IMPROVISOR

This podcast conversation is extremely special as Carole Finer sadly passed away earlier this year. I had the great privilege of performing with Carole and in this conversation we talk about her beginnings in experimental and improvised music, going back to the 60’s in London, at the start of this fascinating scene. She mentions many musicians and interesting artists she collaborated with and I have listed them all in the show notes. She talks about her experiences of performing, as far ranging as a large ensemble concert in Hampstead Town Hall to performing at the Munich Olympics in 1972. It was insightful and incredibly inspiring to hear about Carole’s life as an artist, a musician and sound artist and her world travels collecting field recordings. She talked so effortlessly, as she did on her own radio show ‘Sound Out’ on Resonance FM for many years. Her generosity and humility as a musician touched many people including myself and I feel privileged to have met her and grateful to have had this conversation. SHOW NOTES: People and things mentioned: Merce Cunningham Dance Troupe Rauschenberg- scenery painter Windsor Zither banjo Cornelius Cardew (Cor) John Cage Murial Cardew Christian Wolfe Morley College Graphic Scores Stella Cardew Tim Mitchell Dave Jackman Stephen Selkin (selcon- check spelling) Chris Hobbs Michael Parsons Howard Skempton John Tilbury Dave Smith The Great Learning -by Cornelius Cardew The Scratch Orchestra Hugh Shrapnel Hampstead Town Hall Chelsea Town Hall ‘Beethoven Today’ concert Morton Feldman Munich Olympic Games Michael Chant ‘When I’m cleaning Windows’ Hugh Shrapnel’s Wood and Metal Band Keith Rowe Cardrew Treatise Stephan Szczelkun Porto in Portugal 2010 Hugh Shrapnel’s ‘Rain Raining’ David O’Connar Eddie Prevost’s Workshop Jane Alden’s Vocal Constructovist AMM_Cornelius Cardew The harsh Sound Version ( Treatise) David Ryan Sue Lynch Banjo, Toys, Percussion Zorse Trio- 2013-Sue Lynch, Hutch Demouilpied North East States of India Field recordings; train, bus journeys, bird song, rain https://www.thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/fari-bradley-remembers-scratch-orchestra-s-carole-finer

Live from The Iklectik Horse Festival. Conversations with musicians/composers: Dave Petts, John Butcher, Mark Sanders, Douglas Benford, Students from Leeds and Leeds Beckett, and Paul Sutton, at the IKlecktik Horse Festival of improvised and experimental music and sound. It includes some excerpts of music from the festival curated by The Horse Improv Club at IKlectik Art Lab in London SE1 in January 2018. SHOW NOTES: Iklectik Horse Festival Show notes Dave Petts: Mentions: Sue Lynch Adrian Northover Mark Sanders Louise Morton Feldman Xenakis Remote Viewers Caroline Krabbel John Edwards Crystabel Riley Abstract Machine-like Big Bands Boulez Stan Kenton Mike Westbrook Carla Bley Composition as a craft Conduction The London Improvisors Orchestra Mark sanders Mentions: Fish factory studio’s Johnny Edwards John Butcher 20 Johns Paul Dunmore Zurich Evan Parker The Vortex Liam Noble Women musicians Strong melodic free jazz Alex Hawkins Paul Whatly Crystal Riley Mathilda Rolfsson- Norwegian Percussionist Rachel Musson Pat Thomas Cafe Oto The Mac- in Birmingham Tony Dudley Evans- promoter Douglas Benford Mentions: Incongruous sound Art installations Sculptor Field recordings 2 sounds at once Urban and natural sound National trust Forest of Dean Bermondsey Delia derbyshire Radiophonic workshop Dr who theme Paradise yard ensemble Sound collage Steve beresford Adam Bohman John butcher Crysabel riley Rhodri davies Bonnington centre ticklish richard Sanderson Confront recordings Mark wastall Clive bell Rachel mission Ed lucas Hundred years gallery LIO Snap to grid Paul sutton Mentions: Saxophones South london Horn arrangements Iklectik Mopomoso The clinker Derek Lol Danial thompson Cath Roberts Conduction John butcher Mentions: John Edwards Mark sanders Norway Stoller Lavik Solberg- percussionist from Oslo Lasse Marhaug- noise electronic scene self formed tiny drum kit John stevens Derek Bailey

