Sō Percussion is an American percussion quartet based in New York City. Originally founded in 1999 by Robert Van Sice students at the Yale University School Of Music, the ensemble pioneered a standard repertoire of contemporary percussion music by John Cage, George Crumb, Iannis Xenakis and others, and gained international recognition for their recordings and performances of new works by Steve Reich, David Lang, Paul Lansky, Steven Mackey, Caroline Shaw, Bryce Dessner, Fred Frith, Dan Trueman, Tristan Perich, Martin Bresnick, Evan Ziporyn, and Arvo Pärt. In addition to numerous commissions, So Percussion has composed and recorded original music – Imaginary City, Where (We) Live, and A Gun Show, performed as a part of [url=https://www.discogs.com/label/314561]BAM[/url]'s 2016 Next Wave Festival. The ensemble is known for using unusual and exotic instruments, including glockenspiel, bowed marimba, aluminum pipes and an amplified cactus.
The quartet frequently collaborates with a wide range of artists around the world, such as Matmos, Dan Deacon, Bobby Previte, Medeski Martin & Wood, Wilco's Glenn Kotche, Bryce Dessner (composer and leader of The National), Buke And Gass, Dave Douglas, Kneebody, Dirty Projectors, Project Jenny, Project Jan, Kid Millions/Man Forever, Eli Keszler, choreographer Shen Wei, and Princeton Laptop Orchestra.
Relatively recent highlights include a featured performance at Yale University School Of Music with Glenn Kotche and Shara Nova, a collaboration with Dawn Upshaw and Gilbert Kalish, performances of David Lang's percussion concerto with Gustavo Dudamel conducting Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, and Bryce Dessner's Music for Wood and Strings at Yale University School Of Music in London and Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival.
The band's name was suggested by film director and English-Japanese translator Jenise Treuting, Jason's sister. Word Sō comes from 奏, the second character in the compound Japanese word 演奏 (ensou) – to perform music. By itself, so means 'to play an instrument.' But it can also mean 'to be successful,' 'to determine a direction and move forward,' and 'to present to the gods or ruler.'
Members
Eric Cha-Beach – since 2007
Josh Quillen – since 2006
Adam Sliwinski – since 2002
Jason Treuting – since 1999
Past members
Tim Feeney
Todd Meehan
Doug Perkins
Lawson White
2024
Nonesuch
CD, Album
2024
Nonesuch
2xLP, Album
2024
2022
2021
Nexus (6)
CD, Album, Ltd
2021
Not On Label (So Percussion Self-released)
File, FLAC, Album
2021
2021
2020
2019
New Amsterdam Records
CD, Album
2017
XAS Records
CD, Album
2017
Dog W/A Bone
CD, Album
2016
Brassland
File, FLAC, Single
2016
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2015
Brassland
File, MP3, Single, 320
2015
2014
Cantaloupe Music
LP, S/Sided
2014
2013
Cantaloupe Music
5xFile, FLAC, Album
2012
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2012
National Public Radio
File, MP3, 128
2012
Cantaloupe Music
LP
2012
Cantaloupe Music
LP
2011
Greenleaf Music
CD, Album, Car
2011
Cantaloupe Music
CD + DVD, Multichannel, 5.1
2011
Not On Label
12xFile, FLAC, Album
2011
Cantaloupe Music
CD
2011
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2010
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2010
2007
Shhh Productions
CD + DVD-D
2007
Kimmel Center
CD, Comp
2006
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album + DVD-V
2005
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2004
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
Cantaloupe Music
LP, Ltd, S/Edition, W/Lbl
2023
2023
2022
Cantaloupe Music
2xLP, Album
2018
The National
LP, Ltd, Pin
2017
Medium Sound
Cass, Album, Ltd
2017
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album
2016
2015
Megaphone Records (3)
Cass, Comp
2014
Carrier Records
CDr, Album
2014
2011
2011
2009
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Album, Comp
2009
2008
Fractured Recordings
10x7" + Box, Comp, Ltd, Num
2023
Uncut (2), NME Networks
CD, Comp
2021
Brassland
11xFile, FLAC, Comp, Smplr
2021
Bridge Records (4)
CD, Album
2019
Uncut (2)
CD, Comp
2017
Unline
File, MP3, Mixed, 320
2016
Eaux Claires
Cass, Comp, Ltd, Mixtape
2016
4AD
12", EP, Ltd
2014
Centrediscs
LP, Album
2011
Greenleaf Music, Greenleaf Music, Greenleaf Music
3xCD, Album, Car + Box, Comp
2011
Secret Thirteen Journal
File, MP3, Mixed, 192
2007
2005
Cantaloupe Music
CD, Comp, Smplr
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