Doctor T (Emile Tobenfeld)'s artistic
sensibility is strongly influenced by his formal
training in the sciences (Ph.D in Physics from
Cornell University), and his fascination with
improvisation in all forms. His innovative
experiments apply a scientist's and
photographer's eye for texture, geometry, form,
and the interaction of light and surface, an
innovative sense of collage, and an abiding
curiosity about technology's use in
creating/adapting both music and visual art.
He counts among his many artistic influences
musicians including Sun Ra, John Coltrane, the
Grateful Dead, many photographers (especially
Minor White), painters such as Kandinsky, Sam
Frances, the Futurists, and the American
Precisionists, filmmakers such as Jordan Bellson,
Bruce Baille, and the Whitney Brothers, and
light show performers Glenn McKay's Headlights
and the Joshua Light Show.
He performs frequently as a 'VJ' doing
improvisational live mixing and processing of
source materials that he has created using still
photography, video and computer graphics,
accompanying numerous jazz, rock, improv, and
new music bands, including Sonic Youth,
Birdsongs of the Mezosoic, Roger Miller, Neil
Leonard, Jorrit Dykstra, and many others. He has
been performing visual improvisations as an
accompaniment to live music since1973. He has
also produced 3 hour-long video tapes that
feature both his visuals and his electronic
music.
He has provided video material for use in
light shows accompanying tours by The Other Ones
and The Dead at venues including Madison Square
Garden in New York, the Fleet Center in Boston,
and the Tweeter Center in Mansfield) and Phil
Lesh and friends. His video pieces have been
shown in theatres and festivals in Boston, Los
Angeles, andOrlando Florida. He has had a video
installation in a group show at the MIT museum.
An on-line show of his photography, "Before
The Fall -- Images of the World Trade Center"
can be seen at
www.foryourhead.com.
For the past 20 years he has also created
software tools for use by artists. He started
the pioneering MIDI software company, Dr. T's
Music Software in1984. Between 1984 through
1993, he wrote many music applications for
professional and amateur musicians and
composers, and also created unique tools for his
own compositions.
Currently, he is writing innovative video
effects software for Artel Software, publisher
of the Boris RED and Boris Continuum Complete
lines ofhigh-end video effects and compositing
software.
