Aram Shelton is an improviser and composer who performs on saxophone, clarinets, and live electronics.

He plays with a distinct, harmonically rich sound and develops musical thoughts through constant motion, tonal shifts and complex sounds alongside clear melodic and rhythmic constructs. His vocabulary utilizes the range of extended techniques including multiphonics and harmonics, circular breathing, wind sounds and an exploration of the outer ranges of the instrument.

He focuses on creative music grounded in and influenced by the rich history of avant-jazz and free improvisation. He's been a member of the creative music communities in Chicago, the San Francisco Bay Area, Copenhagen and Budapest.

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Photo of Aram Shelton at the Stone in NYC. Photo by Peter Gannushkin / Downtownmusic.net

Sounds

Shelton creates music guided aesthetically by the musicians he works with.

In Budapest (2018-2021), he created music alongside Peter Ajtai, Szilveszter Miklós and István Grencsó; in Copenhagen (2016-2018) he worked with Håkon Berre, Christian Rønn, Henrik Pultz Melbye, Ole Mofjell and others.

In Oakland (2005-2016), he developed music for groups including the avant jazz quartet Gold Age; the creative free jazz Ton Trio II; his solo electroacoustic project Tonal Masher; the chamber improv group Broken Trap Ensemble; the electroacoustic trio Stratic; the collaborative quartet Cylinder; his sextet Marches; and the Oakland Active Orchestra.

In Chicago (1999-2005) he created music with his eponymous Quartet, the cooperative sextet Fast Citizens, Jason Adasiewicz’ Rolldown, Dragons 1976; Arrive; the electroacoustic duo Grey Ghost and others.

Videos

Acoustic

Electroacoustic

Albums

Since 2003, Shelton has made more than two dozen albums. His playing and music are available on releases from MultiKulti, Not Two, Delmark, Clean Feed, Cuneiform, Astral Spirits, 482 Music, and his own Singlespeed Music.

Multiring albu

Continental Drift

A long time coming, this quartet co-led by Shelton and Larry Ochs features Mark Dresser, Scott Walton and Kjell Nordeson. Complex compositions and limitless improvising

at Clean Feed

Multiring albu

Multiring

An album of alto saxophone and wurlitzer duets made during the final few months of Shelton's stay in Copenhagen with Danish keyboardist Christian Rønn

at Astral Spirits

Multiring albu

Dormancy

The second album improvised duo album by Shelton and Håkon Berre. This album is more detail oriented than their first, and shows the musical dialogue they have developed.

Hopes and Fears

Hopes and Fears

An improvised album from Shelton, pianist Grzegorz Tarwid (PL), bassist Tomo Jacobson (PL) and drummer Håkon Berre (NO)

at Multikulti

- more albums -

Uncovered

Uncovered

Extroverted music via harmonically charged saxophone and hyper-kinetically driven drums. Shelton with Norwegian drummer Ole Mofjell

at Singlespeed Music

Dear Everyone

Dear Eveyone

Kyle Bruckmann's free jazz, fried electroacoustic noise and dark prog outfit with Shelton, Jason Hoopes and Jordan Glenn

at Multikulti

Shelton berg Duo

Bygning G

Improvised duets from Copenhagen with Aram Shelton on alto saxophone and Håkon Berre on drums and percussion.

on Bandcamp

Gold Age

Gold Age

Oakland based quartet with Shelton on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, Mark Clifford on vibraphone, Safa Shokrai on bass and Britt Ciampa on drums.

on Bandcamp

Resounder

Resounder

Electroacoustic trio with Shelton on saxophone and electronics, Fred Lonberg-Holm on cello, guitar and electronics, and Frank Rosaly on drums and percussion.

at Singlespeed Music

Steel Bridge Trio

Different Clocks

Tim Daisy's Steel Bridge Trio with Shelton on alto saxophone & bass clarinet, Safa Shokrai on bass and Daisy on vibraphone and drums.

at Relay Records

Ton Trio II

On and On

Oakland based Ton Trio II with Shelton on alto saxophone, Scott Brown on bass, and Alex Vittum on drums. Compositions by Shelton.

at Singlespeed Music

Shelton Rosaly Duo

Sticks and Reed

An album of improvisations with Aram Shelton on alto saxophone and Frank Rosaly on drums and percussion.

