This is a piece written by Richie Arndorfer that I recorded for his graduate school audition portfolio. The piece is a playful, pattern based work focusing on the black keys of the piano and the subtle changes to the initial pattern.
Copyright Hydrogenated Publishing 2014

Piano Patterns #1 (Pop Snacks)

This piece was inspired by the satellite photo of the North American Nebula.

My idea was to represent the beautiful colors and the thousands of stars scattered throughout the photo by creating the beginning of a journey through space. I imagined the crew voyaging into space and delighting in the bursts of light, colors, and the brilliance of the nebula as they began their travels.
The backing track was recorded on Fender Rhodes running through some effects on Ableton, mainly a combination of volume swells and delays. It is merely a distortion of the harmonies played on the piano, but each change is punctuated by the performers arriving and changing relative to the track. However, it doesn't have to be exact, as the track itself adds an element of surprise, which I imagine to be stars or comets bursting into view.

Glimmering Cosmos

This piece was inspired by the satellite photo of the Helix nebula.

My idea was to create a movie soundtrack for this space crew still voyaging from the first movement. Upon discovering this large nebula, they view it as an intimidating presence and they can't help but also marvel at it's size and beauty.

The backing track was simply an ominous "bell toll" of sorts, a simple F# pedal that mimics the grounding of the piece found in the piano throughout and the violin and cello.

Deep Space Encounter

These solos were taken from the first session with a new iteration of MOODS, involving acoustic/electric bass, guitar, keys/Rhodes (played by me), two drummers, trumpet, sax, and trombone. We also had some conga players sit in!

Recorded December 3rd, 2015

Rhodes Solo Sludge Funk

Rhodes Solo Lion V Clown

J Dilla The Greatest (Chris Dave and The Drumhedz Cover)

This is the first official performance of this piano and bass duo project with Ian Thompson! We've been playing together in groups over the last year from swing big bands to improvised funk/hip hop groups, and now we are combining our sounds and styles into this duo project! 

Setlist:
Heartbreaks and Setbacks by Thundercat
Perspective by Christian Scott/Heart-Shaped Box by Nirvana
Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles (Soulive transcription) 
Nightfall by Charlie Haden
Smells Like a Teen Spirit by Nirvana
Leroy and Lanisha by Kamasi Washington

*Recorded with my Roland Eidrol recorder January 16th, 2016

Thompson And Snedeker Live @ Super Funky Cereal House (1/16/2016)

Recorded at Amber Lit Audio (ArtPrize Voter ID: 64521)

This tune came together through improvised sessions with MOODS at Old NFP, the Death House, and at Speak EZ Lounge, three very different performance venues in Grand Rapids. The version that came together in the studio is strongly influenced by the pianist Tigran Hamasyan, who often combines elements of Armenian music, metal, and American jazz to create a distinct sound. The "moth" is the quieter moments in the music, mimicking a moth fluttering in the night sky. As it is drawn to the lightbulb, the music intensifies, until the point of impact occurs in a violent collision.

The Moth and The Lightbulb

This track was a live improvisational piece performed next to Tom Friedman's 2016 art piece titled "The Wall," a large, tiled, white fixture with (what I interpreted as) a variety of items washed up on a shoreline. I believe it fits Mass MOCA's theme of "wonder" by it's size and the variety of items that could inspire a story or conversation. 

This piece utilizes different musical tools to color in the white spaces, filling in the stories behind different objects I am observing during the performance. One audience member said I painted "as if Ravel were painting, with broad brush strokes," let me know what you think!

Trash

This is an improvised piece performed at a lunchtime concert during Bang on a Can 2016. It was a conversation with the moving, blue projection installation, titled "Flaslight on Wall (UFO)" by Tom Friedman. It involves Dutcher Snedeker on piano, Laura Nygren on upright bass, and Dylan Greene on drums. It was great getting to make music on the spot with them!

Blue Dot

These two pieces are both composed by Chicago bassist Matt Ulery, and they were performed on Nicholas Photinos' (Eighth Blackbird) recital at the Bang on a Can 2016 summer music festival. 

The performers include:
Nicholas Photinos - cello
Todd Reynolds - violin
Ken Thompson - clarinet
Gina Izzo - flute
Dutcher Snedeker - piano
Gregg August - bass
David Cossin - drums

Scott Free - Matt Ulery (Live At Bang On A Can 2016)

The Miniaturist - Matt Ulery (Live At Bang On A Can 2016)

These tracks were recorded at Western Sound Studios by a team of student engineers led by Barrett Eminhizer.

The first track is an original tune written by our bassist, and the second is a combination of two jazz standard arrangements bridged by a brief interlude. 

Vocals: Meghan Stagl
Piano: Dutcher Snedeker
Bass: Matt Epperson
Drums: Ryan Demeniuk

Beautiful Love/On Green Dolphin Street

Without You

March 17, 2013

GVSU's Funkification group from our first rehearsal.Pretty awesome stuff was worked out, and it was cool seeing everybody taking interest in the music and coming prepped to rehearse.

Features GVSU music students groovin hard, including myself on the B3 XD First time really getting my hands around it and it was a blast!

GV Funk Rehearsal - Squib Cakes (Tower of Power)

Dutcher Snedeker is a graduate of GVSU with a BM in Piano Performance, currently attending WMU for a Masters in Jazz Performance. He has been playing piano for 16 years now, performing in a variety of musical settings. He currently performs with The Underground Circus, Brad Fritcher's MOODS, Benjaman James, and various groups around West Michigan. 

More info linked below! Current projects, performance dates, highlighted past performances!

Popular tracks by Dutcher