a 13 minute piano improv on a piano i just met. i noticed the middle pedal had its own voice, so i inquired about it with the keys.

learning to share small moments, imperfect playings, the joy of sitting still and letting go.

a piano i met in brooklyn (improv, august 2022)

"Breakfast For The Jetlagged" was recorded at Found Sound Nation's OneBeat 2015 program. For more information, please visit www.1beat.org.

IBK Spaceshipboi, Nigeria (Production, Vocals), All 25 OneBeat Fellows (Various)

Breakfast For The Jetlagged

Marina Sobyanina @marina-sobyanina (Russia) - Vocals
Mukta Raste (India) @mukta-raste - Tabla
Gideon Crevoshay (USA) - Vocals
Rosie Tucker @rosietucker (USA) - Vocals
Amy Garapic @tiguemusic (USA) - Vibes
Jennifer Ellis @harpellis (USA) - Harp

Engineered and Mixed by Chris Botta

Zora (Taal Piece) - OneBeat 2016

Selections from the CD, "A Celebration of African Composers for Piano", by Peter Henderson. Please consider consider supporting this CD by purchasing your copy at www.ampublishers.org or on AMAZON. Thank you!

A Celebration of African Composers for Piano

Akin Euba, Scenes from Traditional Life - No. III

Expressively textural in one moment and relentlessly groovy in the next, "It Flows" is a challenging and varied work for marimba and alto saxophone that includes polyrhythmic textures, exciting hocketed lines, and soaring saxophone melodies. The constantly evolving harmony and texture keeps the piece fun for both performers and audience.

It Flows (duet for alto saxophone & marimba) - Stephen Karukas

"More Zablejala Vkla Ovca" translated as "Oh Dear, a Sheep Bleated" is a Macedonia mountain song that tells the story of a young girl who is anticipating the sacrifice her beloved sheep on St. George's Day. As the day approaches, the sheep bleats out in fear, as if aware of its fate. The lead singer and ensemble leader for this song was Serbian fellow Minela Bogdanovic.

Traditional arranged by Minela Bogdanovic

Vocals: Minela Bogdanovic, Gideon Creovshay, Marta Kolega, Sanja Anđelković+ Domenica Fossati

Mixed and Mastered by Jeremy Thal

More Zablejala Vkla Ovca

A reimagining of 'La Tonada de la Luna Llena" by Venezuelan composer Simon Díaz, led by Croatian singer Marta Kolega amidst an improvizational dreamscape provided by this one-of-a-kind eclectic ensemble.

Composed by Simon Díaz
Arranged by Marta Kolega 

Vocals: Marta Kolega
Vocals: Sanja Anđelković 
Vocals: Gideon Crevoshay
Guitar + Vocals: Arbër Salihu
Prim Tamburitza - Teodor Boskov
Flute - Domenica Fossati
Upright Bass - Lyn Rye

Mixed and Mastered by Jeremy Thal

Luna

Leatherback Blues was created to accompany a short film by Ali Santana (aka Boombaye), a Brooklyn-based filmmaker, VJ, and music producer. The music was then created by a 5-Fellow ensemble of OneBeat fellows, led by New Orleans-based cellist, violist, and vocalist free feral. Ali filmed this piece while on the Puerto Rican island of Culebra in 2013. He explains: “while exploring a desolate beach, I came across a critically endangered Leatherback sea turtle, who, having made the dangerous journey from the ocean depths to the shore, struggled to bury her eggs beneath the sand.” When free watched this video, they were drawn to the leatherback turtle and her process of birthing.  As they explain: “The first time I watched her jelly tears on her face, I heard the line ‘my mother cried an ocean.’” free is accompanied in this piece by guitarist Ivy Alexander (Kenya), vocalist Sao Yantó (Brazil), synthesist Meng Qi (China), and oud player Sarra Douik (Tunisia).

Composed and Performed by

free feral @free-feral - Cello and vocals
Ivy Alexander @ivy-m-alexander - Electric Guitar
Sarra Douik @sarra-douik - Oud and vocals
São Yantò @saoyanto - Keys and vocals
Meng Qi @mengqimusic - Modular Synthesizer
Produced and Recorded by Christopher Botta
Mixed by Christopher Botta
Mastered by Christopher Botta

Leatherback Blues

Wide Missouri

Recompose Winner - Nyokabi Kariuki

Nyokabi’s work is unforgettable. It is cold and wet. It represents water. Maybe the threat of the fishermen or the knowledge of the ocean creatures? It is not safe, it is a unique voice and sets the stage for a new interpretation of the music; a new medium it could live in, through Nyokabi, a new room she has opened and welcomes us all into. Dive in at the deep end, learn to swim again.

https://www.nkariuki.com/
https://sarecordings.com/recompose
https://sarecordings.com/release/139626-alev-lenz-alev-lenz-3

Recompose x Alev Lenz : Nyokabi Kariuki - Fishermen

A piece based on the poem "The Sea and the Man" by Anna Swir for two marimbas. Performed by Heartland Marimba for their inaugural Online Composers' Festival!

The Sea and the Man

Nyokabi Kariuki (b. 1998, she/her) is a US-based Kenyan composer whose works range from classical contemporary to film, choral, and experimental pop; and further includes explorations into sound art, electronics, and (East) African musical traditions. 

On this page are recordings of her work that came to life during her time studying composition at New York University. Check out her website to find more. (:

a piano i met in brooklyn (improv, august 2022)

Nyokabi Kariuki

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