Presenter Notes
Cameron Summers' TechTet
Planning context for curators, producers, and programming teams.
For videos, project context, and the larger artistic frame, visit the main TechTet page.
About the Artist
Cameron Summers is a composer, performer, and machine learning engineer. He spent nearly a decade performing in New York and Los Angeles, with credits including Birdland, Dizzy's Club Lincoln Center, Broadway national tours, a double Grammy-nominated recording with Patrick Williams, and performing with Foo Fighters at the Grammy Awards. Winner at the National Trumpet Competition, Washington D.C.; Master of Music in Jazz Trumpet, Manhattan School of Music. TechTet is his current project, bringing custom live performance technology — built on over a decade of work in AI and machine listening — into jazz-rooted ensemble and solo contexts.
Project Overview
- TechTet: a live performance project combining jazz-rooted ensemble music with custom AI technology. Performed solo, as a trio, and as a 5-piece ensemble.
- Hymnus: the current composed work, written for 5-piece TechTet.
- Institutional context: Hymnus was commissioned by the University of Arkansas Honors College, and TechTet has been presented in concert, interdisciplinary, and educational contexts including Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, The Momentary, the University of Arkansas Jazz Festival, and Georgia Tech Music Technology.
- Live systems: modular stack including the Organum Engine (adaptive harmonization) and Beat-Landscape Delay (rhythmic environment).
Selected Milestones
- Commissioned work: Hymnus was commissioned by the University of Arkansas Honors College, with performances at the University of Arkansas Jazz Festival and an outdoor summer concert in Fayetteville's Lower Ramble.
- Grant-supported presentation: TechTet received support from CACHE, including performance at The Medium. The project has also been presented at The Medium for an art gallery opening.
- Museum and contemporary arts contexts: solo system performances with Flyover Dance at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The Momentary, plus presentation through The Momentary Summer Series.
- Educational context: Guest lecture-demo for Georgia Tech Music Technology.
Production Formats
Featured Performance
- Trio: trumpet, bass, and drums with live system integration. Core featured performance format and the configuration of most live performances to date. Approximately 45-60 minutes.
- 5-piece ensemble (Hymnus): trumpet, second horn, piano or guitar, bass, and drums. Full Hymnus program available as the expanded flagship format. Approximately 45-60 minutes, with program shape adjusted to context.
Lecture-Demo + Performance
- Available solo or with ensemble, usually 60-90 minutes depending on format and context.
- Designed for universities, museums, and interdisciplinary contexts combining performance, discussion, and system demonstration.
Collaboration / Residency Format
- Can be structured with regional musicians or university faculty, with rehearsal, workshop, and performance around real-time interaction with the system. Scope is custom to the institution and program goals.
Solo Format
- Best suited to artist talks, lecture-demonstrations, and intimate exploratory presentations.
- One performer with the full live system and minimal production requirements.
Programming scope and budget vary by format; contact Cameron Summers to discuss the best fit.
Technical Profile
Production at a Glance
- Portable live performance system.
- Standard sound support.
- Stereo output by default.
- Small stage footprint.
- Setup and soundcheck requirements vary by format.
- Detailed rider and stage plot available.
Technical Notes
- Low-latency local processing with performer control.
- Stereo by default, expandable for spatialized setups.
- Signal path integrates acoustic input, adaptive harmonization, and rhythmic environment modules.
Planning Materials
Presentation formats can be scaled to venue, audience, and program goals.