Broken Families: Collectivism, Violence, Imagined Utopias and Improvisation (article in The Sampler)

‘Broken Families,’ The Sampler (screenshot)
© 2022 The Sampler

The Sampler has just published Broken Families: Collectivism, Violence, Imagined Utopias and Improvisation,’ my piece about the possibilities of improvisation—sometimes profound, radical and creative, sometimes regressive, hegemonic and abusive—about trust, consent and power, and how the denial of violence may itself be damaging to the project of building better communities and practices:

These are stories about failures. Failures of imagination, of peoples and groups, of how lofty goals can be deceptions. And those deceptions can be limiting, and affect violence. I want to move to a point where we can discuss, critically, both the utopian promises of the practices, processes, tribes and communities surrounding improvisation, and their destructive and violent potentials.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the above stories of improvisation-in-crisis are from events with self-professed lofty goals…. I think, in both cases, those of us involved took community, solidarity, resilience, trust and empathy for granted. It’s not just that the groundwork of trust and safety was never established for the group (although that’s part of it), but that we lazily subscribed to the dogma that the nature of improvisation would itself somehow save us. [Read the rest…]

Thanks to Laonikos Psimikakis-Chalkokondylis at The Sampler for asking me to write the piece. In writing this piece I’m indebted to exchanges and conversations with several improvisers. Big thanks, in particular, to Caroline Kraabel, Corey Mwamba, and Lauren Sarah Hayes.

update

03–19-24: update URL for article as the thesampler.org is being shuttered.

thanks: Birmingham, Edinburgh and London*2

St Cecilia’s Hall (Edinburgh) 02-18-11

Thanks to all those hosting and organizing the performances: Mike Hurley and the rest of the Fizzle gang, Sibyl Madrigal of Boat-ting, Matthew Collings (who also sourced the tools for a mid-tour kluge repair of my amplifier), and the Lewisham Arthouse. Kudos to Reka Sanders, Joe Hope and Han-ter Park for putting a roof over this itinerant musician.

Big thanks to Paul Dunmall and Mark Sanders for the high-energy, musical workout, to Owen Green for introducing me to the musical (and comical) applications of a cardboard box, to Pat Thomas for his skill and wit, to Lol Coxhill for being the inimitable Lol Coxhill, and to the rest of Mathilde 253—to Charles Hayward and Ian Smith—for pushing and pulling into ever more fascinating musical spaces.

Last but not least, thanks to all who came to listen/watch.

performance: Han-earl Park, Matthew Collings, Owen Green (Edinburgh, 2011)

This Friday (February 18, 2011) at 8:00pm: experimental music performances by Han-earl Park, Matthew Collings and Owen Green. The event takes place at St Cecilia’s Hall (Niddry Street, Cowgate, Edinburgh EH1, Scotland). Recommended donation: £2. [performance diary entry] [facebook event page]

reminder: Birmingham, Edinburgh and London*2

Performances coming up this month with Paul Dunmall and Mark Sanders; as part of Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward, Han-earl Park and Ian Smith) with Pat Thomas and with Lol Coxhill; plus more, in Birmingham, Edinburgh and London (see the performance diary for up-to-date info).

Hope to see y’all at these events!

performance diary 02-06-11 (Birmingham, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, London)

