Links, etc. (scroll down for links to musicians websites...)

Below are some links to sites that feature and are maintained by musicians and artists I know well and/or collaborated with...

Sofia Koutsovitis Vocalist/composer I met while recording and mixing percussionist Chris Michael's track Pivete. Sofia provided some powerful improvised vocals for this track which will be released later this year on a compilation CD. Sofia is an amazing performer - I saw her recently at the 55 bar here in NYC and was blown away. Check her out!
Douglas Henderson In addition to being a wonderful mastering engineer, Doug is a great composer/sound artist. This is his website where you can see and read about his sound installations and compositions for dance. In addition to mastering my soon to be released CD Saints & Devils, Doug has mastered many recently critically lauded CDs including Antony & the Johnsons' Now I Am A Bird, and the last Blonde Redhead CD.
Permagrin Guitar (Dan Sumner) and drum (Louis Romanos) duo originally from New Orleans. If you think you know what New Orleans music sounds like - think again. High tech trance music played and triggered live. Beautiful and sophisticated contemporary sounds.
Reverend Vince Anderson Music, humor (a powerful thing), and the Spirit. His CD I Need Jesus is great. His new CD The 13th Apostle is available via his website.
Daniel Kelly New York composer/keyboardist.
Charlie Miller Charlie Miller is a New Orleans based trumpet player and has played with everyone from Thelonious Monk to Dr. John. Charlie performs on my upcoming CD Saints & Devils.
Bee and Flower Members of this band appear on my CD Saints & Devils. Dana has wrapped up a new CD I have yet to hear...
Gachupin A relatively new ensemble featuring my friends guitarist Lynn Wright, drummer Chris Michael, and guitarist Jon Petrow. A great hybrid of African popular musics, South American rhythms (Colombia and Brazil), and American funk. Butt-shaking and beard scratching. I loved their first gig and I know they have a long life ahead of them.
James Hall James can be heard invoking the spirit of Robert Johnson on my CD Saints & Devils. He's an incredible performer - see him live if you can. His band The Pleasure Club's CD "Here Comes The Trick" is one of my favorite rock recordings.
The Four Bags NY based quartet consisting of accordion, trombone, electric guitar, and saxophone. My arrangement of Weill's "Alabama Song" (with vocals by Lainie Diamond) appears on their self-titled CD. Highly recommended.
Eyal Maoz New York and Israeli based guitarist with a very original often explosive sound. Eyal plays on the track "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" from my Saints & Devils EP (full length CD will be released in 2006).
Lord Litter My favorite German DJ. We are mutual fans. Thank God for independent alternative radio.

POLITICAL RELIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL: I will be updating this collection of links regularly.

Christians For The Mountains
Revolution Church - Jay Bakker's church for people who have left the church.
The war in Iraq costs... A running total of the U.S. taxpayer cost of the Iraq War. The number is based on Congressional appropriations.
Willie Nelson's Biodiesel Company Not exactly political in content...but then again, I guess it is...
Not In Our Name
National Organization for Women
Tom Paine
MoveOn.org Brings together broad public opinion and legislative action through online petitions. This is also a site with links to plenty of information about current politics.
Michael Moore Lots of practical information and links to other great websites. Constantly updated.
Now (the PBS show)
United For Peace A half a million people participated in UFPJ's August 29, 2004 march protesting Bush Jr. and his administration. I am proud to have participated in this historic march and have composed a short essay about the experience.


Below is a link I posted shortly after 9/11/2001 (I still live and work here in NYC by the way...)

Dear friends,

The mindless prejudice out there right now is real. If you attack someone simply because of their skin color or religious beliefs - you are no better than the terrorists who attacked my city. Click here for a series of beautiful images from around the planet of people responding to September 11ths tragedy. Thank you Megan for sending me these incredible photos.

Take care,
Chris Becker


Below are links to sites by artists I respect and feel a certain kinship with (in other words, I'm a fan!)
I'm also including links to stores I dig, to music software I use, and to whatever else I find inspiring...

SupaTrigga - VST plug-in that I'm using with Ableton Live to chop up and randomize loops. You can also play with the parameters within the beat slices live using a mouse or midi control.
Interruptor Bionic Delay -VST plug-in I'm also using in Ableton for very dub like delays and feedback. Again you can "play" the plug-in as well using your mouse or midi controller.
Audiomulch Sound processing tool for PC users. It's downloadable as shareware. Completely amazing.
Sister Gertrude Morgan Singer and painter. And preacher. She was gone by the time I moved to New Orleans. A new CD is out on Preservation Hall Recordings her singing accompanying herself on tambourine. Beautiful.
Jon Graubarth Visual artist based in New Orleans. You can see one of his images on my site at saintsanddevils.html.
Sinner's Crossroads Great radio show on WFMU featuring old OLD gospel, preachin', homemade tapes, vintage vinyl, etc.
Lucky Mojo Digs into Southern symbols, magic and blues.
Antony and the Johnsons One of my favorite singers. Hear him live if you can. His band is wonderful as well.
Fat Possum Records Great label located in Mississippi.
Alan Lomax A great site to begin learning about this man and the incredibly important work he did.
The Prisoner My all time favorite TV show (Well..."Kung Fu" is right up there as well...).
Mulatta Records Dave Soldier's record label.

I will continue to add to and update this list as sites change and as new ones are created...

Back to Beckeresque