J Arif Verner

A multi-instrumentalist, and composer for more than 20 years, J. Arif Verner has performed as a soloist and with numerous ensembles in musical genres as diverse as standard jazz, pop fusion, contemporary avant-garde and impressionistic new age. His projects focus on the blending of acoustic and electronic music with MIDI guitar synthesis -- a rather unusual and specialized form of digital instrumentation. Citing an extremely diverse list of musical influences which includes Edgar Varese, Mississippi John Hurt, Erik Satie, and The Ventures, Verner emerges with a highly ambient, yet at times still somewhat structured style of musical expression that carries the listener through the work from beginning to end. This more abstract, stream-of-consciousness based approach makes Verner a significant contributor to the New American music movement.