Genre defying compositions, daring improvisations and electronically manipulated sounds; The Smudges are ‘cellist’ Maggie Parkins and violinist Jeff Gauthier. Their name suggests the seamless melding of improvisation and the varied musical styles that define these L.A. based musicians.

Violinist Jeff Gauthier is known for his work with guitarist Nels Cline, drummer/percussionist Alex Cline, as well as projects with Mark Dresser, Yusef Lateef, Nicole MItchell, Adam Rudolph, Todd Sickafoose and many others. Maggie Parkins is in demand as a new-music cellist, performing with Eclipse Quartet, Brightwork newMusic, and Mojave Trio, as well as with her sister Zeena Parkins, Bjork, Gaetano Veloso, Jazz Passengers, Guy Klusevcek, Yuka Honda and many others.

“The highly original work of violinist Jeff Gauthier and cellist Maggie Parkins, stars of the West
Coast new music scene, resists classification. How deeply their Smudges debut rings and
pulsates and pleases.”

— Downbeat

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