Nataša Grujović & Steve Moore
The duo of Nataša Grujović and Steve Moore first performed together in 2022, as part of a tribute to the late Luxembourgish artist and composer Steve Kaspar. At first taking root in the performance of unfinished Kaspar compositions, the duo began composing pieces which suited the unusually sonorous combination of trombone and accordion — instruments which take advantage of both the power and limitation imposed by the movement of air, the motion of breath and the necessity of physical space to the function of sound. By
2023, they had begun the process of composing their first original works which would eventually become Event Horizon, a series of pieces premiered at Casino Luxembourg and performed later at KulturFabrik in Esch. While there are many shared elements with electro-acoustic music via synthesizers and digital processing, the duo’s primary force comes from its use of resonance in acoustic spaces and in the instruments they play — accordion and trombone — to create harmonic fields into which melodic elements are introduced encompassing spiritual jazz, ritualistic drone and western classic traditions.
Biographies
Steve Moore (USA)
Steve Moore is a pianist, trombonist, composer and author born in Seattle, WA. He studied trombone with Julian Priester and composition at the Oberlin Conservatory before embarking on a solo career. Moore has produced two solo albums, STEBMO in 2008 and Super Drum in 2012.
In addition, he has published a volume on music, harmonic theory and geometry entitled Plato, Pythagoras, Polyrhythm in 2012. As an accompanist, he has performed with Sufjan Stevens, Neko Case, k.d. lang, Alexi Murdoch, First Aid Kit, Eyvind Kang and Bill Frisell. He has also been a member of the bands EARTH and sunnO))) since 2006.
Nataša Grujović (SRB / LU)
After finishing her musical studies with Prof. Hugo Noth at the Hochschule für Musik Trossingen, Germany, Nataša Grujović mainly performed with various ensembles in Western and Eastern Europe, e.g. at the “off” programme of the Donaueschinger Musiktage, Germany; at Łaznia - Centre for Contemporary Art, Poland; at the 55th Biennale di Venezia, Italy; at Sonoscopia, Portugal; at Suoni Controvento Festival, Italy; and at the Ring Ring Festival, Serbia. Since 2009 she is based in Luxembourg, where she further developed her approach to chamber music, specifically oriented towards the experimental realm, and also began to compose her own tracks.
Her work is based on sound itself and its physical manifestation. In 2020, after the sudden death of her chamber music partner Steve Kaspar, with whom she had intensely collaborated with for the last several years, she started work on her solo project, as well as with Steve Moore as a duo, but also with Burning Giraffe – a newly formed ensemble for improvised music – and butoh dancer Yuko Kominami.
Photo: Nataša Grujović & Steve Moore, Event Horizon, Casino Luxembourg, 2023 © Black Magic Tea