ImprovFriday - Threadin' the Needle

Every Thursday afternoon a splendid spontaneous gathering begins at the experimental improvisational Internet site and web community known as ImprovFriday. Started by musician/sound artist J.C. Combs, the site on the Ning network has steadily attracted musicians worldwide interested in pushing the edge of aural creativity.

The weekend 'thread' as it's known launches officially at 4pm PST with an open call for it's community of 150+ members to post newly created music either complete or not on the Thursday thru Saturday 10pm PST forum, the foundation of the 'thread'.

Each participant is free to download any of the posted pieces and 'mash-up' with their own ideas, reposting to expand on the original idea or more probably take it entirely somewhere new.

I'm been participating in ImprovFriday for the last 3 months and have found it amazingly fresh, inspiring and a constant sense of both honor and encouragement from each fellow artist.

In addition to the musical dialog, thread participants post their reactions, thoughts and feelings throughout the open weekend call. ImprovFriday member Paul Muller and host of the monthly ImprovFriday Radio series, often posts brief review comments to as many pieces as possible which are sometimes pushing 50 pieces of amazing original music each weekend. I too have tried to post my thoughts to all participating artists as much as possible as for it's a way of 'giving back' when I can.

In an effort to give visibility to our wonderful gathering located at http://improvfriday.ning.com, I've jotted down the following responses which are just momentary reactions on listening to each piece from the recent thread of June 3-5, 2010.

