Electronic Presskit

  

Artist: Gary Dann
drums / production

Artist Bio:
Gary Dann is a drummer, music and video producer, designer, and aerial photographer. Gary uses the many various tools around him to craft a unique flavor of visual and audible art that bubbles waves of originality. In 2011, he founded a home for the artwork he was creating; The Boom Room, a recording, rehearsal, and multimedia studio in the musically and culturally rich Fishtown section of Philadelphia.

From 2009 to present, Gary has toured and is currently touring internationally as the drummer for the world famous Grammy-award winning Digable Planets' backing band, The Cosmic Funk Orchestra. He is a drummer and producer for Fraction Theory, a dj and drummer duo who's mainstage debut in front of thousands at the Philadelphia Folk Festival was described as "spectacular, and full of delightful surprises" by Philadelphia Folk Festival MC and Radio Host Gene Shay. Gary's studio projects include being co-founder, producer, writer, and performer of an eclectic rock/hiphop jazzy studio production duo called "Advanced Mechanisms". Alongside producer/multi-instrumentalist and Digable Planets/CFO guitar player Adam Charlton, they independently released their full length album, Advance and Be Mechanized. Gary has also toured and recorded as the drummer for the electro-psychedelic band "Gemini Wolf", which has four releases on the earSnake record label. From 2006 to present Gary has been performing drums with, studio engineering, writing and producing songs, and making music videos for grammy award winner Cee Knowledge, and his 7n a Crescent Productions.

Gary is also an aerial photographer and owner of the firm Vertical View Aerial Photography. Flying up to 500 feet, Gary photographs the impossible from a remote helium airship.




Personal Links:
Gary's Website
The Boom Room

Band's Links:
Fraction Theory
Digable Planets
Advanced Mechanisms
Gemini Wolf
The Cosmic Funk Orchestra

Artist Contact:
Email: garydann@gmail.com

Performance Video:
Fraction Theory performs "Red" at the 2009 Phila Folkfest

Performance Video:
Digable Planets at Neumos, Seattle WA
Performance Video:
Digable Planets at Jazz Cafe London - April 2010

Press:

Metro 8/13/09-

Metro 7/17/09-
Notable Quotes:

"I thought Fraction Theory's onstage presentation---creating new music using the elements of folk music as their base---was spectacular, and full of delightful surprises. These muscial innovators did a great job at this year's Philadelphia Folk Festival. And watching them work was truly inspirational."

Gene Shay
Co-founder of the Philadelphia Folk Festival,
Festival MC and Radio Host

"The best mainstage moments were unexpected, coming from banjo virtuoso Tony Trischka (pictured at the top of this post), and experimental multimedia duo Fraction Theory. The latter’s showstealing Sunday performance snipped music by Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie and countless others from the 20th century folk pantheon, looping their instrumental sounds and vocal samples over a fierce contemporary backbeat. (Lundy says the performance was commissioned by PFF cochair David Baskin after Steve Earle snuck a DJ onstage for his 2008 set.)"

John Vettese
Philadelphia City Paper

“When I was originally asked bring the folk-DJ concept to life I wasn’t sure where to turn. It’s easy to find someone who has turntables, but it was the execution that scared me. Gary Dann took the bull by the horns with this one and helped me present what turned out to be one of the most talked-about performances at the 48th annual Philadelphia Folk Festival. Fraction Theory brought a new form of performance art to our stage...perfectly”

Jesse Lundy
Point Entertainment
Talent Booker for The Philadelphia Folk Festival

"Some will view their creations as a welcome bridge from the traditional to the contemporary and others will see and hear their music and visuals as a high–wire act precariously strung over a chasm of endless debate on “what is folk music?” I love their intent, admire their chutzpa and can't wait to hear and see more."

Paula Ballan
Program Director for The Long Island Folk Festival
Former Program Director for The Philadelphia Folk Festival
Watch Fraction Theory's Entire Debut Performance
at the 2009 Philadelphia Folk Festival:


Fraction Theory Autograph Signing
after the Philadelphia Folk Festival