Gregory Bortnichak

"Sweeping and swelling complex cello melodies gush forth from every corner, processed expertly through a system of pedals and effects that would make a NASA scientist order a shot and take up smoking... The guy plays like the whole universe depends on it, and you just don’t see that enough anymore." -Sinclair Clarion

Gregory Bortnichak is a classically-trained cellist with a punk-rock spirit. He specializes in live-looping, ecstatic improvisation, and unique arrangements of classic pieces spanning genres and eras for solo electric cello. He has recorded and performed throughout North America with a wide variety of ensembles -playing everything from classical music and jazz, to country, bluegrass, and rock ‘n roll. He has a soft spot for extreme music, exploring this in depth with original bands Teach Me Equals (2012 - 2017) and Sparta Philharmonic (1999 - 2012), and now under his own name as a solo artist.

Bortnichak originally hails from Sparta, NJ, but has lived all over the northeast, and most recently, Olympia, WA. He currently resides in the Philadelphia area and is performing in support of solo debut LOCUTION (June 2019, 2060 Records).