to play the intro of Fanfare for the Common Man and double him on the themes.

I listen to as wide a variety of music as I can, classical, jazz, rock, pop, experimental electronic, world music. I was probably more easily and deeply influenced when I was younger, before I began to find what feels like my own voice. Some of those influences include Bach, Beethoven, Debussy, Miles Davis (particularly his post-mid-60's bands), Elton John, Todd Rundgren, David Borden, David Torn, Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Oregon ...

Currently: synths: Roland JV-1080 and S-760, Alesis QS-7, various outboard effects software: Emagic Logic, ES-2 and EXS-24, NI Absynth and Reaktor, many plug-ins 1984-1995: Many Yamaha FM synths (which I was heavily into programming), Kurzweil 1000PX, E-mu Proteus, Opcode Vision, Galaxy and Studio 5