Stranahan/Haluska Duo returns to BOP STOP to present a live streamed concert. To watch this show visit the BOP STOP's Facebook page @ 8pm on Wednesday August 5th.

The Stranahan/Haluska Duo is a collaboration of two adventurous musicians who use their unique instruments and approaches to explore the wide world of improvisation. Harpist Stephan Haluska brings a fresh voice to an instrument not usually associated with free form experimental music. Percussionist Paul Stranahan uses everything from gongs (and more gongs), Tibetan singing bowls, china cymbals, tingshaws, and drums to be ready to take the music wherever it wants to go. Stephan and Paul have two recordings together. One is the self-titled Stranahan/Haluska Duo and the other they add multi-instrumentalist Mike Hovanscek to the CD titled “Electromagnetic Afternoon.”

Bios:

Stephan Haluska

Stephan Haluska is a harpist, composer, and improviser based in Cleveland, OH. His music for harp examines the instrument’s unique textural, harmonic, and percussive qualities. Much of his music focuses on blending traditional and non-traditional harp playing through extended techniques, preparations, tools, and electronics processing.

The harp has developed a mystical identity in western culture as the sound of angels in heaven, magic, and dream sequences. Considering these stereotypes, Stephan attempts to expand the instrument beyond its preconceived notions, creating new roles and opportunities for it, and to (de)mystify the harp.

Stephan holds an MFA in Harp Performance with a concentration in Improvisation from Mills College and a BA in Music Composition from Bowling Green State University. He currently works as a freelance harpist performing contemporary repertory, original compositions, and improvisations in solo and group collaborative settings.

Paul Stranahan

Paul Stranahan (drums, gong array, marimba, singing bowls) is a percussionist, composer, and drum teacher. He's led his own groups such as the modern jazz Paul Stranahan Trio, the avant/fusion band PSI-Paul Stranahan's Insomnia and the experimental group Night Terrors. Abstract Logix, a progressive instrumental magazine, said of Paul, "As a drummer leading an ensemble with self-penned compositions Paul is occupying a mantle that few can approach." A career highlight for Paul was when his Trio and Red Side Visible (an avant/metal group Paul plays drums in and composes for) were two of the four American bands out of hundreds of applicants that were selected to perform in Belfort, France at FIMU (Festival International de Musique Universitaire). He also has a double CD release appropriately called "Gong and Singing Bowl Improvisations" on the Infinite Number of Sounds Label and a newer self-release solo recording “Journey to Planet Gong.” He has done duo recordings with electronic musician Lisa Miralia and another with harpist Stephan Haluska. Paul and Stephan also teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Mike Hovancsek to record “Electromagnetic Afternoon.”