Ben Neill is a trumpeter and composer who has studied with La Monte Young. Neill spent six years as the curator for The Kitchen in New York. He has collaborated with David Wojnarowicz, Nicolas Collins, and perfomed on albums by David Behrman, John Cale, and Rhys Chatham.
Neill's instrument is actually the mutantrumpet, designed with help from Robert Moog, which consists extra bells and valves, and electrical modifications that allow him to control computer variables with the valves. The first mutantrumpet had three bells, six valves, a trombone slide and an analog processing system. At the Steim Studios in Amsterdam he then developed a MIDI-capable mutantrumpet, which contained more switches, knobs, and pressure-sensitive pads so as to allow greater control over the sound and visuals of his sound installations.
- See also: illbient