upcoming performances
date venue time details
February 7, 2011 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm
(doors: 8:45pm)
Stet Lab featuring Stephen Davis (drums) with Han-earl Park (guitar), plus Helena Reilly (voice), Kevin Terry (guitar) and Dan Walsh (drums).
Admission: €10/5.
[Details…]
February 15, 2011 The Lamp Tavern
Barford Street
Birmingham B5, England
9:00pm Fizzle presents a performance by Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Mark Sanders (drums).
Admission: £5.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
February 18, 2011 St Cecilia’s Hall
Niddry Street
Cowgate
Edinburgh EH1, Scotland
8:00pm Grind Sight Open Eye presents performances by Han-earl Park (guitar), and Matthew Collings, plus others (TBA).
Details to follow….
Recommended donation: £2.
[facebook event…]
February 19, 2011 Lewisham Arthouse
140 Lewisham Way
London SE14, England
8:00pm Performance by Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)) with Pat Thomas (synthesizer) plus Zolan Quobble (spoken word).
Admission: £5.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
February 21, 2011 Bar & Co.
Temple Pier
Embankment
London WC2R, England
8:30pm
(doors: 8:45pm)
Boat-ting presents a performance by Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)) with Lol Coxhill (saxophone). Also performing are Sharon Gal (voice), Alex Ward (guitar) and Steve Noble (drums); Red Start (Noel Taylor (clarinet), Benedict Taylor (viola) and Noura Sanatian (violin)); and Sibylline Sisters (Sibyl Madrigal (poetry), Aromorel Weston (voice) and Kay Grant (voice)). Admission: £6/4.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
March 2011 The Netherlands I’m looking for performance opportunities in The Netherlands mid-March 2011. Interested promoters, venues and sponsors, please get in touch!
March 30, 2011 Half Moon Theatre
Half Moon Street
Emmets Place
Cork, Ireland
8:00pm Performances by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet) with Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)). Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from the UCC School of Music and the Cork Opera House. Tickets: €11 (€6) from the Cork Opera House.
[Get tickets…]
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
March 31, 2011 Kevin Barry Room
National Concert Hall
Earlsfort Terrace
Dublin 2, Ireland
8:30pm Performances by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet) with Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)), plus Paul G. Smyth (piano). Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from Note Productions and the National Concert Hall. Tickets: €12 (€10) from the National Concert Hall Box Office.
[Get tickets…]
[Details…]
[facebook event…]

Continue reading “performance diary 02-06-11 (Birmingham, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, London)”

performances: Birmingham, Edinburgh and London*2

Upcoming performances in Birmingham, Edinburgh and London, February 2011 (see the performance diary for up-to-date info):

Hope to see y’all at these events!

performance diary 01-26-11 (Birmingham, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, London)

upcoming performances
date venue time details
February 7, 2011 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm
(doors: 8:45pm)
Stet Lab featuring Stephen Davis (drums) with Han-earl Park (guitar), plus Helena Reilly (voice), Kevin Terry (guitar) and Dan Walsh (drums).
Admission: €10/5.
[Details…]
February 15, 2011 The Lamp Tavern
Barford Street
Birmingham B5, England
9:00pm Fizzle presents a performance by Paul Dunmall (saxophones), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Mark Sanders (drums).
Admission: £5.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
February 18, 2011 St Cecilia’s Hall
Niddry Street
Cowgate
Edinburgh EH1, Scotland
8:00pm Grind Sight Open Eye presents performances by Han-earl Park (guitar), and Matthew Collings, plus others (TBA).
Details to follow….
Recommended donation: £2.
[facebook event…]
February 19, 2011 Lewisham Arthouse
140 Lewisham Way
London SE14, England
8:00pm Performance by Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)) with Pat Thomas (synthesizer) plus Zolan Quobble (spoken word).
Admission: £5.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
February 21, 2011 Bar & Co.
Temple Pier
Embankment
London WC2R, England
8:30pm
(doors: 8:45pm)
Boat-ting presents a performance by Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)) with Lol Coxhill (saxophone). Also performing are Sharon Gal (voice), Alex Ward (guitar) and Steve Noble (drums); Red Start (Noel Taylor (clarinet), Benedict Taylor (viola) and Noura Sanatian (violin)); and Sibylline Sisters (Sibyl Madrigal (poetry), Aromorel Weston (voice) and Kay Grant (voice)). Admission: £6/4.
[Details…]
[facebook event…]
March 2011 The Netherlands I’m looking for performance opportunities in The Netherlands mid-March 2011. Interested promoters, venues and sponsors, please get in touch!
March 30, 2011 Half Moon Theatre
Half Moon Street
Emmet Place
Cork, Ireland
8:00pm Performances by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet) with Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)).
More info to follow… Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from the UCC School of Music and the Cork Opera House. Tickets: €11 (€6) from the Cork Opera House.
March 31, 2011 TBC
Dublin, Ireland
TBC Performances by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet) with Mathilde 253 (Charles Hayward (drums, percussion and melodica), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn)). Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from Note Productions. Details to follow…

