Tristan Honsinger obit

RIP Tristan Honsinger

 He was not on the list.

Tristan Honsinger (October 23, 1949 – August 5, 2023) was a cellist and improvisational musician who, with his unconventional and experimental style, became a defining figure in the free improvisation scene. Honsinger was born in the USA and originally studied classical cello at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. In 1974, he moved to Europe and has since been musically active in many European countries.

Tristan Honsinger has worked with a variety of musicians and groups, including Derek Bailey, Steve Lacy, and Cecil Taylor. He was a member of the ICP Orchestra, the legendary Dutch jazz ensemble, which he co-founded. He forms the HDRS quartet with Axel Dörner, Olaf Rupp, and Oliver Steidle. In Italy, he has worked with Giancarlo Schiaffini and Gianluigi Trovesi, among others.

As a prominent figure in the improvisational music scene, Tristan Honsinger has made a significant contribution to the development of free improvisation. His artistic creativity and innovative approach have made him an inspiring figure in the jazz scene.

He is perhaps best known for his long-running collaboration with free jazz pianist Cecil Taylor and guitarist Derek Bailey.

Born in Burlington, Vermont, United States, Honsinger was given music lessons from a very early age, as his mother had hopes of creating a chamber orchestra together with his brother and sister. At the age of 12, Tristan would give concerts on a nearly weekly basis. He studied classical cello at the New England Conservatory in Boston before moving to Montreal in 1969 to avoid the draft. While in Canada, he became interested in improvisational music. Honsinger moved to Europe in 1974 and was active throughout the continent. He operated out of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.