Corbin Keep, the ‘wild cellist’, to play Salmon Arm

August 6, Salmon Arm –

As Emerson says, ‘Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail’. Corbin Keep does just that.

Originally from Seattle, Washington, Corbin Keep (the ‘wild cellist’) is a unique and gifted cellist, and a multifarious musician. A rich and diverse musical background began as a child with guitar, followed by the cello as a young adolescent.

Corbin spent years on the road playing pop, rock, metal and even some country guitar and electric cello in bands, which brought him north to Canada where he planted roots. Preferring acoustic cello over all of his other instruments, he began exploring the eclectic versatility of his instrument in earnest and, after a six year hiatus from being a full-time professional musician, Corbin returned to the scene with a new solo act featuring cello and voice.

Since then, Corbin has been a frequent presenter at the annual New Directions Cello Festival leading workshops on alternative cello techniques, and a regular performer at festivals throughout the year in Canada and the US, including Sunshine Music fest, Vancouver Island Music fest and the Filberg festival, among others.

Dan Silakiewicz wrote in The East Shore Mainstreet (Crawford Bay, BC) “ … on the topic of astounding, here’s an act for you: Corbin Keep. He plays the cello and sings, but that’s like saying the first rocket to the moon simply ‘went up’. His cello makes the sounds of a violin, guitar, bass, synthesizer, percussion and some sounds that defy categorization without any effects added. His lyrics are funny and he has a totally engaging personality.”

Corbin responds to that saying, “You know when you’re in a kitchen and you’ve got limited ingredients, you’re not able to go to the store to get everything you want … the lima beans have to substitute for the fish…”, he laughs. “It’s a little bit like that for me. I like keeping the limitation of the acoustic cello.”

“After hearing and seeing Corbin Keep, I can never again think of the cello in the same old way”, says a presenter in Spokane, WA.

Corbin now calls Gabriola Island home, where he spends his days in his studio working on his third solo CD which is due to be released summer 2009.

Join Corbin as he prepares to embark on his 2009 summer Cariboo-Interior tour where he will perform at SAGA Public Art Gallery at 70 Hudson Ave., NE on Thursday, August 6th at 8:00 pm. Tickets are available at Acorn Music $12 advance or $15 at the door.

More information is available on Corbin’s website at http://www.wildcellist.com.