Performance: Cox/Putnam duo

On the evening of Saturday, August 17 2024, we proudly hosted intermedia artist/multi-instrumentalist Cecilia Suhr (OH), saxophonist/improviser Danny Kamins (TX), multi-instrumentalist/improviser Gerard Cox (CMH), and percussionist/experimental electronic musician Aaron Putnam (CMH). Performance took place at the Old First Presbyterian Church (1101 Bryden Rd.). Video documentation: Nicolettecinemagraphics.
About the artists: Gerard Cox is a pianist, trumpeter, and percussionist from Columbus with a keen interest in musical surrealism and the percussive nature of the piano. Born to a piano teacher Mom and a jazz saxophone hobbyist father, clear “rockstar” inclinations were shown at age 8 in an appearance as J.S. Bach at an OMTA music festival and at 10 as Billy Idol in a look-a-like contest for the national pop/rock magazine Star Hits. Cox developed a love for jazz in high school on through college, studying both jazz piano and B3 organ. While initially taken with the straight-ahead jazz of Art Blakey and Clifford Brown, he followed John Coltrane’s discography into his later period music and this proved to be the gateway for a fascination with free jazz and all kinds of other outsider/experimental music.
Aaron Putnam is a percussionist and electronic noise musician based in Columbus, OH. He has collaborated with a wide range of central Ohio musicians over the years.