"Liz Allbee (1976) is a composer-performer who works with the imaginarchic potential of sonic material. Recurring themes in her work include extensions & embodiments and their interplay with instruments, everyday objects, and high and low technologies. She is fascinated by the gutteral, protolinguistic qualities of musical voices and bodies. She performs often with her trumpet, quad-trumpet, voice, and electronics.

She has performed at Maerzmusik, Darmstadt, Donaueschingen, Huddersfield, Ostrava Days, Serralves, Bolzano Museum of Fine Art, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Berlin JazzFest, NorbergFestival, CTM, and Berghain, among others."

"Sergio Armaroli is a composer, percussionist, vibraphonist, teacher and total artist. His actions resonate through various artistic and musical fields, that of jazz being, perhaps, his most practised. He declares himself to be a painter, concrete percussionist, fragmentary poet and sound artist as well as founding his work "within the language of jazz and improvisation" as an "extension of the concept of art"."

"Born in Sydney in 1962, Tony is regarded as one of Australia's most creative and adventurous exports, with vast experience across the globe. He has been involved in a highly diverse array of projects. Apart from The Necks, he is probably best known as leader of hardcore/impro band PERIL.

Early in his musical life, after having graduated from the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, he became very involved in the jazz scene in Australia, often touring with visiting international artists such as Vincent Herring, Clifford Jordan, Mickey Tucker, Branford Marsalis and Ernie Watts, as well as Australians Mark Simmonds, Paul Grabowsky, The catholics, Sandy Evans and Dale Barlow.

Following time spent in Japan, where he formed PERIL with Otomo Yoshihide and Kato Hideki, Tony moved to Europe, and has involved himself in many projects there, including the development of new "virtual" MIDI controllers at STEIM in Amsterdam.

Tony has played, toured or recorded with, among others, Jon Rose, Nicolas Collins, Tenko, John Zorn, Tom Cora, Phil Minton, Haino, Switchbox, The Machine for Making Sense, Ne Zhdall, The EX, Peter Brotzmann, Hans Reichel, The Little Red Spiders, Subrito Roy Chowdury, Clifford Jordan, Kletka Red, Han Bennink, Shelley Hirsch, Wayne Horvitz, Palinckx, and Ground Zero."

"In an artistic career that spans over twentyfive years, Andrea Centazzo has given more than 1000 concerts and live performances in Europe and the United States, as well as having appeared and performed on numerous radio and television broadcasts. He has recorded over 60 LP's and CD's, and has authored 350 compositions and eight musicology books. His musical endeavors and creative expression range from the sublime to the passionate, from lyric opera to orchestral symphony and solo percussion. He has performed in momentous festivals as soloist of his own compositions or as conductor of symphonic orchestras. Centazzo is a pioneer of contemporary percussion. In the early years, he performed with some of the greatest avant-garde soloists and composers, including J. Zorn, S. Bussotti, S. Lacy, D. Cherry, A. Mangellsdorf, E. Parker, etc. Deservedly, Centazzo has received a number of prestigious music and video Awards (Premio Speciale della Critica Discografica Italiana, USA Downbeat Poll, International Video Festival Tokyo, Prix Arcanal of French Culture, etc.) A doctoral graduate in musicology, he has taught seminars and workshops in Europe and the USA. Since 1983, Centazzo has been dedicated to creating multi-media experiences. This expansion began with an exhibition of his scores rendered as painted ideograms, and evolved into video performances combining both live performance with video images. These efforts culminated in his directing award-winning videos and films. As a soundtrack composer, he unites traditional instrumentation with current technological advances in musical expression through sampling machines and computers. These efforts give a new perspective to the fusion of sound and image through his theatre, television, video, CD rom, and feature film scores. The music of A.C. captures and expresses the rhythm and pulse of life by synthesizing the mystery of Oriental percussive vibrations with the timbral harmonic understanding of contemporary music and the soul of jazz and rock post-culture. A.C. continues to contribute his unique artistic vision to the evolution of contemporary culture."

"After taking up the bass, around 1987, John Edwards co-formed The Pointy Birds who went on to win awards for their music for The Cholmondeleys and Featherstonehaughs dance troupes. The group appeared at festivals in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Moers, Leverkusen, Copenhagen. Around 1990, Edwards played his first gigs with London improvisers such as Roger Turner, Lol Coxhill, Maggie Nicols, Phil Minton.

Between 1990 and 1995 Edwards was a member of three touring groups simultaneously: B-Shops For The Poor, The Honkies and GOD. During this period he also became an increasingly regular player on the London improvised music scene and performed his first solo gigs; he composed and performed music theatre with the bass and cello duo The Great Explorers, street-busked a lot and appeared at many more festivals in Germany, Estonia, France, Italy, Czech, etc.

Since 1995 John Edwards has become a "mainstay" of the London scene, playing with just about everybody, an activity that has seen him clocking up between 150 and 200 gigs a year. He has become regular player with Evan Parker, in many groupings, and with Tony Bevan, Veryan Weston, and Elton Dean, often in collaboration with Mark Sanders on percussion. He has become a more frequent player on the European (and festival) scene, appearing at Taktlos, Ulrichsburg, Nickelsdorf, Budapest, New Zealand and in the USA. He continues to work on solo performances."

"Frank Gratkowski, saxophone. Born in Hamburg, 1963.

Started playing the saxophone at 16 and, following a period at the Hamburg Conservatory (Hamburger Musikhochschule), moved in 1985 to study at the Cologne Conservatory of Music with Heiner Wiberny, graduating in 1990.

Further studies with Charlie Mariano, Sal Nistico and Steve Lacy.

Frank Gratkowski has been working as a soloist in various international formations (Grubenklang Orchester, Klaus Koenig Orchester, Musikfabrik NRW, Tony Oxley Celebration Orchestra, Bentje Braam, BikBentBraam, All Ears, Zeitkratzer, WDR Big band, etc.). Since 1990 he has been giving solo performances throughout Europe, Canada and USA. With his first solo program, he was a 1991 prizewinner in the Musik Kreativ contest. The release of the solo CD "Artikulationen" followed the same year and a new one "Artikulationen II" in 2002.

Since 1992 he has been working in a duo with the pianist Georg Graewe (CD "VicissEtudes"). The duo is often extended through the participation of different additional musicians, such as drummer Paul Lovens (CD "Quicksand") and bassist John Lindberg (CD "Arrears").

In 1995 he founded the "Frank Gratkowski Trio" with Dieter Manderscheid (Germany), bass, and Gerry Hemingway (USA), drums, (CDs "Gestalten" and "The Flume Factor" ). In 2000 the trio has been extended to a quartet by Dutch trombonist Wolter Wierbos (CDs "Kollaps", "Spectral Reflections", "Facio" and "Le Vent et la Gorge"). Since 2003 also appearing as a Double Quartet plus Tobias Delius, Herb Robertson, Wilbert DeJoode and Michael Vatcher. In 2005 he got the SWR Jazzprize.

