PENTATONE releases Don’t Look Down, featuring Christopher Cerrone & Sandbox Percussion, in February 2025.
Cerrone & Sandbox Percussion: Percussion Landscapes
Multi-GRAMMY® nominee-Christopher Cerrone’s new album is a decade-long journey through sound, collaboration, and innovation. From the first sketches of Goldbeater’s Skin in 2015 to the final touches on Ode To Joy in 2023, these works reflect his deep connection and friendship with Sandbox Percussion.
Opening with Don’t Look Down (2020), a work born during the pandemic, the album blends traditional percussion with found objects and prepared piano and, when premiered by Sandbox Percussion and pianist Conor Hanick, was described as ‘exhilarating’ by The New York Times. A Natural History of Vacant Lots (2017) explores space and sound, positioning ambient and beautiful colors against a haunting electronic backdrop. The centerpiece, Goldbeater’s Skin (2016), pairs percussion with the human voice in a stunning setting of GC Waldrep’s poetry.
The album closes with Ode to Joy (2023), a bittersweet celebration of New York City, filled with whistles, harmonicas, and stomping rhythms. Every unique sound on this album was meticulously crafted, shaped by Cerrone’s longtime collaborator and producer Mike Tierney.
Don’t Look Down is a bold exploration of the endless possibilities of percussion and a testament to the evolving power of music and collaboration.
“Over the years, I’ve composed multiple works for percussion quartet, all of which Sandbox has either premiered or performed. What draws me to this formation is its inherent freedom—unlike a string quartet or wind quintet, a “percussion quartet” implies little beyond four trained percussionists. The possibilities are boundless.” – Christopher Cerrone, composer
“This collection is a testament to nearly 20 years of friendship between Christopher Cerrone and the four of us in Sandbox Percussion. Chris and I met in school in 2005, and I was instantly drawn to his music. Chris has a way of expressing emotion in his work that I had never experienced before, and I was struck by the honesty in Chris’s writing” – Ian Rosenbaum, Sandbox Percussion
Digital Release Date: 21 FEBRUARY 2025
Physical Release: FEBRUARY 2025
Released in digital formats for streaming and high-resolution downloads.
