Reflections

Reflections features the voices and perspectives of IICSI students, researchers, partners, and staff. These posts profile people’s engagement with and reflections upon a range of IICSI events, programs, and partnerships.

Free Public Concerts at the Corner of the Beach Cultural Museum in Gaspésie

Le français suit The International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation presents a series of public concerts and events as part of Musical Improvisation at Land’s End (MILE) summer camp…

Of Buckets and Baskets: Reflections on Improvisatory Partnerships in a Bucket Drumming Workshop with Students from the UGDSB

by Carey West Within the field of improvisation, there is ongoing discussion regarding the value of dissonance and harmony. Collaborations often require trust, which therefore imbues the process of generating…

“The opening of the ears and minds” of our community music-makers

A review of the 2019-2020 IICSI Improviser-in-Residence project: “the opening of the ears and minds” of our community music-makers.

Carnegie meets 8EAST in Vancouver

Joe Sorbara reflects on Carnegie meets 8EAST – a pair of improvised concerts with musicians connected to both organisations bridged by a street party in Vancouver.

Marc Hannaford on the importance of the position from which one listens

A Reflection from Emerging Scholar Marc Hannaford, on the 2018 Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium: Hovering at the Edge: Words, Music, Sound, and Song.

Isaiah Farahbakhsh – Reflections on the 2018 Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium

When reflecting on Guelph’s most recent jazz festival, the image my thoughts keep converging on is a concrete poem presented in the talk given by Meta DuEwa Jones. This poem from Giovanni Singleton’s collection Ascension contained text related to Alice Coltrane and her work.

Charity Cruz – Reflections on the 2018 Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium

A Reflection from Emerging Scholar Charity Cruz, on the 2018 Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium: Hovering at the Edge: Words, Music, Sound, and Song.

“Call Us Immigrants”: The Convergence of Sound and Language in Improvisational Jazz

A Reflection from Emerging Scholar Ainjel Stephens, on the 2018 Colloquium: Hovering at the Edge: Words, Music, Sound, and Song.

Ali Berkok – Immersion and Connection at the 2018 Guelph Jazz Festival Colloquium

A Reflection from Emerging Scholar Ali Berkok, on the 2018 Colloquium: Hovering at the Edge: Words, Music, Sound, and Song.

“Free Is Where I Live”: Remembering John Heward (1934-2018)

John Heward, one of Canada’s most profoundly creative improvisers, passed on Nov. 6 2018. Known as a drummer and visual artist, his work in both media changed the Canadian artistic landscape.