Ensemble Anomaly – Anomaly Unbound

Saxophone - Trevor Watts

Trombone - Robert Jarvis

Guitar and Clarinet - Alex Ward

Double Bass - Simon H Fell

I wasn’t sure what to expect of this performance, in all honesty if anything I actually expected that I would not enjoy it. My experience of free improvisation as a spectator as opposed to a participant is that I find it lacking in narrative or direction and therefore a generally uninteresting or even unpleasant experience.

In short, I was more than pleasantly surprised by this particular performance. The format was simple, the four performers sat in an informal semi circle, there was a very brief introduction from Fell before all four began their first free improvisation, before splitting into 2 groups of two (guitar and sax, trombone and bass) and then reconvening for a final improvisation as a group.

Their virtuosity as performers was obvious, and each player performed with the confidence afforded by years of experience on their instrument. There were no uncertain pauses, no ‘mistakes’, each entry was deliberate, precise and well delivered as if they had been playing from a score. There was such a freedom of sound; I felt that each performer really explored the limits (or lack thereof!) of their instrument. Simon in particular employed a plethora of artefacts with his double bass; cymbals and beaters included. The guitarist, Alex Ward achieved such a range of pitched and un-pitched sounds from his guitar, using the strings and pickups in ways I had never seen before.

What struck me most about the performers was their apparent communication with each other using their instruments – entries were so flawless it was as if they had been rehearsed. They used their instruments almost in a conversational manner, as if sounds were a direct replacement for language. Their replies were so instinctive at times the musical dialogue felt like an argument or discussion, they didn’t seem to need the time to think or listen before responding, as if the music flowed in the moment, uninterrupted.

I suppose one of my main issues in my own participation of improvisational performance is that I tend to think too much about what sound I should make or how I should add to the music, so that by the time I have thought of a response the moment has passed, or the sound that I make is hesitant or unsure. I know that I can be a confident player and that I have the playing technique to create the sounds I want to create, but in the moment I am so afraid of contributing in the wrong way or playing something ‘incorrect’ or that does not fit that I am limiting myself musically.

So, perhaps in the context of free improvisation, listening too much as well as not enough can be an issue? An interesting thought.