― SELECTED WORK
Performances,
Music & Video
Four decades of original performance across solo shows, concerts, workshops, schools, theatre, and private events.
― THE WORK
A skilled dancer, mime, singer and speaker, Christian freely becomes other people and creatures showing audiences a place in all of us where humor and beauty are one. From Asian throat-singing to jazz cartoons, Sufi poetry to lumbering dinosaurs, straight-talk about brain chemistry to word improvisations, it all comes pouring forth from this single human being.
This is not a dance performance, a sacred ritual or a play, nor a musical concert or a comedy show — yet it is in part all of these. It is also a homage to the human medium and the spirit that connects us. Human Jazz is about playing the body, voice and imagination simultaneously. Drawing from a global palette of sound and movement, Christian takes audiences from inter-cultural accapella dansing to his reknown De-evolution.
Christian frequently appears as himself speaking directly and spontaneously to the audience about his work or to introduce what’s to come. He then disappears into songs, animals, other cultures, body music, aliens, or mere energy. His enchantment with the entire spectrum of life and his evident joy in the human instrument challenge audiences to recognize the beauty of unfamiliar forms and the power of simple human expression.
This solo concert is an unforgettable demonstration of the mesmerizing power of the autonomous actor. From the beginning invocation with the singing rocks to the hilarious word improvisations at the end, this shaman of delight interweaves the mysterious and the obvious with immediacy, power and vulnerability.
― CHILDREN’S SHOWS
A master of improvisation, Christian takes young audiences on a wildly delightful adventure of transformation on our original instruments — body and voice. Freely imitating other species and cultures, he shows children a place in all of us where humor and beauty are one. From accapella dansing to snivelling gnomes, Sufi poetry to lumbering dinosaurs, it all comes pouring forth from this single human being.
Play of this sort speaks directly to children’s bodies and imagination. Christian leads audiences in hand dansing, call and response singing, and also performs improvisations from audience suggestions. Besides himself… he also plays African talking drum and a pair of singing rocks.
― WATCH
Solo performances that move between voice and body, character and animal, the sacred and the absurd.
SOLO WORK
Stormy Weather
Movement and voice blurring into one.
SOLO WORK
If I Only Had A Brain
An early solo work — voice and body in conversation.
SOLO WORK
Breath by Breath
A brief journey of breath, music and character.
SOLO WORK
Some Are This
From the show “Body of Music” at Seattle’s Jewelbox Theater, 2009.
― COLLABORATIONS
TRIO WORK
MEDICINE TRUCK
Improvised a cappella with Debby Boland Watt and Travis Johnson – the Pacific Northwest’s premier vocal improvisation trio.
― LISTEN
STUDIO ALBUM · 2000
Off-Road Vocals
In this improvising I am reaching into each oncoming moment with imagination, voice and body. Breath, flesh and mind touching, leading, following and greeting each other. This time is for you to imagine, and see what this sounds like.
- 01 didja anon.
- 02 dehmindi ▶ Play
- 03 the two
- 04 tongugung
- 05 drahkinoh!
- 06 wetbreath ▶ Play
- 07 the tunnel
- 08 journeying
- 09 Farewell to Tarawathie traditional ▶ Play
- 10 Simple Gifts traditional ▶ Play
- 11 gung again
- 12 caprichos ▶ Play
- 13 good walking ▶ Play
- 14 dahhoo
- 15 dunes
SOUNDCLOUD · STREAMING
Recent Recordings
Recorded singing in resonant stairwells and other locales — captured on an iPhone voice memo app. Listen, share, and be inspired to just get your music out.