In 1999 the duo with the Italian trombonist Sebastiano Tramontana has been formed and since 2001 Frank Gratkowski has been performing with a trio including Wilbert De Jode (NL) on bass and Achim Kaufmann (D) on piano (CDs "Kwast" and "Unearth"). Since 2006 he's working with the Trio Gratkowski / Brown / Winant (CDs "Wake" and "Vermilion Traces/Donaueschingen 2009"). He is also a co-leader / composer of the Multiple Joy[ce] Orchestra and got a commission to compose for the ensemble Apartment House by "November Music " (Den Bosch NL) and the "Huddersfield Comtemporary Music Fesitival" (England) in 2009. Further actual projects are Fo[u]r Alto, a saxophone ensemble dedicated to microtonal music and "Artikulationen E" a solo program for saxophone with 8 channel live electronic.

Frank Gratkowski played on nearly every German and on numerous international Jazz and contemporary music Festivals including Vancouver, Toronto, Chicago, New York, Seattle, Quebec, Les Mans, Muelhuus, Groeningen, Nickelsdorf, Barcelona, Lithuania, Warsaw, Zagreb, Prague, Bratislava, Sofia, Bucharest, Odessa and Roma, Huddersfield, London.

He has been teaching saxophone and ensembles at the Cologne, Berlin and Arnhem Conservatory of Music and is giving workshops all around the world.

Furthermore he has performed with Robert Dick, Phil Wachsmann, Radu Malfatti, Herb Robertson, Marcio Mattos, Eugenio Colombo, Peter Kowald, Ray Anderson, Michael Moore, Ken Vandermark, Greg Osby, Kenny Wheeler, Louis Sclavis, John Betsch, Jane Ira Bloom, Connie and Hannes Bauer, Xu Fengxia, James Newton, Muhal Richard Abrams, John Lindberg, Michael Formaneck, Ernst Reijseger, Fred van Hove, Theo Jörgensmann, Phil Minton, Peter Brötzmann, Mark Dresser, Mark Feldman, Hamid Drake, Michiel Braam, Han Bennink, Mal Waldron, Misha Mengelberg a.m.o."

"Elisabeth Harnik, free-lance composer and pianist, was born 1970 in Graz and lives in Gams (County of Styria/Austria). She studied classical piano and later - with Beat Furrer - composition at what is now the Univer sity of Music and Performing Arts, Graz.

The "repertoire" and it's extensions in composition and improvisation is her central focus. Harnik works within an electro-acoustic inspired sound-world, using unique preparations and extended techniques.

Performances include: Easterfestival Graz 2002, Hörfest Graz 2003/04/05, Styrian Chamber Music Festival 2003, Klangmühle Orth an der Donau 2005, Munich Ope ra Festival 2006, Mozart- Year Vienna 2006, Paul Hofhaimer Musiktage 2006, Composers' Forum Mittersill 2008, Haydn Year 2009, Festival 4020 Linz 2009, Sou ndings Festival London 2010, Opera Graz, Musikprotokoll/Steirischer Herbst 2011, E_MAY Festival Vienna 2011/2012, Klangspuren Schwaz 2012, Transart Festiv al Bozen 2012, Wien Modern 2013, Estonian Harpsichord Society Festival 2014, A udio ArtFestival Pula 2014 a.o.

She has worked with renowned artists and ensembles such as the Ensemble Zeitfluss Graz, the Ensemble 09 Linz, the Ensemble MusikFabri kSüd, the Radio Symphony Orchestra Vienna, the Klangforum Vienna, the Ensemb le "die reihe" Vienna, the Ensemble Kontrapunkte Vienna, the ensemble Reconsil Vienna, the Ensemble PHACE Vienna, the Ensemble Platypus Vienna, the Hay dn-Trio-Eisenstadt, the Trio AMOS Vienna, the Trio EIS Vienna, the Thürmchen Ens emble Cologne, the Fidelio Trio London, the Cantus Ensemble Zagreb, the Ensemble mise-en New York and various national and international soloists.

She received a great number of rewards and prizes, most recently she was Artist in Residence at the OMI International Arts Center New York 2010 and Composer in Residence 2013 at the IZZM in Ossiach/Austria. In addition to her work as composer she appears as improvisator at various national and international festivals such as the V:NM-Festival, the Ulrichsberger Kaleidophon, the Nickelsdorfer Konfrontationen, the Artacts Festival St. Johann, the Music Unlimited Festival Wels, the Soundgrube Vienna, the Comprovise Festival Cologne, the Beethoven Fest Bonn, the A L'ARME! Festival Ber lin, the Jazz & More Festival Sibiu, the Alpenglow Festival London, the All Ears Festival Oslo, the Umbrella Music Festival Chicago, the Okka Fest Milwaukee, the Musi cacoustica Beijing, the SoundOut Festival Canberra/AUS a.o."

"Elena Margarita Kakaliagou is a greek-austrian french horn player and performer, currently based in Berlin. Starting out with piano lessons, she moved on to the French horn at the age of 18. After completing her studies in Athens/GR with Vangelis Skouras, she moved on to KUG-Graz/AT to continue her education under the teaching of Hector McDonald. Instructed by Erja Joukamo-Ampuja, Elena obtained her Master's degree from Sibelius Academy/FI in 2010 /French horn and chamber music. During her career, Elena has received scholarships from Klangforum, Impuls and Ensemble Modern with teachers like Mike Svoboda and Bill Formann.

Elena's field of specialization is free improvised and contemporary music, next to classic chamber music. She has performed premiers and classical repertoire both as a soloist and as a member of Ensembles (Ensemble Linea, Unitedberlin, KNM Berlin) in Festivals like Ultraschall Berlin/DE, Maerz Music/DE, Randspiele/DE, Musica Nova/FI, Lá-bas/FI, Musica/FR, Warsaw Autumn/PL, New Adits/AT ao. She has also worked with individual artists: Riikka Innanen, Samuel Stoll, James Andean, Ingrid Schmoliner, Katharina Klement, Catherine Christel Hennix, Robin Hayward, Simon Steen-Andersen, Thomas Noll, to name but a few.

Elena is the co-founder of the Helsinki-based 'Rank Ensemble', the Austrian trio 'PARA', ("PARA-ligo" cd, creativesources 2012) the performance groups 'Lúiss' and 'Continuous Variation'."

"Giancarlo Schiaffini: composer, trombonist, tubist, born in Rome in 1942.

He studies in Rome at regular public school, choosing classical address in the high school, and graduates in 1960.

1957: starts studying trumpet, switching two years later to trombone, composition and arrangement as self-taught.

1960: starts studying Physics at the University of Rome, where he graduates in 1965 discussing a work in Biophysics about "Physical and Chemical Analysis on Hybrids between DNA and RNA of Bacillus Megatherium".

In the meanwhile, he plays jazz and appears as soloist in the first free-jazz concerts in Italy, in Gruppo Romano Free Jazz with Mario Schiano, Marcello Melis and Franco Pecori. Subsequently presents his own compositions and arrangements widely in the mid 1960's.

In the same time he introduces himself into the "contemporary music" scene in Italy, in that time very lively and intriguing, soon becoming an outstanding performer, improviser and composer.