This is a conversations with Sharon Gal. She is a Interdisciplinary Artist ,Vocal Experimentalist, Performer and Composer. She performs solo, and has on-going collaborations with Steve Beresford, David Toop, Steve Noble, Alex Ward, John Edwards amongst others. She directs site specific compositions/performances examining the inter-relations between people and place. She is the co-founder of arts radio Resonance 104.4.FM. I talk to her briefly before her performance at the Iklectik Horse Festival about her beginnings and collaborations and play excerpts of her music. Show Notes: People and Things mentioned: Free improv and jazz records Lana lovitch Punk Nina hagen Kate bush David bowie Mouth crazy Thurston Moore Sonic youth Byron Coley Moshi Connin Denis Austin The Klinker Hugh Metcalf Loot( the paper) Band called Voltage- Dennis and Moshi Adam Bohman Richard Sanderson and the club room Sound Out The V& A Gals with guitars Goldsmith’s_ ‘Fill The Noise’ Micro amps Sculpting in space Open call Voices in staircase Sound and Music refreshments: Water

A conversation with John Edwards an incredible musician and double bass player. We talk about the Iklectik Horse Festival: https://horseimprovclub.wordpress.com and his views on the improvised and experimental music scene in London and Europe. Listen to excerpts of music he has recorded. His insights and experience of how the scene has evolved over 30 years. How women as musicians and audience members are now contributing to the ever increasing interest in this music and his own inspirations and future musical journeys. Show Notes People/things mentioned Dave Petts Mark Sanders Elton Deane Veryan Weston John Butcher Barf Phillips Evan Parker Crystal riley Sue Lynch Lol Coxhill Bruce turner Scandanavia Norway Drinks/ snacks consumed: Pints of ale Belgium white beer

A conversation with musician, composer and promoter Sue Lynch about her beginnings in experimental and improvised music in London UK, how she started The Horse Improv Club and her curating of The Iklectik Horse Festival in London SE1 in January 2018. Refreshments consumed: Tea and later- Vegetarian Thai food in Lower March SE1 Show Notes: mentions: Steve Beresford Clive Bell David Toop Eddie Prevost Adam Bohman Caroline Krabbel Dave Petts The Remote Viewers Crystabel Riley Adrian Northover Steve Noble Hutch Demouilpied Iklectik Art lab St Austell Sound Sharon Gal Greta Pectecci John Butcher John Edwards Mark Sanders Adam Bohman These Lamps- Sue Lynch Jennifer Alum Ruth Marshall Linear Obsessional Label

To mark the occasion of his 60th birthday - Improvisor releases a podcast talking to Adrian Northover, an inimitable presence on the improvised and experimental music scene in London UK for many years and in my view, an effortless master of the saxophone. (http://www.adriannorthover.co.uk). Discussing his playing with electronic players we discuss tonality and the combination of ‘freedom and restriction’ in this environment- which Adrian summed up as 'having handcuffs on but still being able to jump out of the window’…… We talk about the function of playing improvised music live - the collaboration & interaction between players and ‘providing the meat and grist for the audience…. either successfully or unsuccessfully’. He talks of his interest in ‘Sufi’ music and the idea of ‘the ecstasy’ behind the music and how he likes to know ‘the function of music’. The differences between processed and produced or un-produced music ‘a document versus a treated document.’ Improvised music has become ‘more acceptable and less weird…’……people in the past would say it ‘was just noise’ not music…..it was ‘really out there in terms of public awareness… now you can do anything and it is not so outrageous’….. ‘it has moved more centre stage………’ Show Notes and Mentions: The Alligators Adam Bohman John Edwards Sue Lynch The Happy End Triptik Steve Noble Tasos Stamou Steve Beresford John Stevens Phil Vaxman Berlin Foley st The Bonnington Club Ronnie Laws Steely Dan Hard Evidence Morley College I’Klectik Art Lab London Improvisors Orchestra Linear Obsessional Label Sufi Music Jazz Thali Bollywood North Indian Classical Music Lol Coxhill Stockhausen Edgard Varése The Remote Viewers Ann Homler Refreshments: tea and pretzels

