Malta-Based Percussionist Releases New “Junkman” Album

MALTA — Malta resident, composer, and percussionist Donald Knaack (aka The Junkman) is celebrating more than 40 years of composing music for contemporary dance companies by releasing a compendium of 12 of his most popular compositions.

Knaack’s long and productive career includes performances and commissions from The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, The Discover Jazz Festival, and the Kansas City International Jazz Festival. He’s also toured with Eminem, The Black-Eyed Peas, Ice T, and Phish. He’s created music for television commercials for brands such as Nike, ESPN, the NBA, Airbnb, and Electronic Arts. 

More than 25 years ago, Knaack, a classically trained musician, stopped using traditional music instruments in favor of using junk and reused materials. 

“The timbres of these materials instantly gave my music an original uniqueness, like someone being given a set of new and different colors to paint with,” Knaack said.

For a preview of the new album’s tracks, visit junkmusic.online/dancealbum/.