ZAM, Isolated Improviser

ZAM, Cologne, May 2007
On the 17th May 2007, I played a concert as part of the 2007 Cologne Trienneal. The performance was comissioned by ZAM, a collective of adventurous musicians keen to explore and demonstrate possiblities for the "computer music instrument".

Here is some more information about ZAM: http://www.z-a-m.eu/ENGLISHzam.html
Take a look at the line up they put together here: http://www.z-a-m.eu/ENGLISHcmi.html

Their approach is pluralistic and they were keen to see what would happen if you put different performers together and use the computer as the instrument that mediates between them, a risky business because disparate entities tend to prefer to remain distinct.

I was asked to share a stage with Lawrence Casserly. We were to play some solo sets and also to perform together, live for the first time. I chose to make use of the Spectral Tourist and Environment systems to give some very specific material for the solo episodes.

I took recordings of the whole performance from my desk. I only recorded my output however as I find this very useful material for further mixing etc. It turns out that the output from the desk was very hot so the recorded signal was very heavily distorted. I'm glad about this and present the structure I performed with at the festival but you will hear how my recording device, not the audience heard it.