1966: plays as stage musician (tuba) in the Musical "Ciao, Rudy!", by Garinei-Giovannini-Trovaioli, starring Marcello Mastroianni. Later in the same year he starts working in a Transistor Factory held by Siemens, to develop first samples of Integrated Circuits.

1967: changes job to CNEN (National Committee for Nuclear Energy) in the Nuclear Studies Center in Casaccia (near Rome), as a Biophysicist, publishing on "The International Journal of Immunology", later working on the effect of radiations on Nucleic Acids in bacteria until 1975.

1968: plays in a Big Band with Lionel Hampton in Rome.

1970: He studies at Darmstadter Ferienkurse with Karlheinz Stockhausen, Gyorgy Ligeti and Vinko Globokar. In the same year he founds, with the composer/contrabass player Bruno Tommaso and the composer/clarinetist Jesùs Villa-Rojo, the chamber ensemble Nuove Forme Sonore, to explore the structural combinations between composition and improvisation in contemporary music.

1972: studies electronic music at Accademia di Santa Cecilia with Franco Evangelisti, and becomes member of the Gruppo di Improvvisazione di Nuova Consonanza (with Franco Evangelisti, Ennio Morricone, Egisto Macchi, Giovanni Piazza, Antonello Neri) until 1983.

1973: records the first LP leading his own group (a sextet) for the series "Jazz a confronto".

From 1973 to 1975 he writes music for short movies.

1974: founds the Gruppo Romano di Ottoni performing Renaissance and Contemporary music. Since the same year, the association Nuove Forme Sonore, born with the chamber ensemble in 1970, is awarded a annual Grant from the Italian Government, to perform contemporary music concerts in Italy and abroad; tours Japan with a band playing sound tracks by M° Rustichelli.

1975: leaves his work on Physics and starts teaching Trumpet and Trombone at the Conservatory "Gioacchino Rossini" in Pesaro. In the same year he premieres "Tre pezzi per trombone solo" by Giacinto Scelsi, and collaborates with John Cage during his Italian Tour.

1976: is among the founders of first Italian Popular Music School in Testaccio (borough of Rome).

1977: Plays with Globe Unity Orchestra in Modena (Festival dell'Unità)

1978: Performs in Reggio Emilia in English-Italian Impro Meeting (with Paul Rutherford, Evan Parker, Barry Guy).

1979: Plays in concert With ICPO led by Misha Mengelberg in Soncino; the concert is issued in LP (later in CD). With Alex Von Schlippenbach, Evan Parker and Paul Lovens plays as guest soloist with Italian Radio Big Band.

1980: composes the first of a long series of multimedia pieces ("I sette corvi", from Grimm's fairy tale, for instruments, tape and live images); changes Conservatory (from Pesaro to the Conservatory "A. Casella" in l'Aquila). Plays in concert at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma with Bill Higgins, Albert Mangelsdorff and Manfred Schoof, with Big Band of Italian Radio, presenting new compositions. Plays with Globe Unity Orchestra in Saalfelden.

Writes a treatise about improving technique and expression for trombone in contemporary music, published by Ricordi (Milan).

Since 1980, for ten years, he cooperates with composer Luigi Nono, as one of the soloists of his last great compositions (Guai ai gelidi mostri, Omaggio a Kurtag, Prometeo, Risonanze erranti, Post-Prae-Ludium per Donau).

1981: invited by the Centre for Contemporary Italian Culture, plays at New York University and gives lessons about compositions of G. Scelsi, L. Berio and improvisation, cooperating with D. Ghezzo and B. Fennelly.

1982: composes his second multimedia piece on fairy tale "L'usignolo dell'Imperatore", for trombone, tape and live images and premieres it at Farnese Castle in Genazzano; returns to NewYork University for concerts at Lincoln Center and lectures; leads for one month the Radio production "Il mestiere del musicista", broadcasted by RAI (Italian National Radio).

1983: gives a lecture about brass instruments at Musik Hochschule in Freiburs im Breisgau (Germany); premieres Luigi Nono's "Omaggio a Kurtag", in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, in Florence, and starts working with live electronics at Heinrich Stroebel Stiftung of Süd West Funk in Freiburg im Breisgau (Germany); starts teaching at Siena Jazz International Summer School.

1984: premieres "Guai ai gelidi mostri" in Baden-Baden and the opera "Prometeo" by Luigi Nono at Biennale Musica di Venezia. Plays with Roberto Laneri's Group at Yatra Jazz Festival in Bombay. Composes music and plays for the theatre piece "Pentesilea" (from Kleist) by Gianfranco Quartucci at Hebbel Theatre in Berlin.

1985: plays revised version of "Prometeo" by L. Nono at Teatro alla Scala (Milan).

1986: premieres "Risonanze erranti" by L. Nono in Köln (West Deutsche Rundfunk). Records the LP " Infernal Dream" for Tuba and live electronics at H. Strobel Studio in Freiburg i. B. and "Well Actually" for Splasch in duo with singer Tiziana Ghiglioni; is the producer for a Radio Series of New Music compositions. Composes music for ballet "REM", ccoreographer Luisa Gay.

1987: plays "Prometeo" at Alte Oper, Frankfurt a. M. and at Festival d'Automne in Paris, Theatre de Chaillot; premieres in Donaueschingen "Post-Prae-Ludium per Donau", for tuba and live electronics, dedicated to him by Luigi Nono

1988: composes "Tautovox", chamber opera for soprano, alto, trombone, live electronics and images (text by Pasquale Santoli, images by Alfredo Profeta); composes "Musica Edulis", extended piece for trombone and live electronics (commission of Festival di Nuova Musica di Fiastra); plays at Milanopoesia Festival with singer Silvia Schiavoni and live electronics, starting a long cooperation in composition and performances. Plays at Luigi Nono Festival inaugurating the Kleine Philarmonie in Berlin.

1989: seminar in Villeneuve d'Avignon about the music of Luigi Nono.

1990: plays solo concerts in Mexico DC dedicated to Giacinto Scelsi; cooperates with John Cage in Erlangen (Cage Festival); is a co-founder of the Italian Instabile Orchestra, including the best Italian soloists and improvisers, which will become one of the most important band of this kind in the world.

1991: Records a CD in solo for RCA, dedicated to New Music for Trombone. Plays "Prometeo" By L. Nono in Gibellina; flies to Melbourne for concerts and clinics at Melba University and Monash University; composes "Tuba Libre" for Big Band (commission of Italian Instabile Orchestra).

1992: composes "Cambio di rotta", for soprano, instruments, live electronics and images, for the anniversary of the Discovery of America (Text by P. Santoli, images by Ilaria Schiaffini and Marina Bindella); records the CD "About Monk" with his Nonet.

1993: Composes "Snow over Ireland" with Silvia Schiavoni for voice, trombone and live electronics, first piece of the suite "Dubs", based on Joyce's "Dubliners", which will be recorded on CD (YVP) in 1997.