Member musician	Musical Work	My Reaction
Jukka-Pekka Kervinen	YM2612 (6/4/10-#1)/AB	Close to the circuits, like being inside a pinball machine.
Jukka-Pekka Kervinen	The Not So Lonely Piano Player Anymore (feat. Roger "ErocNet" Sundström)	Right out of R2D2!
Jukka-Pekka Kervinen	MD/GBA 06/05/10-#1	Highly creative 'noize' with great sense of backwardness/forwardness.
Jeff Fairbanks	Dented	Tim Story like melody but still finding the 'noise'.
Joseph Benzola	Patti & Lenny Crash the Stage at the Electro Singalese Bar in the Bronx	Great visionary vibe and I think I hear an udu!
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Gitimp100604	Hands on strings, inside the coils.
Roger "ErocNet" Sundstrôm	Gitimp100604-2	Tension on the wire, bouncing colors from above.
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Gitimp100604-3	Great sense of minimalism, in instrument and feel
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	The Lonely Piano Player	Guests in one room, piano soul in the other, blissfully oblivion unites.
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Slownoisen feat. Jukka-Pekka Kerviven, Bruce Hamilton & Paul Muller	I think there is a sleeping polar bear rising from the mix!
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Line Dancer feat. Steve Layton & Ken Palmer	Lovely color and mystery, bit of Pat Metheny at times.
Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Law Twist feat. Jukka-Pekka Kerviven & Jim Goodin	I'm proud to be part of this mash, Roger thanks (think the R man is feeling my struggles with the lawyers of late). Great noise from Jukka.
Greg Hooper	That Which Hair Is Flesh To feat. Benjamin Smith, Jérôme Poirier, Peter Thörn, Norbert Oldani, Roger "ErocNet" Sundström, voice 0f Virginia Baxter	Atmospheric environmental. Voice midway reminiscent of Hal in 2001 or the voice in Portal.
Steve Layton	Thrumdrum	Lower east side from the heart of Texas!
Steve Layton	Epic feat. Peter Thörn, Norbert Oldani, Bruce Hamilton, Steve Moshier, Steve Layton, Jérôme Poirier	Clocks, the turning of time, voices in the halls...
Steve Layton	Bedroom Window	echoes of Mark Isham.
Steve Layton	The Ties That Break or Bind feat. Bruce Hamilton, Lee Noyes, Roger Sundström, Jim Goodin	Thanks for including me in this mash and bringing some balance to my angst at the time with Misters' Hamilton, Noyes & Sundström.
Steve Layton	Outward feat. Jeff Fairbanks, Jeff Duke, Gaetano Fontanazza, Shane Cadman, Jukka-Pekka Kervinen Jeff Fairbanks, Jeff Duke, Gaetano Fontanazza, Shane Cadman, Jukka-Pekka Kervinen	Lovely mash, reflective canyons and journey's.
Steve Layton	Corroboree feat. Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Peter Thörn, Lee Noyes, Steve Layton, Roger Sundström	Glitch, oscillations and pensive tones from the North.
Steve Layton	Die Wunderkammer feat. Ken Palmer, Benjamin Smith, Steve Moshier, Norbert Oldani	Lovely pensive tones, indeed a 'cabinet of curiosity'.
Steve Layton	Manic feat. Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Lee Noyes, Roger Sundström, Jérôme Poirier, Jim Goodin	Flattered to once again be in one of Mr. L's mashes and in a word as the name implies...
Norbert Oldani	Rhythm Improvisation	Synth patches against latin percussion, for some reason reminds me of Stan Kenton who in a sense was 'experimental' for his time.
J.C. Combs	Random Title Generatorfeat. J.C. Combs, Norbert Oldani, James Ross, Shane Cadman, Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	Inside a clock beginning seguing to ambient/mixed media, technique J.C. does so well.
J.C. Combs	Soundreel feat. Werner Herzog, Buddy Holly, Easy Rider, Star Wars, Afrika Bambaataa, Taxi Driver, Planet of the Apes	Wow echoing on the mixed media, all wonderful 'Hollywood' moments brought together in reflective mix.
Paul Muller	IF 6-4-10	A contrast to Paul's more rhythmic recent pieces, floating angelic patches.
Paul Muller	Thrumdrum Plus feat. Steve Layton	Paul mashes his floating ostinato synth wash with Steve's streetesque beats proving how things grow on IF.
Peter Thörn	A Close Shave	In physical, much manipulation about the piano soundboard, in the metaphysical, spirits at the door.
Peter Thörn	6 Layers in Audacity	Pulse, stare, across the room...
Bruce Hamilton	Fliss	Floating, pulsing, melancholy, light.
Bruce Hamilton	Looj feat. Miles Hamilton-Sommer	Spooky, native lands
Bruce Hamilton	Basstop	Pensive, a story within.
Bruce Hamilton	Compulsion	TVesque open, could be Hill Street...
Bruce Hamilton	Lonely Duo feat. Roger "ErocNet" Sundström	More ghostly tones in this mash, lots of spirits in this thread.
Bruce Hamilton	Paint the Sun Danger feat. Jim Goodin, Steve Moshier	Once again nice to be mashed and to be balanced with such a cool vibe from Steve.
Jim Goodin	Blur Between The Lines feat. Jukka-Pekka Kervinen, Peter Thörn and Bruce Hamilton	Not meaning to review my own work but in this is the mash I of three others, thought it neat textures.
Ken Palmer	Sqall Line	knowing Ken hails from Missouri and it's tornado season in the mid-west/south I can feel the approaching winds in this piece.
Lee Noyes	Filter Rolls	Great oscillations and Lee's fav past time of space between the tones.
Lee Noyes	Passionate, Irregular	There is indeed passion both 'for' and 'in the noise' here.
Steve Moshier	Tale of Two Cities	Around each corner, who goes there? 'Ghostbuster' tones here, sense of motion.
Steve Moshier	Hatari	Neat 'street beat' to stellar melody, tip of the hat to Mancini?
Benjamin Smith	Ben.Improv.May.30.2010	Randomness and exploring but with 'Monk like' sensibilities.
Benjamin Smith	Ben.Improv.Jun.4.2010	Nice patch texture muted steel drum core meets Michael Oldfield
Steve Layton & Benjamin Smith	After Hours	Touching interplay, analog to digital, digital to analog.
Shane Cadman	Piece0604010	Lovely acoustic work, thinking lines akin to Steve Khan.
Shane Cadman	if060410_Muller_Cadman feat. Paul Muller	Thinking of Shadowfax...
Usit Gaetano Fontanzza & Jeff Duke	Regolith	These guys have been working together a lot through NinJam and the result is wonderfully connected muse from thousands miles away.
Jérôme Poirier	Portrait : Sans Titre 52 d'Eric Lepoureux	Lyrical low end bowing, forceful direction surrounded by interesting percussive/plucked textures.

Visit us on ImprovFriday at http://improvfriday.ning.com each weekend to follow the newest thread and work.

