Ostracon

Ostracon is a new project with John Keston on electronics and Graham O'Brien on drums. The duo performs generative, improvisational compositions using John Keston's custom software, the GMS (Gestural Music Sequencer), that converts video input into musical phrases. Keston captures, layers, loops and processes melodic segments in real-time out of the stream of notes created by his gestural input, tailored with probability distribution algorithms. O'Brien accompanies these angular, electronic structures, with dynamic playing that, at times, verges on the chaotic.

John Keston's work involves performance, composition, experimental software development, music and sound art. Keston founded the sound design resource, AudioCookbook.org, where he documents his ongoing projects and research. His group Keston and Westdal have performed internationally including the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2004, and the Spark Festival of Electronic Music and Art in 2009. He is also an instructor in interactive media at the Art Institutes Minnesota.

Graham O’Brien is a drummer, producer and composer from St. Paul, Minnesota. He is most noted for his writing, production and drumming in Alternative Hip-Hop acts Abzorbr and No Bird Sing, which have drawn local and national recognition. He has also performed with Eyedea, Bill Mike, Kristoff Krane, Alicia Wiley, Mississippi Peace, Junkyard Empire, Ostracon with John Keston, dial_system, and Peter Pisano of Peter Wolf Crier.