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Wally Shoup grew up in the South (Charlotte, N.C) in the
1950's and was heavily influenced by Black Music of that era: blues, R
'n B, Soul and, later, in the 60's, free jazz. After moving to Colorado
in 1970, and hearing Britain's groundbreaking Music Improvisation Company,
he simultaneously discovered free improvisation and his calling as a musician. He then moved to Birmingham, Ala to become involved with its thriving improvisation scene, which revolved around the Trans Duo of Davey Williams and La Donna Smith. He performed w/Trans, wrote for the Improvisor magazine and worked with dancer, Mary Horn, in a multi-disciplinary duo, culminating in a European tour in 1985. Wally moved to Seattle in 1985 and became a central figure in the improvisational world. He performed with the New Art Orchestra, Catabatics and took part in the 1st Seattle Improvised Music Festival. Since that time, he has helped guide that festival to its present-day status as the longest running improvisation festival in America. A compelling and original saxophonist, Wally is featured in the Encyclopedia of Northwest Music, noted for his ability to "draw crowds from diverse audiences due to his fierce intensity and explorative saxophone performances." He formed Project W in 1994 with cellist, Brent Arnold, and released the CD Project W (Apraxia) in 1996 (named a top ten release in Cadence Magazine) and the LP Obliquity (Shrat), which documented their opening set for Sonic Youth in 1998. His alliance with Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) has yielded two CD's: the highly acclaimed Hurricane Floyd (Subliminal) in 2000 and the upcoming Leo Records release Live at Tonic (w/Paul Flaherty and Chris Corsano) He formed the Wally Shoup Trio in 2001 w/bassist Reuben Radding and drummer Bob Rees. The group has played to great acclaim in Seattle (see feature article in the Stranger by Mike McConigal http://www.thestranger.com/2001-11-29/music.html) and has recently released Fusillades and Lamentations on the London-based Leo Label. Additionally, Wally is a painter of repute in the "Outsider Art" circles and is represented in Seattle by the Garde-Rail Gallery (http://www.garde-rail.com/artist/wally.html). His textural, expressive art merges the sophisticated with the primitive in much the same way as his music, and his art graces a number of his record releases. He also has written numerous articles and reviews of music. His writing has appeared in the Improvisor, Art Papers, The Stranger, Earshot Jazz Magazine, Perfect Sound Forever, and on Amazon.com, where he is an editorial reviewer. A book of his music writing will be forthcoming on Thurston Moore's Glasseye Book series. Further info can be gotten at http://www.speakeasy.org/wshoup "Agile, machine-gun/serpentine phrasing, split-tones like a rubber band cutting metal, Shoup's playing spits out in a torrent of non-repetitive articulation" The Improvisor "The Rainbow of jazz stylings from Seattle stretches from the avant-garde, free saxophone of Wally Shoup to the pop commercial instrumental music of Kenny G" Seattle Weekly |