Continue reading “performance diary 01-26-11 (Birmingham, Cork, Dublin, Edinburgh, London)”

thanks: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Market Harborough and London

Stills Gallery (Edinbugh) 04-15-10: “Experimental Music, Thursday 15 April - 7pm, £4 donation: Join us for an acoustic improvisation and free jazz from French saxophonist Heddy Boubaker, Irish guitarist Han-earl Park and Percussionist Fritz Welch.”

Special thanks to Ian Smith for the scheming and pre-performance guidance, and to Charles Hayward, Lol Coxhill and Ian who reminded me how much I’ve got to learn—I was performing in the presence of giants. Thanks to Fritz Welch, Lin Zhang of Grind Sight Open Eye, and Jamie Smith of Owlhouse Recordings for organizing the events (and feeding this itinerant musician), and to Stills Gallery, and Hamish Dunbar and Keiko Yamamoto at Cafe OTO for hosting the performances.

Kudos to all the musicians who were involved, in particular Neil Davidson and Sean Williams for two memorable duos; EdImpro for their generosity and sense of fun; Shiori Usui and Lin for the Asian noise; Jamie, Lee Allatson and Oliver Betts for the high-volume rock-out; and Heddy Boubaker for sharing the first leg of the trip.

Last but not least, thanks to all who came to listen/watch—it was a pleasure to share the journey.

reminder: Glasgow, Edinburgh, Market Harborough and London

A quick reminder (and update) of the performances in the UK coming up this week (see the performance diary for up-to-date info):

Be great to see y’all there.

performance diary 03-31-10 (Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Husbands Bosworth, London)

upcoming performances
date venue time details
April 12, 2010 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm (doors: 8:45pm) Stet Lab featuring John Godfrey (guitar) plus The Real-Time Company (for the Ad-Hoc Association) of… Enda Buckley (guitar), Tony O’Connor (bass guitar), Owen Sutton (drums) and Athoulis Tsiopani (keyboard).
Admission: €10 (€5).
[Details…]
April 14, 2010 House Gig
La Crosse Terrace
Glasgow
Scotland
7:30pm Performance by Han-earl Park (guitar) plus Heddy Boubaker (saxophone), Fritz Welch (percussion) and others.
Donations.
[facebook…]
April 15, 2010 Stills Gallery
23 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh EH1 1BP
Scotland
7:00pm Grind Sight Open Eye presents a performance by Han-earl Park (guitar) plus Heddy Boubaker (saxophone), Fritz Welch (percussion) and others.
Donations: £5.
[facebook…]
[Details…]
April 17, 2010 Turville Memorial Hall
Welford Road
Husbands Bosworth
Leicestershire LE17 6JX
England
7:00pm An open recording session by Lee Allatson, Han-earl Park, Jamie Smith and the four guys in Black Carrot.
[facebook…]
[Details…]
April 18, 2010 Cafe OTO
18–22 Ashwin Street
Dalston
London E8 3DL
England
8:00pm Performance by Charles Hayward (drums), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn) plus special guest Lol Coxhill (saxophone).
Admission: £5 adv. / £6 on the door.
[Details…]
[Cafe OTO Page…]
[facebook…]
[Get tickets…]
May 10, 2010 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm (doors: 8:45pm) Stet Lab featuring Juniper Hill (voice) and friends, plus The Real-Time Company (for the Ad-Hoc Association) of… Philip Guiton (guitar), Marian Murray (violin), Claudia Schwab (violin) and Kevin Terry (guitar).
Admission: €10 (€5).
[Details…]
May 26, 2010 Blackrock Castle Observatory
Cork, Ireland
8:00pm (doors: 7:45pm) Debut performance by io 0.0.1 beta++ (itself) with Bruce Coates (saxophones), Franziska Schroeder (saxophones) and Han-earl Park (guitar), plus iWife (itself) with John Godfrey (guitar) and Francis Heery (diffusion).
Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Blackrock Castle Observatory, The Castle Bar and Trattoria and the UCC School of Music.
€16 (€10).
[Details…]
[facebook…]
[Get tickets…]
2010 (TBC) Venue TBC TBC Performance by Han-earl Park (guitar), Mark Sanders (drums) and Franziska Schroeder (saxophones).
Details to follow…
Interested promoters and venues, please get in touch!

