Contact: Genepritsker@gmail.com
Gene Pritsker Composer
“Mischief-maker and cultural blender-in-chief, Pritsker is a serious artist, yet much of his work is witty and irreverent.” Anyone can draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa, but few musicians draw it as artistically and creatively as Gene Pritsker.”
- Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine
'The shape-shifting Gene Pritsker is one of the only composers who continues to break down the barriers that still exist in the sometimes water-tight compartments that industry marketers revel in."
- Raul d'Gama Rose, All About Jazz
“Mischief-maker and cultural blender-in-chief, Pritsker is a serious artist, yet much of his work is witty and irreverent.” Anyone can draw a mustache on the Mona Lisa, but few musicians draw it as artistically and creatively as Gene Pritsker.”
- Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine
"...audacious...multitalented."
- The New York Times
'The shape-shifting Gene Pritsker is one of the only composers who continues to break down the barriers that still exist in the sometimes water-tight compartments that industry marketers revel in."
- Raul d'Gama Rose, All About Jazz
'Intending to make music
dangerous again.”
- Sequenza21
Gene Pritsker Composer
Recent albums
Featured Videos
Recent & Upcoming
Performances:
2026
Sept.
9/4
Release of the album 'The Painters’ On Composers Concordance Records
A 40min composition for The ComoCord Modified Quartet
9/5
Composer's Voice features Composers Concordance - The Sound of Painting
— from Canvas to Sound, @2pm on Manhattan Neighborhood Network/ Gene’s ‘What Remains After
the Muse' is broadcast.
9/11
Premiere of '9/11 Requiem: A New York Memorial' as part of Composers Concordance presents '9/11 Requiem: A New York Memorial' at Salomon Arts Gallery
9/12
'Cold Storage' performed as part of Access Contemporary Music Sound Of Silence Film Festival at Silo City in Buffalo, NY
9/15
The electronic piece 'Resolve Residue’ performed as part of 60×60 Dance at Slippery Rock University’s Departments of Dance and
art.
9/17
Premiere of 'Grooveresques' performed by the Gene Pritsker Trio, as part of Composers Concordance presents 'Eclectic Bands' at Shrine Harlem
9/20
Dennis Brandner & Gene Pritsker Duo performs at the LUNGS Harvest Arts Festival
Gene's music includes 'Ineffably Still' and 'Open Arms'.
9/26
'The Fabulist Ghost' Premiered by Oscar Feldman & Steve Sandberg Duo
as part of Composers Concordance presents Oscar Feldman & Steve Sandberg Duo at The Ellington Room
Oct.
10/4
'Swing To Joy’ premiered as part of The Village Trip presents Classical Cool: Ich Bin Ein New Yorker. With Garrett Keast, conductor, vocals soloists, a choir and children’s choir and African drummers
10/5
Premerie of 'In Memory Of Mat Fieldes' a part of Composers Concordance presents 'Mat Fieldes A Celebration Of Life'
At Silvana,
10/9
Warren Nicholson premieres 'Cold Montuno Stare' and 'Merengue Gaze' for solo guitar composition as part of Friday Noon time recitals at St Andrew’s in Toronto, ON
10/9
'Cold Storage' performed as part of Access Contemporary Music Sound Of Silence Film Festival at at the Knickerbocker Theater, Hope College in Holland, MI
10/10
Th song cycle 'African American Poets Sing America' premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Semiquincentennial Quintet Celebrating America @ 250'
10/14
'Fantomas - The False Magistrate’ performed to the silent film by Louis Feuillade’s of the same title as part of Access Contemporary Music presents ‘Fantômas’ at the The CheckOut in Chicago.
10/16
New music premiered to the play by Jude Kampfner 'Henry Darger IS: IS Henry Darger'
as part of Composers Concordance presents Henry Darger IS: IS Henry Darger A play by Judith Kampfner
10/25
'Even If You've Not Been Fed, Be Bread' for 3 shakuhachi's, gtr/, bs and cajon Premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents 'Shakuhachi Focaccia' @ Tenri Cultural Institute of NY
10/26
Release of the album CompCord Guitars on Composers Concordance Records
Featuring two compositions by Gene 'For Sean’ as performed by Oren Fader and Subsume for 5 guitars (2 electric & 3 classical) performed by GP
10/27
Warren Nicholson performed 'Cold Montuno Stare' and 'Merengue Gaze' for solo guitar composition as part of Tuesday Recitals at Kings Chapel in Boston, MA
10/31
'Echoes of Folk Melodies' for solo instrument, 'D-Fays' for any 2 instruments, the trio 'Stare', the quartet 'Diviner' and other compositions Premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents 'Beat Gene Pritsker' @ MC Gallery
Nov.
