Ross & Christopher as Phase X: Photo by Steven Roth
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of dancing at a techno contra dance party where Phase X (Christopher Jacoby and Ross Harriss) played an eclectic mix of live and recorded sounds, featuring saxophone heavily and a room with lights coordinated to the tunes. I caught up with them and talked to them about their particular breed of livetronica, blending genres, and some of their upcoming dates, both with Phase X and their more traditional projects.
"I've been performing chamber music (various bands, orchestras, and choral groups) my whole life, but contra dances since March of 2008," says Christopher.
Ross adds, "I started playing music in my elementary school band program after my parents brutally forced me to learn an instrument. I think they were getting concerned when they realized I was spending the majority of my afternoons watching old episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus."
They continue, "We were asked to provide electronic music for a late-night contra dance slot at Head for the Hills, Princeton Country Dancers' annual getaway weekend in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, and given the success of that event, we decided to form a band."
"I've been performing chamber music (various bands, orchestras, and choral groups) my whole life, but contra dances since March of 2008," says Christopher.
Ross adds, "I started playing music in my elementary school band program after my parents brutally forced me to learn an instrument. I think they were getting concerned when they realized I was spending the majority of my afternoons watching old episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus."
They continue, "We were asked to provide electronic music for a late-night contra dance slot at Head for the Hills, Princeton Country Dancers' annual getaway weekend in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, and given the success of that event, we decided to form a band."