at Bandcamp

Fast Citizens Gather

Gather

Chicago based collaborative sextet with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Keefe Jackson, Josh Berman, Aram Shelton, Anton Hatwich and Frank Rosaly. Third album in the series released by Delmark, this one led by Fred Lonberg-Holm

Stratic

Stratic

Electroacoustic trio with Shelton on saxophone and electonic processing, Michael Coleman on keyboards and electronics, and Alex Vittum on drums, percussion and Buchla.

on Bandcamp

Aram Shelton Quartet

Everything for Somebody

Second album by the Aram Shelton Quartet with Keefe Jackson, Anton Hatwich and Tim Daisy.

at Singlespeed Music

Roll Down Varmint

Varmint

Second album by Jason Adasiewicz' Roll Down with Shelton, Josh Berman, Jason Roebke and Frank Rosaly

at Cuneiform

Nordson Shelton Incline

Incline

Saxophone drum duo album featuring Aram Shelton and Kjell Nordeson.

at Singlespeed Music

Arrive

There Was...

The third album by Aram Shelton's Arrive with Jason Adasiewicz, Jason Roebke, and Tim Daisy.

at Clean Feed

Cylinder

Cylinder

San Francisco collaborative quartet with Shelton, Darren Johnston, Lisa Mezzacappa and Kjell Nordeson.

at Clean Feed

Last Distractions

Last Distractions

Trio album with Shelton on soprano saxophone and bass clarinet, Josh Berman on cornet and Weasel Walter on drums.

at Singlespeed Music

Aram Shelton Quartet These Times

These Times

Aram Shelton Quartet with Keefe Jackson, Anton Hatwich, and Marc Riordan.

at Singlespeed Music

Fast Citizens Two Cities

Two Cities

Chicago based collaborative sextet with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Keefe Jackson, Josh Berman, Aram Shelton, Anton Hatwich and Frank Rosaly. Second album in the series released by Delmark, this one led by Shelton

Ton Trio The Way

The Way

Ton Trio with Aram Shelton, Kurt Kottheimer, and Sam Ospovat. Compositions by Shelton.

at Singlespeed Music

Rolldown

Roll Down

Jason Adasiewicz' Roll Down with Shelton, Josh Berman, Jason Roebke and Frank Rosaly

Dragons 1976

Dragons 1976

Dragons 1976 with Aram Shelton, Jason Ajemian and Tim Daisy. Released in 2007 by Multikulti.

at Multikulti

Keefe Jackson's Fast Citizens

Ready Everyday

Chicago based collaborative sextet with Fred Lonberg-Holm, Keefe Jackson, Josh Berman, Aram Shelton, Anton Hatwich and Frank Rosaly. Debut album in the series released by Delmark, this one led by Keefe Jackson

Arrive

Arrive

Aram Shelton's first album as a leader with his quartet Arrive featuring Jason Adasiewicz, Jason Roebke and Tim Daisy. Released in 2005 by 482 Music.

Tonal Masher

Shelton's recent solo electroacoustic music is based on explorations of the resonant feedback frequencies that are unique to the saxophone. As Tonal Masher, he focuses on a different aspect of the saxophone by first removing the mouthpiece and reed. Using feedback generated via saxophone, microphone and amplifier, he uses nontraditional fingerings to coax an instrument specific set of tones from a vintage horn. Using a custom built Max patcher, the resulting music features patient polyphony from a monophonic instrument, and highlights the percussive aspects of the saxophone via key clicks and pad thumps.

Since 2001, Shelton has been using computer based live sampling via Max/MSP in a variety of setting to process and extend acoustic instruments. In 2002 he formed the duo Grey Ghost (482 Music) with the drummer Johnathan Crawford. The Wire found their music to be a “focused symbiosis of breath and circuitry”. His electroacoustic work has always focused on the use of live sampling to extend and rearrange the sounds of acoustic instruments in a live performance setting. Due to the ongoing concept of sonic rearrangement, Shelton has chosen the anagram Tonal Masher as an apt moniker.

Listen and Watch here.

Contact

For any questions, please send an email to
info [at] aramshelton [dot] com