Doug Lofstrom

Bassist and composer Doug Lofstrom has been performing and composing since the 1970’s, and his diverse scores and recordings reflect his ongoing involvement in jazz, folk, theater, dance and symphonic music. In the 1990’s, he was composer-in-residence for the Metropolis Symphony Orchestra and during the 80’s, musical director of Chicago’s Free Street Theatre. His works have been performed by the St. Louis, Atlanta and Oregon Symphony Orchestras, and the Present Music and CUBE chamber ensembles.

Highlights of his work include scores for the Pittsburgh Ballet, Midwest Ballet and Natya Dance Theatres. Commissions include three concertinos for the New Philharmonic Orchestra and three works for the Evansville, IN “musictelling” group Tales and Scales. In 2001, Lofstrom formed The New Quartet, a versatile chamber ensemble which performs his original music and arrangements of modern classics, jazz and world music. He has been on the music faculty of Columbia College Chicago since 1986, and founded and directed their New Music Ensemble from 2000 until 2016.

Many of his more recent works involve voices – either as soloists or chorus – including the music represented on this album. Other music has been composed or arranged for specific ensembles: Columbia’s New Music Ensemble, Doug Lofstrom and the New Quartet, and most recently the jazz/spoken word group The Last Word. Lofstrom feels keenly the need for his music to be performed and has spent much of his career creating opportunities for that to happen.

No matter its origins, genre or presentation, Lofstrom’s music strives for clarity, rhythmic vitality and directness of expression. His music – whether performed live or recorded – exists to create a bridge between himself and his audience, where communication can flourish on many levels.