Fred Frith, composer, improviser and multi-instrumentalist, has situated himself for more than thirty years in the intersection of rock and new music. Co-founder of the British underground band Henry Cow (1968-78), he moved to New York in the late '70s working with musicians such as John Zorn, Ikue Mori, Tom Cora, Zeena Parkins, and Bob Ostertag, and in a number of standing groups, including Massacre (with Bill Laswell and Fred Maher), Skeleton Crew (with Tom and Zeena), and Keep the Dog, a sextet performimg an extensive repertoire of Frith's compositions.

In the '80s, Frith began to write for dance, film, and theatre, and composing for Rova Sax Quartet, Ensemble Modern, Asko Ensemble, and his own acclaimed Guitar Quartet. Best known world-wide as an improvising guitarist, Frith has also performed in a variety of other contexts, playing bass in John Zorn's Naked City, violin in Lars Hollmer's Looping Home Orchestra, and guitar on recordings ranging from The Residents and Ren/ Lussier to Brian Eno and Amy Denio.

Frith is the subject of Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzels' award-winning documentary film Step Across theBorder. He is currently Professor of Composition at Mills College in Oakland, California, where he lives with photographer Heike Liss and their children Finn and Lucia.