JONATHAN CROSSLEY
Jonathan Crossley is a British/South African guitarist, improviser, composer and researcher whose work moves fluidly between classical, jazz, post-rock, electronic and experimental practices. Described by Guitar Moderne as “the poster boy for modern guitar,” Crossley is known for pushing the instrument beyond stylistic and technological boundaries.
Classically trained before immersing himself in jazz, free improvisation and hyper-instrument research, his recorded output spans acoustic crossover (Dreams of Skilia), jazz-rock (Funk for the Shaolin Monk, Got Funk Will Travel), technologically driven projects such as What If the Machines Spoke Back to You and the expansive Son0_Morph series of albums. His work conceives of technology not as accompaniment but as compositional method.
Recent releases include Inhale and Bree Street, praised by Progressive Rock Journal, Texx and the City and All About Jazz for their “merrily schizophrenic assault” and rhythmic intensity, featuring long-standing collaborators Carlo Mombelli and Jonno Sweetman alongside international guests.
Other recent releases include two free improvised recordings; Coalescence with Cameron Harris and Miles Warrington and Avallus with Nick Branton. Upcoming releases include St Augustine's Remorse, the latest work from the trio of Crossley, Mombelli and Sweetman and Solace featuring Crossley with David Kollar, Lukas Ligeti and Arve Henriksen on 7D Media.
Crossley is a Lecturer in Music Technology at the University of Liverpool, where he teaches composition, musicology, improvisation, technology (such as hyper-instruments and hardware-hacking) and leads the Masters by Research programme. He is co-director of the centre for Music Technology and Interaction with Dr Jenn Kirby, and leads international research into musical interfaces, African instruments and contemporary worship practices.
Jonathan Crossley plays a Rob OReilly MIDI Pro II guitar.