BERLIN SOLO IMPRO
Musik-Festival für Solo-Improvisation
This year marks the seventh edition of one of the very few music festivals entirely devoted to solo improvisation worldwide. In the city of Berlin - one of Europe’s hotspots not only for experimental music - curator Volker Meitz has succeeded to establish an annual forum for this special and intimate format of musical performance.
The venue, Acker Stadt Palast, is some sort of time bubble. Located in the now posh city centre, it still breathes the atmosphere of the early 1990’s, when the Berlin Wall had just come down: Sustained by a non-profit foundation, it has retained the flair of squat buildings, patina and makeshift culture that was not least a breeding ground to the internationally reknowned Echtzeitmusik scene – protagonists of which have appeared at the festival, too.
On three days, altogether 15 musicians will be performing, stemming from diverse musical universes. Next to drawing on an abundance of artists from the local community which Berlin is famous for, Volker Meitz also invited national and international improvisers, such as vocalist Jaap Blonk (NL), electronic musician Svetlana Maras (SR/CH), saxophonist Signe Emmeluth (DK/NO), akkordeon player Emilie Škrijelj (F), guitarist Paweł Doskocz (PL) and tuba player Carl Ludwig Huebsch (Cologne).
The evenings will kick off with a short podium discussion by all five musicians, after which they will perform solo for 20 minutes each. As a contrast, the finale features a collective improvisation, with the five artists reacting to one another, while they previously had been alone with themselves and the audience. Hence we get to know different faces of the musicians, which makes for an entertaining and diverse experience.
The line-up spans artists from the “free” ends of jazz, contemporary and electronic music, partly falling under the umbrella term of the aforementioned Echtzeitmusik („real time music“), playing acoustic, amplified or purely electronic instruments – down to Viola Yip who is listed under „electronic dress“. Thus, we can expect three suspenseful everythings between melodious harmony and experimental noise.
Tuesday 3.9.
MATTHIAS KOOLE – acoustic guitar
SIGNE EMMELUTH (DK/NO) – alto saxophone IGNAZ SCHICK – turntables, sampler
JAMES BANNER – double bass
EMILIE ŠKRIJELJ (F) – accordeon
Wednesday 4.9.
DAN-PETER SUNDLAND – electric bass JULIA BIŁAT – cello, voice
MICHAEL GRIENER – drums
CARL LUDWIG HUEBSCH – tuba, voice SVETLANA MARAŠ (SR/CH) – electronics
Thursday 5.9.
SIMON ROSE – baritone saxophone CYMIN SAMAWATIE – piano
PAWEL DOSKOCZ (PL) – electric guitar VIOLA YIP – electronic dress
JAAP BLONK (NL) – vocals