Bradford Reed and Ryder Cooley combine strings, reeds, keys, bows and steel to create euphoric, mesmerizing plateaus of sound, intertwined with pizzicato ostinatos and improvisatory elements as the musicians respond to the energy of the room.

The electro-acoustic duet blends the dreamy sounds of bowed saw with harmonic overtones of pencilina, a zither-like instrument designed by Bradford. The music segues into traditional reedy melodies and drones on the accordion, then back again to the whispery moans of the saw interspersed with rhythmic pulses on the pencilina. Traversing a broad sonic palette, Grains of Euphora can be categorized as simultaneously symphonious and rambunctious.

Bradford Reed is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer and inventor of the pencilina, an electro-acoustic double necked string instrument inspired by the sounds of Indonesian gamelan music and appearing similar to the Korean kayagum. His projects have included King Missile III, The Blue Man Group as well as TV and film scoring. He currently plays with The Dirt Whisperers and Order of The Illusive.

Ryder Cooley is an interdisciplinary artist, accordionist, singing saw player and founder of the band Dust Bowl Faeries. The accordion was passed down to Ryder by her grandmother, who was a composer and piano accordionist.

THE MELTING POT

A secular series by FPC Hudson, brings together musical talent and culinary artisans, pairing homemade meals with stellar live music. The series boasts a revolving door of incredible local artists, leading audiences on musical journeys of varied styles and genres, all held within our historic and beautiful space, cementing FPC as a staple community gathering place and house for arts, invigorating the artistic landscape of Hudson and beyond.

Interested in performing at The Melting Pot? Reach out to us at firstpresbyterianchurchhudson@gmail.com

The Melting Pot | Ryder Cooley & Bradford Reed: Grains of Euphora

The Melting Pot | Ryder Cooley & Bradford Reed: Grains of Euphora