1994: composes "Là les nuites sont toutes belles" (text by Silvia Schiavoni) and "Descend sur la terre" (Text by P. Santoli), multimedia operas with live electronics and multivision images by I. Schiaffini and M. Bindella and premieres them at Acquario Romano; second tour to India for Yatra Jazz Festival, with his Quintet. With this group records the CD "As a Bird", dedicated to Charlie Parker; records as well "Edula", for trombone and live electronics. Is invited by UNEAC for seminar and concerts in Cuba. Invited in Amsterdam as guest trombonist, conductor and composer by Instant Composers Pool Orchestra (led by Misha Mengelberg), with Henry Threadgill for a short tour in Holland and Belgium. Composes soundtrack for "Nosferatu" by Murnau, to be performed live in tour with a vocal/instrumental ensemble.

1995: invited again in Cuba; writes "Energico, rarefatto, vivo" for harpsichord.. Performs all Nono pieces in a Festival held in Lisbon at Gulbenkian Foundation. Performs Nono's music at Hunter College (New York City) in a concert dedicated tu 100 Years of Hertz Waves, led by Luciano Berio. Composes a piece for 5 marching bands to be performed in Pollenza (Macerata)

1996: Composes music for Choir for a ballet in Modena, coreographer Teri Weikel, and for the coreographer Ugo Pitozzi, in Bolzano; co-ordinates and plays a profile of Luigi Nono, for New Music Concerts (Toronto). Starts a cooperation with Luca di Volo and Claudia Bombardella on Klezmer Music.

1997: composes "Litania Sibilante" (commission of the Instabile's Festival in Pisa); records the suite "Dubs", with text by Silvia Schiavoni based on James Joyce's "Dubliners", for voice, instruments and electronics, published by YVP (Germany), "Tuba Libre", for tuba and live electronics, (Random Acoustics, Munich) and "The Missing Chainring" for trombone and electronics for the new label "Imprint Records".

1998: resident composer and performer (Trombone, Tuba, Electronics) at Upic Centre in Paris, with final concert at Cité des Sciences; composes music for the ballet "Pinocchio", choreography by Karole Armitage (commission of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino).

1999: writes the sound-track for the film "Tartarughe dal becco d'ascia"; composes music for concert band (commission by MM&T, Milan); plays Improvised Music in Chicago (Empty Bottle Festival), Jazz in DC (with Peter Fraize Trio), Contemporary Improvised and electronic music at NYU Composers Forum (New York University); with singer Silvia Schiavoni composes "Rhapsody for Billie", dedicated to Billie Holiday, for voice, Baritone Horn, tape.

2000: is composer in residence at International Composers & Improvisers Forum in Munich, premiering "Concerto Grasso", for orchestra; composes for Italian Radio (RAI) "La grande porta delle pulci" (electro-acoustic piece), and tours Italy with Thurston Moore (guitar, Sonic Youth) and Walter Prati (cello, el. bass)-this tour is recorded for Auditorium; tours Canada with Italian Instabile Orchestra, which wins the Down Beat Poll, Big Bands TDWR; plays with Italian Instabile Orchestra in Europe Festival in Ruvo, guest soloist and composer Cecil Taylor; is invited by SKRAEP for concerts of improvised music in Copenhagen; composes a piece for crossing marching bands (commission by Cagli City Council); starts co-operation with Riccardo Santoboni in Myth Ensemble, founded by Dinu Ghezzo, for improvised electro-acoustic music; with Bruno Tommaso and Alfredo Profeta founds the independent CD label Imprint Records, and publishes "The Missing Chain-ring", for trombone and live electronics.

2001: composes and plays a series of live sound tracks for silent movies in Rome and Toronto (Cinemathèque Ontario); composes "Parata", based on Erik Satie's "Parade", for the "On the road Festival", commissioned by City Council of Pelago (Florence), for 11 musicians with ethnic players and dancers; sonorization of the Castle of Genazzano (Rome), commissioned by City Council of Genazzano; tours Japan with Italian Instabile Orchestra.

2002: plays at Banlieue Bleues Festival (Paris) with Italian Instabile and Cecil Taylor; gives two seminars at Third University in Rome about Luigi Nono's Music and his own production using improvisation and electronics; records CD and tours with "Rhapsody for Billie", with images by I. Schiaffini, in Toronto, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with great success; composes "Suoni per la pace" for a 15 instruments group, special guest Charlie Mariano, commissioned by "On the Road Festival" in Pelago (Florence); realizes Wassilij Kandinski music score for "Il suono giallo" (the Yellow Sound), commission of the Amiternum Festival in l'Aquila, in a version for dance, music, video and light designing; composes "Simm' nervusi" for the Instabile's Festival in Pisa, for 12 players and a visual installation of the artist Enzo Cucchi; plays at Improv Festival in Washington DC; seminar at George Washington University on Jazz composition; presents the CD "Post Deconstruction", published by Cadence (New York) and recorded with Peter Fraize Group in 2000 in Washington DC; composes the chamber opera "Common Sense" for voices, trombones and electronics (text by P. Santoli), and premieres it in Rome.

2003: tours with Italian Instabile Orchestra all around Germany, Holland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway; seminar at Conservatorio di Piacenza about improvisation techniques in Jazz and Contemporary Music. Composes for Italian Instabile Orchestra a sound track for Abel Gance's cult silent movie "Napoleon", performed in Giardini Scotto in Pisa (Commission of Provincia di Pisa).Plays at Sant'Anna Arresi (Sardinia) with Cecil Taylor and Italian Instabile Orchestra; performs Hommage to Luigi Nono in Antwerp and Bruxelles (Belgium). Composes a multimedia piece based on novels by Italian Writer Niccolò Ammaniti, text elaborated by Silvia Schiavoni, images by Ilaria Schiaffini, and with this show tours USA and Canada with great success (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver), performs multimedia "Rhapsody for Billie" at Loewe Auditorium in New York University.

2004: Performs an hommage to Italian composers Berio, Scelsi and Nono in Bogotà. Plays in Vancouver with Evan Parker and Walter Prati. Tours Colombia (Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Bogotà) with the multimedia piece on Ammaniti. Tours with Italian Instabile in Spain and Germany. Composes a new multimedia piece about Umberto Boccioni (With Silvia Schiavoni and Ilaria Schiaffini) and performes it in San Francisco (Berkeley), Los Angeles and Rome. Composes new pieces for Great Wind Band to be performed for the Parmafrontiere Festival.

2005: tours Switzerland Austria and Germany with chamber piece "Ianus" by Swiss composer Daniel Studer. Plays an hommage to Giacinto Scelsi with Silvia Schiavoni (voice) and Walter Prati (cello & electronics) in Toronto, San Francisco, Bogotà, Milan and Rome. In Colombia organizes and participates to a great concert/event in the Catedral del Sal in Zipaquirà (an old mine converted to a cathedral) with soloists from Italy and Colombia. This last concert will be recorded and issues as a CD by Auditorium. Tours with Italian Instabile Orchestra in Canada (Toronto and Vancouver) and Italy. With Silvia Schiavoni and Dick Halligan founds "Cat's Pajamas!", dedicated to up-to-date performance of American Songs from the twenties to fifties. Performs with Silvia Schiavoni the multimedia piece (images by Ilaria Schiaffini) about The futurist Umberto Boccioni in Guanajuato-Festival Cervantino (Mexico), Teatro Colon and Universidad Nacional (Bogotà). Composes and conducts "Quanto Domani Luce", text by Schiavoni, images by Ilaria Schiaffini, at Lozano Auditorium with a Colombian chamber ensemble. Performs in Roma (Controindicazioni) with John Tilbury and Eddie Prevost. In November tours England (Leeds, Basingstoke, Manchester, Oxford, London/ Purcell Hall) with Italian Instabile Orchestra. The London Concert has been recorded by BBC and will be issued as a CD. Composes and performs music for ballet for Virgilio Sieni's Company.

