B R A N D E I S I M P R O V F E S T I VA L
The Brandeis Improv
Festival is a weekend
long celebration of
spontaneous creativity
and it's increasingly vital
role in moder n life.
Through performances,
workshops and seminars
across the Brandeis
campus, the Brandeis
Improv Festival invites
you to explore the ways
that improvisation
enlivens the arts and
sciences; inspires
individual and group
creativity; encourages
cultural evolution and
revolution; and invigorates
everything from our
personal relationships to
the way we see the world.
All events are FREE and
open to the public. All
events to be held at
Slosberg Music Center at
Brandeis University (415
South Street, Waltham,
Ma) except where noted.
BIF is sponsored by the
Brandeis Arts Council.
Artistic Director, Tom Hall.
For more info:
www.freeimprovisation.com
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
MILFORD GRAVES
TOM HALL
TIM RAY
CLUB D’ELF
CHRIS GILL
PETER KALB
DAVE BRYANT
CINDY COHEN
BOB NIESKE 4
APRIL HALL QUINTET
MARTY BALLOU JR.
JANE GOLDMAN
SARAH HICKLER
ERIC ROSENBAUM
LENNIE PETERSON
GREG KOWALSKI
GUTTMANN’S KLEZMER ALL STARS BRANDEIS IMPROV COLLECTIVE
MISTER ROURKE AND AXEL FOLEY
SOUND PROVIDED BY OKUN SOUND SERVICES
FOR MORE INFORMATION: WWW.FREEIMPROVISATION.COM
March 27-28-29 • 2015
Slosberg Music Center
Brandeis University
Friday, March 27th, 2015
3:00 p.m. Improvisation and Social Transformation
An open discussion exploring the relationship between improvisation and social transformation, with Tom Hall (author of “Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide”) who writes and
teaches about improvisation, and Cindy Cohen (director of the Brandeis Program in Peacebuilding and the Arts), who writes and teaches about work at the nexus of the arts,
culture, justice and peace. 5:00 p.m. The Sound Line (Shapiro Campus Center) Lines on paper and musical lines join together to create magic in this multimedia event! Artist Lennie Peterson will create one of his large scale pen and ink portraits of a famous
musician, accompanied by the improvised musical lines of saxophonist Tom Hall and bassist Marty Ballou.
6:30 p.m. Modern Improvising
A pre-concert lecture and demonstration by pianist Tim Ray.
7:00 p.m Brandeis Improv Festival Inaugural Concert
What does virtuosic jazz pianist Tim Ray; the Bob Nieske 4, who play “free music and written music freely”; April Hall's swinging interpretations of the American Songbook, and a
solo performance by legendary free jazz drummer Milford Graves have in common? They may play different musical styles, but this stellar lineup of musicians are united in
their passion for improvisation! 7:00 p.m. Tim Ray Solo Piano
8:00 p.m. Bob Nieske 4 with Phil Grenadier-Trumpet, David Tronzo-Guitar, Bob Nieske-Bass, Jon Hazilla-Drums
9:00 p.m. The April Hall Quintet with April Hall-Vocals, Tim Ray-Piano, Tom Hall-Sax, Marty Ballou-Bass, Les Harris Jr.-Drums
10:00 p.m. Milford Graves Solo percussion performance
Saturday, March 28th, 2015
11:00 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Milford Graves A talk by legendary improviser, drummer, healer and polymath Milford Graves. 1:00 p.m. Action Theater with Sarah Hickler
Tune into the present moment and find artful, spontaneous expression through movement, voice and language in this Action Theater workshop with performer, director, movement
specialist and theater educator Sarah Hickler.
3:00 p.m. Creativity, Learning and Improvisation
What are the connections between creativity, learning and improvisation? That’s the subject of this panel discussion with Contemporary Art historian Peter Kalb, improvising
musician and educator Tom Hall, movement specialist and theater educator Sarah Hickler, and neuroscientist Eric Rosenbaum from MIT MediaLab.
5:00 p.m. Turntables as an Instrument This exciting workshop with DJs Mister Rourke and Axel Foley exposes students to the art form of using the turntable as a musical instrument, offering an opportunity for music
enthusiasts to learn how to DJ, from mixing and blending to scratching and beat juggling. Students will receive a DJ history lesson, equipment/cost description, review turntablist
fundamentals, learn techniques and explore the latest terminology and technology. There will be a Q & A session, as well as a “hands on” opportunity for interested students to test
out their own turntable skills.
6:30 p.m. MaKey MaKey Playshop Experience new technologies at the intersection of music, improvisation, play and learning with neuroscientist, musician and educator Eric Rosenbaum. He believes that everyone
is creative, inventive, and imaginative. He believes that everyone can create the future and change the world. So he's dedicated his life to making easy-to-use invention kits.
7:00 p.m. Brandeis Improv Festival Dance Party
The Brandeis Improv Festival Dance Party brings you a mashup of dance music from the past, present and future. Featuring the old world grooves of Guttmann’s Klezmer All Stars,
turntable innovators Mister Rourke and Axel Foley, and the Moroccan dosed dub-trance-electronica excursions of Club d’Elf; along with the live video art of Greg Kowalski, and
special guest dancers. 7:00 p.m. Guttmann’s Klezmer All Stars with Mimi Rabson-Violin, Michael McLaughlin-Keyboards, Accordion, Jim Guttmann-Bass, Grant Smith-Drums
8:00 p.m. DJs Mister Rourke & Axel Foley with video projection artist Greg Kowalski
10:00 p.m. Club d’Elf with Mister Rourke-Turntables, Tom Hall-Saxophone, Paul Schultheis-Keyboards, Mike Rivard - Bass, Dean Johnston-Drums
Sunday March 29th, 2015
12:00 p.m. Workshop: Perception and Expression (The Rose Art Museum)
This workshop begins with a talk by Contemporary and Modern Art historian and Brandeis Professor Peter Kalb on our perception of art and awareness of our reactions to it,
followed by the direct experience of viewing art currently on display in the Rose Art Museum, and ending with the improvised expression of our reactions, facilitated by improviser
and educator Tom Hall.
2:00 p.m. The Creative Process
Live art demonstration with painter, printmaker and public artist Jane Goldman and improvisational action painter Chris Gill, accompanied by keyboardist Dave Bryant (of Ornette
Coleman’s Prime Time). Watch the artists at work and talk to them about their creative process.
5:00 p.m. Brandeis Improvisers Variety Show, with special guest Dave Bryant
The Brandeis Improv Festival closes with an extravaganza of improvisation, featuring the music of the twenty four member Brandeis Improv Collective (with special guest Dave
Bryant), and a smorgasbord of on-campus improv comedy, dance and theater groups.