THE CELLAR AND POINT

the cellar and point biography
THE CELLAR AND POINT is an adventurous, NYC based garage-chamber septet whose musical universe comprises the detail of modern concert music, the improvisational sensibilities of downtown jazz, and the emotional directness of alt-rock. Formed in 2010 by drummer/composer Joseph Branciforte and guitarist/composer Christopher Botta, the ensemble features an impressive cross-section of young talent from NYC's classical, jazz, and new music scenes - including members of JACK Quartet, Mivos Quartet, Ensemble Signal, and Transit.

Hometown friends from Ramsey, NJ, Branciforte and Botta grew up making music together: from their middle-school days of Rage Against the Machine covers and high school explorations of jazz improvisation, to their formal studies of classical and contemporary composition, electronic music, and record production at Berklee College of Music.

The two eventually moved back to New York and, after several years of composing and creating demos of new material, THE CELLAR AND POINT took shape. The pair began recruiting an impressive cross- section of young talent from New York City?s classical, jazz, and new music scenes to bring their vision to life.

Time Out New York has described the ensemble's sound as "ethereal chamber-prog" and lauded their live performance as "brainy, yet highly engaging."

Ambit - the band's debut recording - was released on Cuneiform Records in late 2014, to widespread critical acclaim. The album was included in New Sounds host John Schaefer's Top 10 Records of 2014 and was awarded 4.5 stars by All Music, calling it one of 2014's finest albums of challenging, engaging, and genre-defying contemporary music. The album has also received high praise from BBC Radio, Wondering Sound, Q2 Music/WQXR, and All About Jazz, who called the group one of the most interesting bands of the moment, perhaps able to answer the question: 'where is music going?'

Original Line-Up
Joseph Branciforte - drums
Christopher Botta - guitar
Joe Bergen - vibraphone
Christopher Otto - violin
Kevin McFarland - cello
Terence McManus - electric guitar
Rufus Philpot - bass

Biography taken from the bands website.