Live Video Cast this Friday April 2, 7pm PST

I'll be featured live in a one hour video solo performance this Friday, April 2nd, at 7pm PST (10pm EST) on Improv Friday an experimental improvisational music community on the Ning social network. In the hour long set I'll be performing a suite of improvised music on fretless guitar, oud, violin, wood flutes, percussion and vocalise. Improv Friday is a creation of musical artist J.C. Combs who founded the constantly expanding musical community about 2 years ago. Improv Friday brings together a growing body of musicians from all over world who each week are taking part in creating a weekend long musical thread of spontaneous improvised musical works offered up by each artist who chooses to participate for the good and furtherance of the muse of the community. Combs started the live Friday night concert series a few weeks ago which has featured thusfar musicians Steve Moyes, Jeff Duke and Richard Lainhart. Please join me if you are online for my show on Improv Friday.

'Dig It Signal' and Nosferatu

Since early October a new ensemble project I've been pleased to be part of has been evolving from it's initial core duo that began from a friendship with saxophonist/fretless guitarist/nykleharpist Peter Thorn of Sweden, became a trio with another friend and fellow musician of several years, electronic drummer Ray Istorico of Florida and recently arrived to what appears to be it's full evolution now as quartet with another friend and fellow artist, member of the eclectic experimental music community Loopers-Delight, guitarist/electonicist Jeff Duke also of Florida, and is now officially dubbed, 'Dig It Signal'.

This virtual 'band' now with 4 web based live performances to it's name connects from individual locales thousands of miles apart and interacts like we were in the same room through a miraculous piece of audio streaming software NinJam. Our combined audio output then fed to the broadcast streaming channels, uStream.tv and more recently livestream.com, combined with video imagery ranging from the photo/video manipulations of Emile Tobenfeld to the recent cast where 'Dig It Signal' performed to the footage of the 1922 silent Brian Stoker adaptation of Dracula, Nosferatu. This cast our strongest yet can be experienced at http://vimeo.com/8186752.

Recent online collaborations...

The discovery of the online software NinJam about 3 years ago introduced to me by friend and Chinapainting collaborator Daryl [Shawn] has led to some of the most fertile and adventurous musical growth in all my time.

Two recent happenings grown from a new online 'band'/collective still being dubbed but running vote is 'Dig It Signal' I've posted for listening (watching as they include the fine imagery of Emile Tobenfeld as well as band member Peter Thorn).

The most recent from last night began as a test offline session between 'Dig It Signal' member Jeff Duke and myself, turned into some great spontaneous 'noise' energy that we hit the Start Broadcast button and went live at @10:30pm EST for over an hour. It was a marvelous set - Jim Goodin & Jeff Duke - Music for a Saturday.

Last Sunday as part of my semi-biweekley live uStream series Sunday Morning at 11, we broadcast the first official show of the new collaboration 'Dig It Signal' encompassing 4 musicians from 3 different national locales (FL/NY) and 1 abroad (Sweden). Band members/textures are Peter Thorn (Sweden) saxophones/nyckelharpa/effects, Ray Istorico (Florida) electronic drums, Jeff Duke (Florida) guitar/oud/electronics and myself (NY) violin/oud/electronics. It was wonderful engaging inspired new beginning show that came frankly from 3 reincarnations, an initial collaboration between Peter and myself (soon to be documented in a CD release Sharps), friend Ray was added as part of the first official Virtual Sound & Vision festival that we took part on October 3rd and friend Jeff joined us for this first official show of 'Dig It Signal - Goodin/Thorn/Istorico/Duke.

My ongoing collaboration with friend/bandmate/mentor in a sense, Daryl Shawn, that began this whole wonderful NinJam experience that has even known 6 national tours traditionally live, Chinapainting, performed our 2nd live webcast on November 15th - Chinapainting Live on Sunday Morning at 11.

Stay tuned for more...

A solo oud improv for an evening and a day

The day was a tad long and the last bit meaning work kind of intense. I came home and sat down with my son and watched 30 Rock, something I rarely do when I get home but it was kind of nice. With last night's salon gathering and somewhat of a performance fresh on my mind as well as on the verge of getting a new electric oud I picked up my present one, a lovely acoustic model and began improvising.

During September as part of celebrating my birth month I recorded each evening a live to webcam solo oud improv, posting for the most part after one take on YouTube. This evening I decided to do one just for today as the energy and muse was with me. You can see it here or in the right panel. Thanks for listening and good night.

A Salon Evening

I've just returned from a unique shared artists' gathering here in Brooklyn at a friend's loft painting studio. It was billed as a 'salon' event whereby different artists from different medium's come together to share and sound out work. I was surrounded by several writers sounding some really introspective 'works in progress' as well poetry. I performed two looping sequences and added some ambiance guitaristics to the words. Abstract painter/sculpturer Fred Bendheim was the curator and host for the evening. Some video coming soon...