2006: Records a CD (imprint IM 009) with Schiavoni and Halligan (Cat's Pajamas!: Zenone's Paradox): SplascH publishes a CD with first concert of Phantabrass, awarded as the best Italian Group in Musica Jazz Poll. Premieres a composition dedicated to Ibsen in Oslo at Nasjonalbiblioteket, text by S. Schiavoni and images by I. Schiaffini Composes "Como una candelilla", (text by S. Schiavoni) commissioned by Mazda Foundation and Italian Cultural Institute, for voices, instruments and images (by I. Schiaffini), and premieres it in Bogotà at Lozano Auditorium.

2007: Casa del Jazz in Rome dedicates him a 3-days-profile (duo with S. Schiavoni, duo with S. Tramontana, Phantabrass Ensemble). Composes and premieres in Milan at Piccolo Teatro a revision of "Three Pennies Opera" (Brecht-Weill) for Big Band, Combo and voice (Tiziana Ghiglioni), commissioned by Musica Oggi. Presents in Lugo a series of new arrangements of G. Gershwin's songs for Silvia Schiavoni and Phantabrass. Premieres his composition for Big band for the 500th Anniversary of Architect Barozzi, commissioned by Festival Jazz in It (Vignola). Premieres a composition dedicated to Edvard Grieg in Oslo at Nasjonalbiblioteket, text by S. Schiavoni and images by I. Schiaffini. Selected in the Category "European Legend of Jazz" for Eurodjango (Eurojazz Awards).

2008: Composes and premieres a new work inspired to Renaissance Composer Luzzasco Luzzaschi (Commission of Ferrara Conservatory). Continues and presents the complete series of arrangements of G. Gershwin's songs for Silvia Schiavoni and Phantabrass, performing all around Italy and recording a CD for Imprint. For the University of Tor Vergata (Rome) composes and performs a "Haec Ego" (text by Silvia Schiavoni, images by Ilaria Schiaffini) and a version of 3 parts of "Tierkreis" K. Stockhausen). In Buenos Aires Plays L. Nono (1st time in Argentina) and premieres at Teatro Coliseum "A cento metri comincia il bosco", multimedia opera, text and voice by Silvia Schiavoni. The same piece, in a version for Voice + Brass Ensemble, is performed at Mittelfest, in Cividale del Friuli. Starts working with Giorgio Baratta and Silvia Schiavoni with new compositions from philosopher Antonio Gramsci's work.

2009: Plays as a soloist in the opera buffa "Uma vaca flatterzunge" by Vitor Rua at Culturgest in Lisbon. Presents "Ho veduto volare" for "La notte dei Musei a Roma" in a new version for images, voice, tape + Phantabrass orchestra. The same piece, in duo version, is performed in Torviscosa (UD), Piedigrotta Festival (Napoli), Rio de Janeiro, San Paolo, Thessaloniki, Bucarest. Starts working with Parco della Musica Contemporary Ensemble (PMCE) on the project about Futurism "Uccidiamo il chiaro di luna", performing in Munich, Bratislava, Amsterdam (Bimhuis), Buenos Aires and Bahìa Blanca. Composes the Musical "Giove a Pompei. La vera storia", inspired to Umberto Giordano, commissioned by Orsara Festival and performed in Orsara and Pietra Montecorvino. Plays music by Luigi Nono and Adriano Guarnieri in Guanajuato (Mexico. Festival Cervantino). Composes "Guardando nella faccia della luna. Canto di Galileo", text by Silvia Schiavoni, performed in Buenos Aires and La Plata.

2010: Plays as soloist with Cosimo Cinieri in "Viandando qui e altrove" (poetry and music) in Rome Auditorium and Tel Aviv.. Performs "Ho veduto volare" in duo and "L'immagine di te sempre nel cuore", songs and poems from Liguria, In Buenos Aires. Plays in a new project by Enzo Favata "Os caminhos de Garibaldi na America". With Schiavoni, Trovalusci, Ruggeri works at a project about Predrag Matvejević "Cantare il pane" and performs it in Zagreb and Opatija.

2011: Tours widely with "Os caminhos de Garibaldi na America" and "Cantare il pane" projects. Performs as conductor at XXIX Rassegna di Nuova Musica in Macerata and in Ferrara. Plays multimedial piece about writer Niccolò Ammaniti in Slovenia. Writes a book about improvisation ("E non chiamatelo jazz" for Auditoium Edizioni-Milan).

2012: Plays at ICTUS Festival in NYC at The Stone. Tour in Switzerland with Daniel Studer et al. Conducts Italian Instabile Orchestra in Bari in a project for Europe Jazz Network 25th. Organizes a triple concert for John Cage with Goethe Institut Rom and Romaeuropa Festival with Tilbury, Schiavoni, Prevost, Brand and others."

"Livia Schweizer (b.1994) is a flutist, improvisor, educator and artistic researcher based in Helsinki. She is known for her interest in improvisation and non-conventional music notation as a tool of bringing together creative souls from different backgrounds, ages and cultures.

Livia grew up in Tuscany and started to study flute at the Conservatory Mascagni of Livorno in the flute class of Mauro Rossi. Already at a young age she started winning prizes in national music competitions, and since a very young age showed a deep interest in practicing and performing music from 20th and 21st century. Attracted by the nordic cultures and by the new music coming from the Finnish musical scene, in 2012 Livia took part in the Erasmus program in Oulu and after graduating from the Conservatory of Livorno in 2014 she moved to Helsinki to study at the Sibelius Academy in Mikael Helasvuo's flute class.

Since moving to Helsinki Livia has been a very active freelancer, she has performed as soloist and in chamber music for festivals such as the Flow Festival, Helsingin Juhlaviikot, the UNM Festival, Tulkinnanvaraista, Luosto Soi, Uuden Musiikin Lokakuu, Jauna Muzika (Lithuania), SoundScapes (Germany), Hiljaisuus Festival and Musica Nova, proving upon different occasions to be a very versatile musician who loves to engage with different kinds of repertoire and to perform in different musical contexts. Her passion towards contemporary and experimental music brought her to be part in several projects with the NYKY-ensemble, Avanti!, Korvat Auki, the UMUU-ensemble, Eloa ry and Tampering, and in 2021 she became member of the Earth Ears Ensemble, an ensemble focused on contemporary music from lesser heard voices.

Alongside the dedication to contemporary music, in the last years Livia developed a strong interest towards improvisation and multidisciplinary collaborations. Indeed, she thinks that, through improvisation, the use of non-conventional music notation and multidisciplinary dialogue it is possible to create an inclusive space where individual voices from different cultures and disciplines can emerge, merge, and give life to exciting artistic results. Connected to this, in 2023 Livia started her path as a artistic doctoral candidate in the Arts Study Program at the University of the Arts - MuTri Doctoral School. Her research and artistic work revolves around the topic of how graphic scores and text scores can be used to foster interdisciplinary and intercultural collaborations in contemporary music.

