Michael Brook
Biography
The innovative guitarist and producer Michael Brook was born and raised in Toronto. While studying electronic music and the arts at the University of Toronto, he met trumpeter Jon Hassell, with whom he later toured; through Hassell, Brook also was introduced to minimalist composer LaMonte Young, under whom he studied Indian music. A period working as the house engineer at producer Daniel Lanois' famed Grant Avenue recording studio led to a tenure playing guitar with the Canadian pop band Martha & the Muffins during the late '70s; at the same time, Brook also met Brian Eno, guesting on the 1980 Eno/Hassell collaboration Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics. In 1983, he also played on Harold Budd's Magic Realism.
In 1985, Brook made his solo debut with Hybrid, an influential ethno-ambient work recorded with Eno that explored the middle ground between Western and Indian musical aesthetics and established his unique, heavily processed "infinite guitar" sound. He spent much of the remaining decade working with Eno, helping create video sculptures and sound installations across the globe; he also became a sought-after producer, helming records for such diverse talents as Roger Eno, Pieter Nooten, Mary Margaret O'Hara, Balloon, and the Pogues.
Selected Discography
Another Brian Eno disciple. I connected with him in the 1970's when he recorded with Eno. I really need to "bone up" on all of his works. I would enjoy hearing more of Mr Brook's recordings.. .
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Until I heard Michael Brook's music, I didn't believe that an electric guitar had a place in the ambient sound; boy was I ever wrong, and boy was I ever glad to be wrong.
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