Keep the Dog
| Company type | Musical ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Fred Frith |
| Defunct | 1991 |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Live performances, live recordings |
Keep the Dog was an experimental rock ensemble based in New York City, founded in 1989 by English multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improviser Fred Frith. The six-member group was formed specifically to perform pieces drawn from Frith's extensive 15-year body of work.
The original roster featured Frith alongside René Lussier, Jean Derome, Zeena Parkins, Bob Ostertag, and Kevin Norton; Norton was subsequently succeeded by Charles Hayward. The band embarked on tours throughout Europe, North America, and the former Soviet Union until mid-1991. In 2003, a double CD titled That House We Lived In, containing live recordings from their concluding European tour in 1991, was released.
History
Keep the Dog originated as a vehicle to reinterpret compositions from Fred Frith’s solo projects, earlier bands such as Henry Cow, Massacre, Skeleton Crew, and French Frith Kaiser Thompson, as well as various collaborations. Over time, their approach shifted from performing set pieces to integrating improvisation around the material, culminating in a predominantly improvisational style by 1991. Frith remarked that the ensemble continuously transformed in unforeseen ways.
The band maintained an active touring schedule across the United States, Canada, Europe, and the former Soviet Union, appearing at events like the 7th Festival International de Musique Actuelle de Victoriaville in Quebec in 1989. Each show presented distinctive arrangements; Frith frequently reworked compositions tailored to each venue’s characteristics. Although the core sextet remained intact, guest artists including Tom Cora, John Zorn, and Tenko Ueno occasionally joined performances.
While Keep the Dog never entered a studio for recording sessions, every concert was captured on Digital Audio Tape (DAT). Despite unofficial bootlegs circulating among fans, official releases were postponed until roughly ten years after the group disbanded. Frith acknowledged that it was Jon Leidecker’s dedication and editorial expertise that initiated the formal release process.
Leidecker assembled recordings from their final 1991 concerts held in Austria, Germany, and Italy into a cohesive montage, which Frith then further refined. This collaboration resulted in the double album That House We Lived In, issued through Frith’s Fred Records label in 2003. Frith commended his bandmates as both astute improvisers and outstanding composers.
Critics responded favorably to the album. Beppe Colli praised the ensemble’s inventive and revitalized interpretation of Frith’s compositions, while François Couture of AllMusic described it as essential listening for enthusiasts of Frith’s dynamic writing style. Nicole V. Gagné observed that Keep the Dog raised Skeleton Crew’s hallmark precision and relentless performance energy to a higher level.
Members
- Fred Frith – guitar, bass guitar, violin, vocals
- René Lussier – guitar, bass guitar
- Jean Derome – alto saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, vocals
- Zeena Parkins – accordion, electric harp, piano, synthesizer, vocals
- Bob Ostertag – sampling keyboard
- Kevin Norton – drums, percussion, vocals
- Charles Hayward – drums, percussion, vocals
Discography
- Live recordings
- 2003 – That House We Lived In (Double CD, Fred Records, United Kingdom)
- Additional contributions
- 1992 – Various artists: Angelica 91 (CD, CAICAI Music, Italy) – includes two live performances by Keep the Dog captured at the Angelica Italian jazz festival on May 2, 1991.
External links
- FredFrith.com – Official website