Early digital purchase and Cassettes available at obscureandterrible.bandcamp.com/album/oakland-moments-cello-voice-reuniting-rejoicing

While "Oakland Moments" is the first duo recording from Torben Ulrich and Lori Goldston, the artists have been close friends since 2005 when they began playing together with Jaison Scott and Angelina Baldoz in the group Instead Of. Torben’s texts/poems emerge from his rice-paper paintings, exploring elements of athleticism, philosophy and mysticism. Torben's readings and Lori’s music are interplayed and improvised. The beauty of "Oakland Moments" comes from their own artistic specialization, the intimacy of the performance and a tangible energy exchange.

Recording engineer Zachary Watkins describes this kineticism when reflecting on the session. "Everyone's energy was palpable, especially the two artists I was about to document. As I ran around the studio making sure the session would be a success, Torben gently asked that I stop, sit, chill and acquaint ourselves. I immediately knew that I was dealing with an immense man. He shared stories of his youth as a tennis player in Denmark, and his championship of Black Music and the arts in general. I proceeded to place microphones facing the artists' instruments (voice, cello) and record two hours of powerful sound and poetry. Torben sings his spoken voice. I was immersed in a collaboration so sensitive, fragile and yet absolutely grounded in love and respect."

Torben Ulrich (born Oct. 4, 1928) has been called one the most colorful and unique voices in Danish culture of the 20th and 21st centuries, stemming from a long life of activity as a poet, musician, radio and newspaper journalist, painter, filmmaker, performer and athlete, all within a transdisciplinary approach. His work is grounded in a process-oriented, wide-ranging study of movement in spiritual, philosophical and athletic traditions, accentuating the practical while including historical aspects of alchemy, dance, yogic studies, Buddhism, Kabbalah, Sufism, Taoism, etc.

Classically trained and rigorously de-trained, possessor of a restless, semi-feral spirit, Lori Goldston is a cellist, composer, improvisor, producer, writer and teacher from Seattle. A wide-ranging collaborator, she works with writers, film makers, choreographers, playwrights, bands, composers and visual artists including Earth, Nirvana, Ellen Fullman, Lonnie Holley, Jessika Kenney, Eyvind Kang, Mirah, Lonnie Holley, somesurprises, Lynn Shelton, Vanessa Renwick, Timothy White Eagle, Clyde Petersen, Chris Icasiano, David Byrne, Jherek Bischoff, Embryo, Mik Quantius and many, many others.