Lars Graugaard, Jean-Michel Pilc & Philip White

Teaches at Harvestworks | Digital Media Arts Center

Self-taught Jean-Michel Pilc is celebrated as one of Europe’s leading pianists. His affluent technique and visionary imagination assures a novel take on jazz and improvisation, where he constantly finds new and exciting musical possibilities. Born in Paris and now an American citizen, Jean-Michel has performed with numerous giants in the music field, such as Roy Haynes, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Martial Solal, Michel Portal, Daniel Humair, Marcus Miller, Kenny Garrett, Lenny White, Chris Potter, John Abercrombie, Mingus Dynasty & Big Band and Lew Soloff. He has also worked with Harry Belafonte as his musical director and pianist.

Denmark’s Lars Graugaard is a prolific and chameleon-like pioneer who moves with ease between a variety of musical areas. His background lies in a mix of musical styles including classical and contemporary. Holding a MA in music performance and a PhD Interactive music allows him a unique and innovative take on electronic music. He has worked with a wide range of artists – in jazz he has played with names such as Mal Waldron, Ed Thigpen, Marilyn Mazur and Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – with releases on small independents and major labels. A multiple recipient of artist grants, Lars now focuses his performing energies on realtime interaction with a hoghly personalized re-imagining of the possibilities of the jazz idiom.


The music of composer, performer and improviser Philip White is known for its ecstatic intensity and expressive sonic palette. Working with an array of homemade electronics at the intersection of noise, jazz and contemporary concert music, White exploits the tension between rigorous, closed electronic systems and the urgency of human compulsion. An extremely active collaborative artist, Philip brings a unique energy to a diverse spectrum of musical projects. Along with composer/vocalist Ted Hearne, he is one half of the pop-deconstructionist duo R WE WHO R WE, whose debut album on New Focus Recordings was called “utterly gripping” by Time Out Chicago. Philip is currently collaborating with Yotam Haber on A More Convenient Season, an evening-length work for the Alabama Symphony to be premiered in September 2013.