“The way she played… will stay with me forever.”
— Fredric Dannen, Atención San Miguel
“a pianist like no other…
reimagining the role of the concert pianist”
— Metropolitan Opera Guild
fleeting moments in the
infinity loop
(vol. 1 & 2)
“a true masterpiece! Very original!
It's taking [you] to another world…”
— Alaleh Ketabi, pianist & professor
This collection of daily improvisations is an extended study of the Everyday Here-and-Now.
Of chance, immediacy, and intuition.
Each track represents my earnest meditation of that moment in spacetime in which it was recorded, capturing both the familiarity and uniqueness that we live each day.
These moments are Joyful. Tragic. Funny. Nostalgic. Sincere...
Our collective life cycles create an infinite loop of fleeting moments. We go through this cycle alone yet together, again and again, as we pass through our days in the Sun.
/listening_sessions
2022 Queens Council on the Arts
New Work Awardees
.soundfullness transforms spaces into places of deep listening, with salvaged pianos and electronics.
listening_sessions/winter was recorded live on a very cold day, on December 19, 2021 at the .soundfullness project opening at Culture Lab LIC. listening_sessions/summer was recorded live on a very hot day, on July 9th, 2022 at Socrates Sculpture Park’s New Agora Festival in NYC.
.soundfullness is a collaboration between Douglas Paulson & Nicole Brancato, and is currently in residence at Smiling Hodshead Ranch in LIC, Queens, NYC - supported in part by the Queens Council of the Arts.
Special thanks to Culture Lab LIC at the Plaxall Gallery, Smiling Hogshead Ranch, Aya Rodriguez-Izumi, Chris Zirbes, Brian Edwards, David Adamcyk, & Greg Hammontree in their support.
High Voltage Wires
High Voltage Wires (by Dr. Sal Brancato!) is the energetic debut single of electroacoustic duo Persephone & the Phoenix. With a genre-bending groove that’s both electric and eclectic — lavishly layered with synths, samples, extended techniques, and a quirky homage to orthodontia — Teagan Faran & Nicole Brancato transform their violin / prepared piano duo into a fantastical dance party.
Early Features & Airplay from WKCR, a Jazz Noise, WPR, Mana'o Radio, and more!
Released in 2023 on Melograno Records.
also featured on:
Hangers 101 & a Litany of Hashtags: parts 1 & 3
This album is a collaboration between Marie Christine, Nicole Brancato, and Joris. Based on Marie Christine's project Hangers 101 & a Litany of Hashtags, a participatory work that creates a dialogue on the current sociopolitical climate—initiated on the 1/20/2017 presidential inauguration and culminating at the conclusion of this presidential term.
Daily visual gestures are created from hangers and other material, inspired in part by the day's news. Participants respond to the question, "How do you feel about what's happening around us and in the world?" They pause, holding hangers, adding a thread, and sharing responses, which are then turned into hashtags, i.e., #climatechange, #womensrighttochoose, #wishforpeace.
a Litany of Hashtags, the subsequent performances, include a monologue created from participant commentary and transformations of the yarned hangers. Performance artifacts become sculptural installations. Lyrics in each track are comprised of a small selection of participants' sentiments. The music is composed in direct response to the lyrics.
Trumpets from Around the World
This duo album for 18 trumpets and keyboard/electronics features Greg Hammontree (trumpet, composer) and Nicole Brancato (keys).
Trumpet player Greg Hammontree's album features his original genre-defying compositions for an incredible variety and combination of horns. The many sonic perspectives he achieved in his work are accomplished by only two performers: Nicole Brancato on keyboard/electronics, and himself on 18 different trumpets.
Photography & album art design by Nicole Brancato
visuals:
it's nice to be on the island
concert film by Duo Extempore, exploring histories of Roosevelt Island
mundus cerialis by Nicole Brancato
premiered by the National Sawdust Ensemble
if we listened to birds sometimes by Nadine Dyskant-Miller
Nicole Brancato, narrator & Steph Dressler, flutes
The Search For Up
film + score by Duo Extempore (Nicole Brancato & Evan Jagels)
Etude No. 2 by Don Byron
Nicole Brancato, piano
Etydit, Op. 42, No. 1 Terssit by Einojuhani Rautavaara
Nicole Brancato, piano