As improviser and flutist she is member of the E.C.I.O. | the European Composers Improvisers Orchestra, and of the Helsinki based Septad-ensemble, an ensemble focused on the concept of real time composed music. As a solo project Livia is especially interested in how improvisation and text scores can be a medium to connect with environment and create intercultural dialogue, and, aiming to explore this topic in 2021 she has been artist in residence at the Old Mine Residency in Outokumpu (Finland) and at Villa Karo in Grand-Popo (Benin).

She is also an active orchestral player; in 2018 she had her apprenticeship at the Finnish National Opera, she is a member of the Helsinki Chamber Orchestra and in the last years she worked with the Jyväskylä Sinfonia, the Pori Sinfonietta and she served as substitute co-principal flute in the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra and substitute piccolo player for the Lahti Symphony Orchestra.

In the Spring of 2019 Livia studied as an exchange student at the University of Southern California in Jim Walker's flute class and in 2021 she got her master's degree in flute and music pedagogy at the Sibelius Academy (University of the Arts), with minors in early music and contemporary music. Her flute teachers in Finland have been Mikael Helasvuo and Hanna Kinnunen, and Jari Puhakka for the baroque flute.

While being a freelancer Livia is also a flute and music teacher for the International School of Music Finland in Helsinki since 2019. She has experience teaching flute to beginners, teenagers and adults and she also teaches music to play-school aged children from 1 to 6 years old."

"Liz Kosack is a musician and designer from Maine, USA working in Berlin and New York. Her work is cross-platform, but focuses around synthesizer playing and masks.

She completed a Masters in music at Jazz Institut Berlin, where she studied composition with John Hollenbeck and Greg Cohen. She holds a BA in jazz piano from William Paterson University, USA. She was a finalist in music and sound for the New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship in 2013.

She currently co-leads and is involved in multiple active projects in both Germany and the USA, released two LPs with "VAX" (The Sooner we Jump the Better, and Count to VAX) Is on RJ Miller's "Ronalds Rhythm," released a debut tape cassette with The Hero of Warchester in 2015 on Prom Night Records, Sunrise Over a Dystopic Future City's debut Dystopia (DVD collaboration with NYC filmaker Zach Caldwell, 2016) and expects to shortly release the resultant album of her masters project which features text-encoded melodic compositions and the talent of Frank Gratkowski, Tilo Weber, Dan Peter Sundland, Christian Tschuggnall, and Otis Sandsjö (selections of which were exhibited in fall 2014 at NYFA's "Estuary" exhibit in DUMBO, brooklyn.) Noteably this year she played the Moers festival with her band "The Liz" as Anubis in their piece "Book of Birds," collaborated with the Ballet im Revier, and in september gave her German professional debut on grand piano in a special version of RRR at the 30 Jahr Stadtgarten festival.

Liz is a sideman on Tilo Weber's Animate Repose (Shoebill 2016), and special guest on Orter Eparg's "Orter Eparg" (Øra, 2016.) She also plays synth on Lea Frey's next album, due for release 2017.

She leads mask-making workshops, has been commisioned for mask works by various groups, and is accepting new requests."

"Veli Kujala (b. 1976) has gained a solid reputation of an outstanding interpreter of contemporary music on the accordion. In 2010 he completed his Doctor of Music degree with distinction from the Sibelius-Academy. He is a prizewinner of many international competitions for soloists and for composition in the field of classical music. Kujala's compositional output covers a wide variety of genres ranging from electro-acoustic to orchestral works. His composer portrait CD 'Hyperorganism' (Alba Records) was nominated for the best Finnish classical album of the year 2016. From the beginning of his career Kujala has also been very active in the field of jazz and improvised music, with an open mind upon all genres of popular music, from progressive rock to tango, ethnic music to French chanson. Pipoka, Gourmet sextet and Kalle Kalima K-18 count among the most relevant bands he is involved in.

Kujala has performed as a soloist with ensembles including Avanti! Chamber Orchestra, Gävle Symphony Orchestra, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Insomnio, Lahti Symphony Orchestra, the Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, the Tapiola Sinfonietta with conductors such as Stefan Asbury, Hannu Koivula, Hannu Lintu, Susanna Mälkki, Ari Rasilainen, Dmitri Slobodeniouk and John Storgårds. He has co-operated with a number of contemporary composers and has premiered accordion concertos by Pekka Pohjola, Markus Fagerudd and Olli Virtaperko. Moreover he has premiered concertos by Sampo Haapamäki, Joachim Schneider and Jukka Tiensuu for the quarter-tone accordion; a new instrument, which he developed together with Haapamäki.

Veli Kujala has performed in whole Europe, in major festivals and venues. He has also toured in the USA. Since 2005 Veli Kujala has been teacher of concert accordion and improvisation at the Sibelius-Academy."

"Born into a musical family, Olavi Louhivuori (b. 13 July 1981) grew up in Jyväskylä, Central-Finland, surrounded by music and musicians. His father is a professor at Music Department of the University of Jyväskylä and mother a violinist and music teacher. Everyone of the seven member Louhivuori family plays an instrument. Olavi began studying violin at the age of 4, but changed to cello and piano at the age of 8. He started playing drums at the age of 9 when he was accpeted into the music class of his primary school.

In 1998 Olavi enrolled at the Finnish Music Conservatory of Jyväskylä for 3 years. There he joined numerous different jazz groups, including the Joona Toivanen trio and the Jyväskylä Junior Big Band. Being a familiar face in the local Jazz Bar gave him a perfect opportunity to perform and jam with local and international musicians such as Jukka Perko and Indgrid Jensen, to name but a few. The Joona Toivanen trio opened the jam sessions there every Tuesday night for three years.

In 2002 Olavi moved to Helsinki to start his studies at the prestigeous Sibelius-Academy, where he studied with Jukkis Uotila. It didn´t take long before Olavi found himself working full-time both in Finland and internationally. Winning the competition of the 'Young Nordic jazz Groups' three times (Joona Toivanen trio 2000, Ilmiliekki Quartet 2002 and Sun trio 2006) gained him numerous performances around the world including tours in U.S.A, Australia, Asia and Europe.

For the past few years Olavi has been touring the world as a drummer of Tomasz Stanko Quintet. Besides that Louhivuori has performed with internationally acclaimed artists such as Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, Marilyn Crispell and Susanne Abbuehl. He has also played with groups such as the finnish UMO Jazz Orchestra and Piirpauke."

"Libero Mureddu: Pianist, improviser, music technologist and producer based in Helsinki, Finland.

He has studied Composition at the Conservatory "G. Verdi" of Milan and Music Technology at the Centre for Music and Techology, Sibelius Academy in Helsinki. He is currently doing his artistic doctorate at the MuTri doctoral school at the Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

A versatile musician, during the past twenty years his musical experiences extended from contemporary and experimental music, to jazz and popular music.