11/6
'I, Too' and 'Mr. Paganini Scats Variations' and new arrangements premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents CompCord @Harlem Jazz Feat. Sound Liberation 'Ella Fitzgerald Inspired'. At Mount Morris Ascension Presbyterian Church
11/12
Soprano Ljiljana Winkler premieres 'Lilith's Rise-Up ' and 'Frieden auf Erden (Peace on Earth) ' as part of Composers Concordance presents Art of the Art Song at MISE-EN_PLACE
11/15
The 40 min composition 'Water & Space' premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Water & Space
at Westbeth
11/20
'Cold Montuno Stare ' and 'Merengue Gaze' performed by guitarist Warren Nichloson as part of Composers Concordance presents Berten D'Hollander - Flute & Warren Nicholson - Guitar at Saint John's in the Village
11/23
'Bye' premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents
'Inspired By Miles' at The Bitter End
Also pn the prgorma Gene's arrangement of The Doo-Bop Song
11/29
''Remembering Billy Strayhorn' premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents 'Low Blow' at The Stonewall Inn
Dec.
12/4
'Enjoy Yourself As If It's A Crime' for electric guitar and string quartet premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents String Quartet+
12/13
'Hopes & Invitations' premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Adam Holzman - Solo Piano
12/19
premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Centuries Trio
12/27
Various compostions performed as part of Composers Concordance presents Sahara von Hattenberger / Joanne Kang Duo & Gottfried Stoger / Gene Pritsker Duo
1/3 New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama
Guitar Quartet Beefheart Inspired at Stonewall Inn
2027
Jan.
1/10
Ridicule premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Man Vs. Machine at the National Opera Center
1/15
New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents 7 Deadly Sins
at Loft 393
1/24
Album release event for Sound Liberation Di.J. Quartet, various compositions of Gene’s are performed
1/29 New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents All About Greece
at Westbeth
Feb.
2/3
New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents CompCord Sax Quartet
at Salomon Arts Gallery
2/5
Animals Carnaval released by Anne Akiko Meyers on her new album as well as a new arrangement by Gene of ‘Girl from Ipanema’
2/7
Premier of Babylon Berlin Symphonic a 90 minute Orchestration Gene did of the music from the TV show Babylon Berlin, Performed by the The Hagen Philharmonic Orchestra in Hagen, Germany
2/12 N
ew compositions premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Seth & Gene’s Excellent Electroacoustic Adventure
at Westbeth
2/16
New compositions premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Seth & Gene’s Excellent Electroacoustic Adventure
at The Checkout in Chicago
2/17 \
New compositions premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Seth & Gene’s Excellent Electroacoustic Adventure
at Patricia Corbett Theater @University of Cincinnati
2/20
New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Tap Vs. Trap
at Rhythmic Arts Center
2/28
New composition premiered as part of Composers Concordance presents Prism Duo
at Steel Wig Music
About
Composer Gene Pritsker has written over one thousand compositions, including chamber operas, orchestral and chamber works, electro-acoustic music and songs for hip-hop and rock ensembles. His compositions employ an eclectic spectrum of styles, that are influenced by his studies of various musical cultures.
He is the founder and leader of Sound Liberation, an eclectic hip hop-chamber-jazz-rock-etc. ensemble. He also Co-Directs Composers Concordance and is a co-founder and composer-in-residence of the Grammy nominated Absolute Ensemble. Gene's music is performed all over the world at internationally recognized festivals and by highly respected ensembles and performers.
"My music is extremely eclectic, for me music has no bounds - I view the world of music as one big genre. My motto for my art is 'ending the segregation of sound vibration.'"
Gene is also a guitarist/rapper/Di.J./ and producer and incorporates each of these musical attributes to create music that is “not designed for easy listening or to melt into the background. It is insistent. It demands attention and curiosity."
- New York Newsday.
