Boxhead Ensemble

Experimental Instrumental Collective

The first incarnation of the Boxhead Ensemble dates back to 1991 in Los Angeles, where Michael Krassner assembled a group of local musicians to improvise a score to Braden King and Larry Stuckey's student documentary, The Original Pantry Cafe. In 1996, Krassner assembled a new incarnation of the Ensemble to score the lyric film documentary by Braden King and Laura Moya, Dutch Harbor: Where the Sea Breaks its Back. Shortly thereafter, the Ensemble embarked on tours with a rotating lineup providing live soundtrack to screenings of Dutch Harbor. Recordings from the European tour are documented on The Last Place To Go and the US tour on Niagra Falls EP. In 2001, Braden King and Astria Suparak co-curated a program of existing and new short films created for the Boxhead Ensemble to perform to and self-released these recordings on the European tour as Stories, Maps and Notes from the Half-Light. The program was also curated in 2004 for a US tour. Boxhead Ensemble recordings since have been studio affairs. Two Brothers and Quartets consists of members Michael Krassner, Jessica Billey, Ryan Hembrey, Scott Tuma and Fred Lonberg-Holm from previous recordings and includes Glenn Kotche and Michael Colligan. The last album to date retains Michael Krassner and Fred Lonberg-Holm and comprises new members.