Active pianist and keyboard player in the field of jazz and improvised music, with long-standing collaborations in the Italian scene with Giovanni Falzone, the Chant Trio, and more recently in Finland with the dance and music collective Liquid, the Korvat auki ensemble and the Mureddu://:Cartheuser duo, among many others.

As a composer his main interests are in the fields of algorithmic composition and the exploration of the connection between written composition and improvisation.

Since 2006 he has been working regularly with the Yamaha Disklavier player piano as a composer, performer and technical assistant.

Since 2009 Libero Mureddu is the general manager of the NYKY Ensemble, the contemporary music ensemble of the Sibelius Academy. The NYKY Ensemble is nowadays considered as an important actor of the Finnish contemporary music scene."

"Was born 1988 in Lisboa, Portugal and started playing cello and trumpet at Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa at the age of 7. In 1999 joined Conservatório Nacional de Música de Lisboa to study classical and music theory and in the current year recorded his first album - Multiples - with Ernesto Rodrigues and José Oliveira out on Creative Sources Recordings.

Apart from work in music ensembles ranging for contemporary classical to free improvisation, also works with live music poetry, theatre and film-music. After lengthy residency in Lisboa, (1988-2016) moved to Berlin and has been active as composer and improviser in the scene.

Worked with some international and renewed artists like Ernesto Rodrigues, Jean-luc Guionnet, Margarida Garcia, Manuel Mota, Alfredo Costa Monteiro, Sei Miguel, Tim Goldie, Jeffrey Morgan, Oren Marshall, Gerhard Uebele, Klaus Kurvers, Gabriel Paiuk, Nicolas Field, Jaime Fennelly, Blaise Siwula, Will Guthrie, Pawel Grabowski, Michael Thieke, Wade Matthews, Leonel Kaplan, Diego Chamy, Gabriel Paiuk, Barry Weisblat, Joe Giardullo, Jassem Hindi, Tisha Mukarji, Masahiko Okura, Taku Unami, Toshihiro Koike, Sharif Sehnaoui, Christine Abdelnour, Alexandre Bellenger, Carlos Zingaro, Romaric Sobac, Nuno Rebelo, Nuno Torres, Naoto Yamagashi, Heddy Boubaker, Gerhard Uebele, Guillermo Torres, Tomas Gris, Carlos Santos, Bruno Parrinha, Miguel Leiria Pereira, Miguel Ivo Cruz, Alberto Cirera, Nuno Morão, Mark Sanders, Dennis Gonzaléz, Alípio Carvalho Neto, Raymond Macdonald, Neil Davidson, David Stachenas, Lisa Ullén, D'incise, Cyril Bondy, Miguel Mira, Rodrigo Amado, Abdul Moimême, Monsieur Trinité, João Madeira, Álvaro Rosso, Gil Gonçalves, Marian Yanchyk, Filipe Passos, Rodrigo Pinheiro, Christian Wolfarth, Thanos Chrysakis, Bechir Saade, Kurt Liedwart, Miguel A. Garcia, Ilia Belorukov, Andrew Lafkas, Gao Jiafeng, Eric Wong, Johan Moir, Casey Moir, Magda Mayas, Matthias Muller, Alexander Frangenheim ...

Has performed and toured in all Europe. Released more than 30 albums of his own projects."

"Harri Sjöström (soprano & sopranino saxophone)

Born 29 February 1952 in Turku, Finland. Played piano, guitar and drums in his childhood. Studied music and fine art photography in San Francisco from 1974 - 1978; later film studies at the San Francisco Art Institute. Saxophone and flute with Harry Man, Leo Wright, Friedhelm Schönfeld, Steve Lacy; further piano studies at the San Francisco Conservatory; attended special class for contemporary improvised music at the Lone Mountain College led by trombonist Johannes Mager; composition studies at the electro acoustic music department at Hochschule Für Musik Wien, Austria; composition class led by composers Prof. Haubenstock-Ramati and Prof. Friedrich Cerha.

The joyful, creative and intensive experiences with contemporary music, contemporary improvised music studies, and visual art studies captivated him so much that he has worked intensively ever since with contemporary improvised music, precent tme composition and in mixed media projects including film, photography, visual arts, theater and dance. Has participated in master courses and workshops held by John Cage, George Russell, Steve Lacy, Bill Dixon, Daniel Kientzy, Vinko Globokar, Evan Parker, Cecil Taylor.

In 1980 -1985 he lived in Vienna, Austria, which became his doorway to the European contemporary music scene; formed his first groups and organized numerous artist exchange-projects in Finland and elsewhere. Brought many most notable innovators on the international contemporary improvisation scene to Finland. One of his early projects included a tour with Derek Bailey Company, which was their first in Finland; Bailey's visit in Finland was largely commented by the finish press as "the occurrence" of the year in the contemporary music scene; moved to Berlin in 1985.

Founded the international Quintet Moderne and; co-founded the The Player Is -trio with Teppo Hauta-aho and Philipp Wachsmann, Harri Sjöström as well as founding the groups: Quartetto Finlandia, Wait, Motström, Up and Out, ECIO, (European Composers Improvisors Orchestra), Sestetto Internazionale; Trio Internazionale; co-founded the MOVE - quintet; City Of Pyramids -Casserley, DJ Illvibe, Morgan, Sjöström; since 1989 in collaboration with the British guitarist John Russell in Russells international Mopomoso (MOdernism POstMOdernism) projects.

In 1990, Harri met Cecil Taylor in Berlin and has an extensive working relationship with the legendary pianist and composer on many projects like; Cecil Taylor Quintet Desperados: (Cecil Taylor, Paul Lovens, Teppo Hauta-aho, Tristan Honsinger, Harri Sjöström) Cecil Taylor Quartet- Qua, Cecil Taylor "New Unit" : (Cecil Taylor, Tony Oxley, Okkyung Lee, Jackson Krall, Harri Sjöström); and five recording releases with different C.T. ensembles; since the late 70s Harri performed at numerous international jazz and contemporary music festivals.

Additional collaborations in different projects with a.o. Bernahrd Arndt, James Andean, Yoko Arai, Matthias Bauer, Guy Bettini, Tony Buck, Sergio Castrillón, Angelo Contini, Markus Fagerudd, Emilio Gordoa, Frank Gratkowski, Teppo Hauta-aho, Steve Heather, Tristan Honsinger, Kalle Kalima, Achim Kaufmann, Veli Kujala, Jukka Kääriäinen, Okkyung Lee, Francesco Miccolis, Gianni Mimmo, Dag Magnus Narvesen, Heikki Nikula, Adam Pultz Melbye, Luca Pissavini, Günter Baby Sommer, Jone Takamäki, Janne Tuomi; Occasionally performs solo and is involved in making film music.""Harri Sjöström has been a saxophone teacher since 1980 and is a vital member of the European contemporary improvised music scene; he has composed music for film and is still active today with his photography."

"Sebi Tramontana started playing guitar as a child and then moved to the soprano saxophone in the late 1970s. He switched to trombone in 1982 and during a radio production with Bruno Tommaso met Giancarlo Schiaffini, who convinced him to move to Rome and study with him at A. Casella Conservatorio in L'Aquila. In Rome he calloborated with Martin Joseph, Eugenio Colombio and Mario Schiano and in 1986 was a member of the New Talents Orchestra, performing at the Rocella Jonica Festival. He guested with Gruppo Romano Free Jazz for their 30th anniversary in 1996.

