Black Cat Orchestra was an American musical group formed in Seattle, Washington, active from 1991 to 2004. It consisted, in various forms over the years, of

Lori Goldston Lori Goldston (born ) is an American cellist and composer. Accomplished in a wide variety of styles, including classical, world music, rock and free improvisation, she came to prominence as the touring cellist for Nirvana from 1993–1994 and a ...

(cello), Kyle Hanson (accordion), Don Crevie (horn), Scott Granlund (saxophone), Russ Meltzer (guitar), Jason Munger and Jeff Teitelbaum (bass), Matthew Sperry (double bass), Detonator Beth, Gina Sala and Jessika Kenney (vocals), Emily Marsh and Joseph Zajonc (drums), Jack Magai (percussion), and Friese Undine (harmonica). The band released two albums, as well as a collaboration with

Mirah Mirah (born Mirah Yom Tov Zeitlyn) is an American musician and songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York. After getting her start in the music scene of Olympia, Washington, in the late 1990s, she released a number of well-received solo albums on ...

, '' To All We Stretch the Open Arm'', and appeared on the

David Byrne David Byrne (; born May 14, 1952) is an American musician, writer, visual artist, and filmmaker. He was a founding member, principal songwriter, lead singer, and guitarist of the American New wave music, new wave band Talking Heads. Byrne has ...

album ''

Feelings According to the '' APA Dictionary of Psychology'', a feeling is "a self-contained phenomenal experience"; feelings are "subjective, evaluative, and independent of the sensations, thoughts, or images evoking them". The term ''feeling'' is closel ...

''.

History

Three members of the band, Kyle Hanson, Lori Goldston, and Don Crevie, had previously played together in a Seattle-area band called The Run/Remain Ensemble. John Helle Otto (baritone sax) was also a member of the original Run/Remain group and continued into the Black Cat configuration. They played their first show together at a wedding in 1989, but would not officially form until 1991. Since then, they have released two albums, a self-released and self-titled debut in 1996 and ''Mysteries Explained'' from Irene Records in 2001. In the intervening time, they appeared on

's 1997 album ''

'', performed for ''

This American Life ''This American Life'' is a weekly hour-long American radio program produced in collaboration with Chicago Public Media and hosted by Ira Glass. It is broadcast on numerous public radio stations in the United States and internationally, and is ...

'' (a performance that would be featured on the 2006 compilation '' This American Life: Stories of Hope and Fear''), and appeared at numerous film festivals providing live scores for early silent films. In 2003, the Orchestra collaborated with then-Portland-based artist

on a politically-themed album called '' To All We Stretch the Open Arm''. The band dissolved in 2004 but Goldston and Hanson's next band, Spectratone International, collaborated with Mirah on the 2007 album '' Share This Place: Stories and Observations''.

References

{{Authority control American classical music groups Musical groups from Seattle