April 15 – IMOO #175: Collateral

Sam Shalabi – oud, guitar Norman Adams – cello Tim Crofts – keyboard Collateral was formed in 2014 at a suddenlyLISTEN concert in Halifax. The concert and recording were so strong and the shared bond between the musicians was so great, that the concert’s music was made into a CD for release. Sam Shalabi is … Read more

March 25 – IMOO #174: Accordion Conspiracy/Elka Bong + Dei Xhrist

Accordion Conspiracy (7pm) Bernard Stepien – accordion David Broscoe – woodwinds Scott Warren – percussion/sounds Elka Bong + Dei Xhrist (8pm) Al Margolis – clarinet, violin, objects, contact mics Walter Wright – AVSynth Dei Xhrist – voice and electronics Accordion Conspiracy Bernard Stepien: Accordion happened to be Bernard Stepien’s first musical instrument, initially in a … Read more

(Thursday) March 8 at 8pm – IMOO #173: Yes Deer

***Note – special day and time: this is a Thursday concert with and 8pm start*** karl bjorå – guitar anders vestergaard – drums signe dahlgreen – saxophone Yes Deer is thunderous and hyper expressive free jazz. It’s the sound of cells in ecstasy, and collective physical momentum, that aims for the libido before the intellect … Read more

(Saturday) March 3 – IMOO #172: A Celebration of the Music of Ken Aldcroft

***Note – special time and location: 9pm at Black Squirrel Books (1073 Bank)***

Two Hours Early, Ten Minutes Late
Jason Robinson – saxophone
Eric Hofbauer – guitar

Mars People
Emily Denison – trumpet
Daniel Kruger – guitar
Joe Sorbara – drums

March 2018 will see a vanload of adventurous musicians from both sides of the 49th parallel travel from Montréal through Southern Ontario in celebration of the late guitarist Ken Aldcroft, a long time leading figure in Canada’s creative music community.

A celebrated international figure in American jazz and experimental music (“rugged and scintillating,” New York Times), Jason Robinson has teamed with acclaimed guitarist Eric Hofbauer (“a significant force in Boston’s improvised-music scene,” Stereophile) to perform and record a collection of sophisticated and virtuosic original music for guitar and tenor saxophone that Aldcroft and Robinson worked closely to develop through numerous performances over seven years throughout Canada and the U.S. “Two Hours Early, Ten Minutes Late,” a title drawn from an Aldcroft composition, is a celebration of Aldcroft’s music for saxophone and guitar and a culmination of the project the two began together.

Riding shotgun is Canadian trio, Mars People—which also draws its name from an Aldcroft composition. Trumpeter Emily Denison, acoustic guitarist Daniel Kruger, and drummer Joe Sorbara—all long-time Aldcroft friends and collaborators—will perform “Music By & For Ken Aldcroft” as an extension of an ongoing series in celebration of Ken’s life and music that takes place monthly at The TRANZAC, the de facto home for Toronto’s creative music scene for many years.

Of course, once five creative souls begin talking about spending time together, those souls can hardly resist imagining the possibilities inherent in making music as a quintet. We all look forward to hearing where that journey will take us as well.

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February 25 – IMOO #171: Eschaton

Connor Bennett – saxophones, electronics Aaron Hutchinson – trumpet, electronics, percussion Eschaton is an improvised noise duet comprising Aaron Hutchinson and Connor Bennett. Based in Hamilton, Ontario, their music is driven by spontaneity and a passion for improvisation. Thick textural noise contrasted with vulnerable horn expressions, Eschaton creates narrative soundscapes that breathe, bend, and distort. They have released cassettes … Read more

February 11 – IMOO #170: Isaac Valentin/Expresso SVP (8pm)

***NOTE – THIS IS A LATE START: 8PM-9:30*** 8pm – Expresso SVP Philippe Charbonneau – Bass / Basse Patrick Sénécal – Drums / Drums Olivier Fairfield – Nobody knows / Aucune idée No description, just music / Pas de description, juste de la musique. 9pm – Isaac Valentin – Isaac Valentin – prepared guitar This … Read more

January 14 – IMOO #169: Rakestar Arkestra

If you like your Ra raw then this is for you. Rakestar Arkestra plays an evening of spontaneous invention, dipping inevitably into the vast catalogue of Sun Ra’s cosmolodic creations, but departing just as quickly for points unknown. Our man Broscoe will be stateside next week so he’s the poster boy in absentia. Rakestar Arkestra … Read more

December 17 – IMOO #168: A Very Ayler Christmas!

Once again – it’s everyone’s favourite time of year! The songs of Albert Ayler and the songs of yuletide have been kept separate all year, but no longer: it’s time for a fiery reintroduction!  The indomitable Bernard Stepien leads his orchestra through the woods to grandmother’s house. The Bernard Stepien Orchestra is: Bernard Stepien – … Read more

November 19 – IMOO #166: David Parker / Linsey Wellman

David Parker – upright bass, electronics Linsey Wellman (opening set) – baritone saxophone David Parker is a musician, composer, digital media artist, sound designer, and performer. David performs as singer/songwriter Slow Man Tofu, and as an improvising multi-instrumentalist, using the upright bass, electronics, guitar, and voice. For four years he played upright bass and electronics … Read more

November 28 – IMOO #167: Studio Dan – Homo Faber

***NOTE: this is a Tuesday Performance, and will take place from 8-10pm*** Sophia Goidinger-Koch – violin Maiken Beer – cello Manuel Mayr – bass Daniel Riegler – trombone On its first appearance in Canada and the U.S., the Austrian ensemble STUDIO DAN will bring contemporary music to North America. Straddling the worlds of classical music … Read more