In 1987 he started a trio with Daniel Studer and Roberto Altamura which played at the Contraindicazione Festival in Rome and subsequently performed with Paul Rutherford, Barry Guy, Gerard Siracusa, Eugenio Colombo, Co Streiff and Martin Mayes.

Tramontana was invited by Mario Schiano in 1988 to take part in the recording of Red and blue with Vladimir Tarasov and Vladimir Chekasin. In 1990 he completed his studies at A. Casella Conservatorio and joined the Italian Instabile Orchestra.

His first solo performance was in Rome in 1992 and this has been followed by performances in Zürich, Mulhouse, Clusone, Köln, Ruvo Di Puglia, Roccella, Jonica and Göttingen. In 1994 he was invited by Georg Gräwe to "Two Nights Of Random Acoustics" in Köln, subsequently joining the Georg Graewe Quintet and touring Europe. In 1998, he recorded a duo with Graewe for the Italian Splasc(h) label and in July 2003 became a member of the Georg Graewe new quintet, with Tobias Delius, Kent Kessler and Michael Vatcher.

In 1996 Tramontana performed at the festival di Roccella Jonica with Barre Phillips, Michel Doneda and two dancers and then at the Victoriaville festival with Mario Schiano, Evan Parker, Paul Lovens and Barry Guy. He also appeared at the Empty Bottle in Chiacgo with Hamid Drake, Kent Kessler, Ken Vandermark and Mars Williams. In 1997 he performed the 'Art Of Dialogue' in Munich with Joëlle Léandre.

In 1999 he received a scholarship from the City of Munich for 6 week residence in the US and as a result visited Chicago (playing at the Empty Bottle festival and recording with Jim Baker, Fred Lonberg Holm, Michael Zerang, Lou Mallozi, Jeb Bishop, Ken Vandermark and Kent Kessler), San Francisco and New York. From 1999 to 2002 he was Artistic Director (with Ch.Hofig department of Culture of the City of Munich) of the festival "Come Sunday" and during this period he also founded the group XAXA with Phil Wachsmann, Mats Gustafsson and Paul Lovens.

In 2001 Tramontana undertook concerts and recordings in Chicago with the "Night People" project (a homage to Dickie Wells), a string quartet with Guiellermo Gregorio on clarinet and in duo with Jeb Bishop (Chicago defenders). He also began to play in duo with Paul Lovens (with the Buster Keaton The General project), performing in Munich, Ljubljana, Graz, Cologne, Regensburg, Rome, Maribor, Kassel and Göttingen. In 2002-03 he was a member of the Mats Gustafsson's Nu Ensemble.

In 2003 he appeared at the Banlieues Bleu Festival in Paris and Ghent (Belgium) with Joëlle Léandre's European Quartett featuring Carlos Zingaro Paul Lovens and special guest Irène Schweizer. He played a duo with Léandre at the Ulrichsberg Kaleidophon and also performed in the Trombone Trio - in Ljubljana and Maribor - with Vinko Globokar and Johannes Bauer.

Since 1999 Sebi Tramontana has toured Germany and Austria with TV and movie actor Udo Wachtveitl and, since 2001, been a musician and actor with the Dance Company En Knap of Iztok Kovac from Ljubljana. He appeared in the film of Under my skin, directed by Saso Podgorsek, in 2004. 2004 also saw a collaboration with the electronic 48 nord group in Munich.

In November 2004 he will exhibit his paintings in an exhibition in Chicago entitled Stop, Look & Listen: Artwork by Musicians alongside works by Pee Wee Russel, Hal Rammel, Han Bennink, Peter Brötzmann and others. In April 2005 he will tour with Joëlle Léandre and Paul Lovens and will be in Chicago to perform with a new project of Lou Mallozzi."

"Philipp Wachsmann. Born Uganda, 1944; violin, viola and electronics.

In the CD booklet to Gushwachs, John Corbett notes that Phillip Wachsmann came to free improvisation from a predominantly classical background, particularly via the contemporary experiments of "indeterminacy, graphic and prose-based scores, conceptualism and electroacoustics, listening to Webern, Partch, Ives, Berio and Varèse, reading 'Die Reihe' and interrogating the rhythmic, harmonic and melodic preoccupations of Western art music. Starting in 1969, Wachsmann was a member of Yggdrasil, an ensemble performing works by Cage, Cardew, Feldman, Ashley and others and in this group he used contact mikes on the violin and made his own electronic instruments, ring modulators and routing devices. Ironically, his studies with Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1969-1970) pushed him hard in the direction of free music. He recalls: 'Despite her neoclassical orientation, her insistence that composition is about the imagination of performance and its realisation, the live moment, and her stunning ability to make this happen was a powerful influence on me, steering towards 'performance' and therefore 'improvisation'.'"

Wachsmann moved from Yggdrasil to Chamberpot - recorded on Bead 2 - and shortly thereafter appeared on Tony Oxley's influential February papers, forward looking in the virtual 'industrial' orientation of some of the tracks, years before this became an accepted genre; the two musicians have continued to work together, in various groupings but notably in the percussionist's Celebration Orchestra. Philipp Wachsmann has also performed and/or recorded with: Derek Bailey's Company, e.g. on the recording Epiphanies; Georg Graewe; Barry Guy; Iskra 1903; King Übü Orchestrü; London Jazz Composers' Orchestra; Evan Parker, particularly as part of the Evan Parker Electronic Project; Quintet Moderne; Fred Van Hove's ML DD 4; Rüdiger Carl's COWWS (now CPWWS) Quintet; and Lines, with Martin Blume, Jim Denley, Axel Dörner and Marcio Mattos. He also plays as a solo musician.

Phillip Wachsmann also administers Bead Records."

"Els Vandeweyer is a Belgian vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer currently living in Berlin. After studying classical percussion in Antwerp and jazz vibraphone in Brussels and Oslo, Els co-founded the IMI Kollektief, whose critically acclaimed album Snug as a Gun was released on Clean Feed in 2006.

Today, Els plays regularly in Berlin, including solo performance, group improvisation, and contemporary music (including a performance of Xenakis's Rebonds b at the A L'ARME! Festival in Berlin).

In 2017, her composition Landscape, a 25-meter-long textile that functions as a mobile graphic score, was performed in Berlin as part of the Kontraklang series on contemporary music.

Past projects include a duo with Fred Van Hove, Quat (with Fred Van Hove, Paul Lovens, and Martin Blume), Andromeda Mega Express Orchstra, Pascal Niggenkemper´s Vision 7, the Serenus Zeitblom Oktett and collaborations with Hans Unstern en Real Geizt.

Recent projects are Metal Illusion (a shadow play with Rieko Okuda), Kudu (with Ignaz Schick and Klaus Kürvers), participation in the SFO- orchestra of Georg Graewe and a cooperation with Theater Zuidpool in Antwerp. With "Debut" she released her first album under her own name. (90%Wasser, 2019)"