Continue reading “performance diary 03-31-10 (Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Husbands Bosworth, London)”

performances (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Market Harborough and London)

Performance in the UK, April 2010 (see the performance diary for up-to-date info):

Hope to see y’all at these events!

updates

04–11–10: special guest Lol Coxhill. [More info…]

performance diary 03-22-10 (Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Market Harborough)

upcoming performances
date venue time details
April 12, 2010 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm (doors: 8:45pm) Stet Lab featuring John Godfrey (guitar) plus The Real-Time Company (for the Ad-Hoc Association) of… Enda Buckley (guitar), Tony O’Connor (bass guitar), Owen Sutton (drums) and Athoulis Tsiopani (keyboard).
Admission: €10 (€5).
[Details…]
April 14, 2010 House Gig
La Crosse Terrace
Glasgow
Scotland
7:30pm Performance by Han-earl Park (guitar) plus Heddy Boubaker (saxophone), Fritz Welch (percussion) and others.
Donations.
[facebook…]
April 15, 2010 Stills Gallery
23 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh EH1 1BP
Scotland
7:00pm Grind Sight Open Eye presents a performance by Han-earl Park (guitar) plus Heddy Boubaker (saxophone), Fritz Welch (percussion) and others.
Donations: £5.
[facebook…]
[Details…]
April 17, 2010 Venue TBC
Market Harborough, England
TBC Performance by Han-earl Park (guitar), Jamie Smith (guitar) and others.
Details to follow….
[facebook…]
April 18, 2010 Cafe OTO
18–22 Ashwin Street
Dalston
London E8 3DL
England
8:00pm Performance by Charles Hayward (drums), Han-earl Park (guitar) and Ian Smith (trumpet and flugelhorn).
Admission: £5 adv. / £6 on the door.
[Details…]
[Cafe OTO Page…]
[facebook…]
[Get tickets…]
May 10, 2010 The Roundy
Castle Street
Cork, Ireland
9:00pm (doors: 8:45pm) Stet Lab featuring Juniper Hill (voice) and friends, plus The Real-Time Company (for the Ad-Hoc Association) of… Philip Guiton (guitar), Marian Murray (violin), Claudia Schwab (violin) and Kevin Terry (guitar).
Admission: €10 (€5).
[Details…]
May 26, 2010 Blackrock Castle Observatory
Cork, Ireland
8:00pm (doors: 7:45pm) Debut performance by io 0.0.1 beta++ (itself) with Bruce Coates (saxophones), Franziska Schroeder (saxophones) and Han-earl Park (guitar), plus iWife (itself) with John Godfrey (guitar) and Francis Heery (diffusion).
Presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award, and support from the Arts Council of Ireland, Blackrock Castle Observatory, The Castle Bar and Trattoria and the UCC School of Music.
€16 (€10).
[Details…]
[facebook…]
2010 (TBC) Venue TBC TBC Performance by Han-earl Park (guitar), Mark Sanders (drums) and Franziska Schroeder (saxophones).
Details to follow…
Interested promoters and venues, please get in touch!

Continue reading “performance diary 03-22-10 (Cork, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Market Harborough)”