Cohesion Festival 2011

Cohesion Festival 2011 – improvised and new music events

Posted on by simonminter

Oxford Improvisers, who have been running diverse, interesting, unique and out-there musical events in Oxford for a decade, have put together the 2011 Cohesion Festival, which they state will be a ‘four-day festival over a two week period of new and improvised music and performance’. There will be live performances as well as unique collaborative events for which local musicians are invited to take part.

The big scoop is that their programme includes performances by Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith, a legendary American trumpeter and composer, who has previously worked with Henry Threadgill, Anthony Braxton and the Art Ensemble Of Chicago, as well as being a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. The full programme of events is as follows:

Thursday 24 November, 8.00 pm
Newman Rooms, Rose Place, St Aldate’s, Oxford
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith in concert with Pat Thomas, Alexander Hawkins and members of Oxford Improvisers. £9/£6 concessions.

Saturday 26 November, 8.00 pm
Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, Oxford
Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith in concert with Oxford Improvisers Orchestra. £9/£6 concessions.

Friday 2 December, 4.45 pm and 9.15 pm
Jacqueline du Pré Music Building, Oxford
‘Boundaries’ – in which performers of all backgrounds and ages celebrate the diversity of music in Oxford. Workshops and rehearsals in preparation will be held during November – to take part, email Cohesion Festival.

Saturday 3 December, 1.30 pm
Pegasus Theatre, Oxford
Improvisation techniques workshop. £3.

Saturday 3 December, 8.00 pm
Pegasus Theatre, Oxford
‘New moves; new sounds’ – a live collaboration between Oxford Improvisers, other local musicians and dancers and artists from the DEC ‘drawing dance’ project. £7/£5 concessions/£4 under 18s. To get involved and take part in the rehearsal/discussion session taking place on 3 December from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm, email Cohesion Festival.

Tickets for all of the events are available from WeGotTickets. The Cohesion Festival 2011 website is here, and you can find out more about Oxford Improvisers here.