This conversation is with Adam Bohman who has been operating on the outer fringes of underground music for decades. Working with home-built instruments, found objects, tape cut-ups, collages, ink drawings and graphic scores. Favouring acoustic sounds over electronics, he explores the minute tendrils of sounds coaxed from any number of non-musical instruments and objects. He is a member of British experimental groups, Morphogenesis, The Bohman Brothers, Secluded Bronte, and The London Improvisers Orchestra. Adam's music is unique and experimental, incorporating Fluxus japery, musique concrete, sound poetry and free improvisation.  Show Notes: Adam mentioned the following: Charles Fox- jazz critic Toney Oxley Howard Riley Evan Parker Clifford Douse Robert Nut The cranium bunch Jonathan Bohman the cockpit improvised music workshop Cockpit Theatre Ian Macqueen Teddy Coleridge Fred Frith Keith Rowe Paul Pevan- Du Fuy Collective Hugh Metcalfe The Clinker Morphogenesis Rodger Sutherland Dave Jackman Morley college Ron Priefal Barry Anderson Phil Vaxman Conspiracy Nick Couldry Eddie Prevost- Matchless Recordings Intravenous- Album on Matchless Recordings John Telfer Andy Hammond Phil Wachsmann at City Lit Ian Smith- trumpet player Red Rose Club- Seven Sisters Road Time Out Cafe Oto Adrian Northover Robert Powell Tim Fletcher Wiesbaden John Russell Dirk Midvll- saxophonist Andy Holden (artist) Richard Thomas (Secluded Bronte) Bohman Brothers Extended Family Andy Brown- Wine glass player Dale Chilhuly (glass blower) Tom Jackson Michael Prime Clive Graham Clive Hall Ron Briefel Panos Ghikas Vitrine Tapes lan Mozek Sharon Gal My Dance The Skull The Junkie- William Burroughs Hornby Dvorak The Dumkey Tri Junkie Hornby Dumkey LMC-London Musician Collective The Clinker

This is a conversation with Caroline Kraabel who grew up in Seattle USA, and came to London as a teenager. She discovered saxophone and expressed her love for it via indie music and street performance. I talked to Caroline about about how she began to play her instrument, her inspirations, collaborations and her experiences of the experimental music scene in London. “it’s possible for somebody like me….in a state of complete ignorance about music to make sounds and put them together in a way that worked for me… & other people seemed to think it worked too..…” Show Notes and mentions include: Swell Maps Ornette coleman film making soundtracks tape loops & noises Stormy weather Goodbye Pork Pie Hat- by charles Mingus working as a projectionist Living in squats John Stevens workshops in stockwell Search and Reflect by John Stevens Maggie Nichols fake blood Susan Alcorn- pedal steel player Annie Lewandowski- musical saw prep piano accordion Veryan Weston John Edwards Chemistry beats electricity Mark Sanders Bei Bei Wang

This conversation is with Richard Sanderson who is an improvising musician based in London. He has recorded with the groups; Ticklish, Minnow, Lost Robots and in duos with Mark Spybey and Steve Beresford. He has recorded for several labels including Grob, Textile and Duophonic. He has performed at festivals of experimental music throughout Europe. He is the curator of Linear Obsessional Recordings. I talked to Richard about how he began to play his instrument, his inspirations, collaborations and his experiences of the experimental music scene in London and we listen to some of his music.