Solo:

Jeff Carey (computer)

Group One:

Michael Fischer (saxophone)

Charlotte Hug (viola, voice)

Charles Dube (electronics)

Group Two:

Andy Hayleck (electronics, clarinet)

Stewart Mostofsky (electronics)

John Berndt (saxophone, inventions, computer)

Meg Rorison (projections, sound)

Group Three:

Joshua Jefferson (alto saxophone)

Jen Baker (trombone)

John Berndt (saxophone, inventions, computer)

John Kilduff (multitasking, live art)

Group Four:

Andrea Pensado (electronics, voice)

Mick Ricereto (alto clarinet, electric piano)

Meg Rorison (projections, sound)

JD Zazie (turntables, CDJ, mixer, found sounds)

Wendel Patrick (turntables, electronics)

Two special sets that break the pattern of nightly performances in an attempt to redefine the undefinable.

“Notations” is a film by Vicki Bennett for live performance by improvising musicians and artists.  It has been created using collected and edited found footage from hundreds of different films, where the content conceptually or literally portrays different kinds of ‘instructions’ and content that can then be interpreted by musicians and artists with unique audio accompaniments.  Notations contains edits of the movies and sounds from the source films, separated into ‘sketches’ or stories that segue into one another, and it exists with a list of instructions (score) on how artist(s) working with this choose to work with these particular elements.

MUSICIANS:

Bob Wagner (drums)

LaDonna Smith (violin)

Jenny Gräf (electronics, guitar)

Large ensembles represent a research horizon for freely improvised music— given that the challenges to make meaningful work increase exponentially with added players. But it can work. High Zero presents an improvising orchestra derived from Baltimore's ongoing Second Nature project. This is an ensemble of virtuoso free improvisers exploring new aesthetics for large groups that has existed for ten years at least, and which has a membership that has changed over time, adding new members. In this special edition, the ensemble performs with other musicians specifically invited to the festival.