Other recent happenings, Sunday Morning at 11 featured Chinapainting bandmate Daryl Shawn and myself in a live webcast. Chinapainting is an acoustic instrumental/cassette tape looping duo doing improvisational World inspired music.

I have a special recording with saxophonist/multi-instrumentalist Peter Thorn in the making and coming soon, Sharps...

Virtual Sound & Vision festival - the story

Hello again. I wanted to tell you more about this weekend's Virtual Sound & Vision festival that I'm pleased to be part of and very excited about, as when you think about it, 14 musicians performing live back-to-back sets from thousands of miles apart, sounding like we are in the same room and stage, it's just amazing.

Live via the Internet Saturday afternoon (Oct. 3rd) at 17:00 UTC, this ground breaking event is the brainchild of the aforementioned in last night's email, Rainer Straschill (Germany). Having produced several live Internet based audio performances over the last few years and seeing the interest in live video performance, Straschill approached several of us in the web based music community Loopers-Delight who had begun doing live video webcasts over the last few months, with the idea of banding together and creating a 'virtual' live music festival.

As interest grew this past summer 'the event', it's time frame, participants and philosophy of performance content came together to be live improvised multi-location musical performances and video art, the first of it's kind and dubbed Virtual Sound & Vision festival.

One of the principle feelings about the video content of Virtual Sound & Vision was that it's acts become more than 'musicians performing in front of a webcam' which frankly many of us myself included were initially doing as we experimented with this new platform over the last few months. During the festival's planning several of us began exploring new technologies to add video content to the shows and during which time video artist/filmmaker Emile Tobenfeld stepped forward to produce an official festival video piece, making it available for those desiring to include his film as some or all of the 'picture' portion of their broadcast.

For my part in Saturday's amazing event I've put together a trio performance and the opening set of Virtual Sound & Vision. Starting at 1700 UTC/1pm EST (note - I erred in my previous email re the EST conversion time), joining me will be electronic drummer Ray Istorico (USA) and saxophonist/fretless guitarist/'folk' instruments Peter Thorn (Sweden).

For the Goodin/Istorico/Thorn performance visual content we are expanding on festival directive to make our video portion more like a 25 minute film complete with video work I am producing specific for this show, a portion of Tobenfeld's wonderful video and a series of additionally wonderful still images from bandmate Thorn's native Sweden. And to this visual score we'll be performing live improvised created on the spot music all together from 6000 miles apart, with Istorico in Florida, myself here in NY and Thorn in Sweden, all made possible by high speed Internet connectivity and wonderful software.

We'll be followed by VSV creator Straschill live from Germany at 17:30 UTC, from the UK, David Cooper Orton at 18:00, Steve Moyes & Agnes Hay at 18:30 also from England, Jeff Duke another Floridian (USA) at 19:00, from Spain the Flying Dream at 19:30, Jean-Paul De Roover from Canada at 20:00, across the Atlantic once more to Italy with Fabio Anile and Xavier Plagaro Mussard at 20:30, and over to England again for the two festival concluding sets of Matt Stevens at 21:00, the first among us who realized the potential of live webcasting, and doing the closing set Stephen Goodman at 21:30.

What a day, what a world, all connected live through the wire and to your computer screens, just as magical as the now common television was 40 years ago. Don't miss this amazing event fusing technology and performance art. To 'attend' Virtual Sound & Vision direct your Internet browser on Saturday to vsv.kybermusik.net.

Please note as the bulk of you in my email audience are in the States, for time conversion 17:00 UTC Goodin/Istorico/Thorn set is at 1pm EST and all the above mentioned sets continue every half hour thereafter running to conclusion at 22:00 UTC, 6pm EST. A time zone calculator is available by the way at http://www.timeanddate.com/Worldclock.

Have a great weekend and we hope to have you logon to vsv.kybermusik.net on Saturday and attend Virtual Sound & Vision.

Jim

Additionally this weekend is my family's participation in the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 'Walk for the Cure' on Sunday, Oct. 4th. We'll be doing a 10K walk raising awareness of diabetes and support for diabetes research. In this fall's campaign our family has raised just under $4,000 for JDRF. If you might like to donate in support of this event go to Callie's Crusade for the Cure. Thank you.