Gene worked closely with jazz fusion legend Joe Zawinul and has orchestrated major Hollywood movies, including 'Cloud Atlas', for which he wrote his ''Cloud Atlas Symphony’ and the 2021 film The Matrix Resurrections
PROJECTS
Sound Liberation / Recordings / Film/Commercial / Money (hip-hop opera) VRE Suite / solo, duo, trio... / Cello Lounge / William James's... opera
Di.J. Noizepunk / Cloud Atlas Symphony / Samplestra / Reinventions / DAYS Composers Concordance & Comp Cord Records / EMX / Maggots / Concertos
RiteOfSpring..Eclectic / Manhattan in Charcoal / Melodies Alone.. / EroicAnization / Groove Possessed / Trump Concerto / Blog
'The Painters' by Gene Pritsker is a 40-minute composition inspired by eight painters (with ten paintings each) who share a connection with the composer. The piece is performed alongside a video projection of the paintings and is scored for a modified string quartet: violin, viola, electric guitar, and double bass. Each of the eight movements focuses on one aspect of a particular painter
Chamber Timbres – The Eclectic Music of Gene Pritsker
Sound Liberation’s ninth studio album, Elegy, continues the band's fearless exploration of eclectic soundscapes. Founded by Gene Pritsker, the group follows a bold musical philosophy—breaking down barriers between genres and “ending the segregation of sound vibration.” Their music blends an array of styles, driven by hip-hop and rock rhythms, seamlessly weaving elements of classical, jazz, and world music into a uniquely immersive experience.
This album demonstrates some of Composer Gene Pritsker's compsotions that explore the various sounds of string instruments. From solo violin compositions performed by Lara St. John and Machiko Ozawa to string quartets performed by the CompCord String Quartet and Kahlo String Quartet to music for multiple strings including compositions for 3 violin, 5 violins and 2 electric guitars.
‘Under The Wolf’s Cloak’ music by Gene Pritsker poem by Imelda O'Reilly, for narrator, chorus and two Marimbas Performed by Imelda O'Reilly - narrator David Cossin - marimba Macrófona Choir
Sound Liberation Di.J. Quartet Gene Pritsker - Di.J. / guitar Peter Oswald - trumpet Clemens Rofner - bass Simon Springer - Drums
'Blues from an Airport Bar' by Gene Pritsker is a song cycle based on 4 poems of Jacob Miller. The music is inspired by the blues, but with very extended harmony and melody.. The song ‘Path’ is originally written as an r&b track, here it is transformed into a jazzy/operatic chamber piece that features the brilliant voice of Ljiljana and the groovy ensemble playing of the Solenne Band
On ‘Better Now’ Gene Pritsker’s compositions explore soul, hip-hop, modern jazz, cross over classical, blues, r&b, jazz fusion and more. Recorded over a period of two years in various locations and studios, some tracks recorded remotely some in a studio station. The album takes you on a no holds bar genre defying journey that is the defining style of Sound Liberation.
Composer/bass trombonist Dave Taylor and composer/guitarist Gene Pritsker present a full album of duets for this unique instrumental combination. The album was mostly recorded remotely during the pandemic, some of the music was newly written for the project and many of the pieces Dave and Gene performed together before. The whole album was inspired after the duo recorded Gene’s ‘Pandemic Dance #22’, which was part of his Pandemic Dances project.
‘Only A Game’ was a commission by Robert Shannon Fields, to write music for his ballet libretto that he wrote decades ago in the former east Germany. I wrote this string trio inspired by the actions and words of Robert's ballet scenario. The music flowed to the imaginary dancers in my mind that were swaying, jumping acting out Robert's story; the 3rd act starts with a scene called 'A Special Game’. Here the solo cello delves into Shostakovich like chromaticism and lyricism, playing a game with
Soubrette auf der Toilette
‘Let’s Save the World Suite’ is a seven movement composition based on three poems of Erik T. Johnson. It is scored for a quintet of trumpet, sax, electric guitar, electric bass and drum set, with a narrator reciting the poem in three of the movements.
CLOUD ATLAS SYMPHONY
Duets For The End Of The World' is a collaboration between alto saxophonist Todd Rewoldt and composer/guitarist Gene Pritsker, recorded remotely during the pandemic. The album emphasizes duets Pritsker wrote for Rewoldt and himself, but also features Gene’s music for solo alto sax and electronics, larger chamber ensembles, and a composition by composer Seth Boustead.
'Stray-in-Place Song Cycle' is an album of six eclectic songs by Gene Pritsker, based on the poetry of Erik T. Johnson and inspired by the lockdown of 2021. Three of the songs are rock-influenced and the others have jazzier roots. All are performed by world-class musicians. A variety of singers add their unique styles to six pieces, giving the recording an extra-eclectic flavor. They are: Stefanie Egger (Austria); Sophie Dunér (Sweden); Berzan Önen (Turkey); Yelena Dudochkin (USA); and Stefani
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