Liverpool: Blank Canvas Octet & J[a]B[a]W

The Sheffield based – J[a]B[a]W – are a free improvisational outfit featuring eclectic, hybrid instrumentation and vocalisation, creating an organic mash-up veering from delicate abstraction through insistent sonic curiosity to strident rhythmic statement.

They first met whilst playing with Mick Beck’s large improvising group The Gated Community. They subsequently went to play together as part of several ad hoc line-ups. They are currently all members of The Merseyside Improvisers’ Orchestra (despite all living in Sheffield).

John Jasnoch (guitars, mandolin)
Geoff Bright ( voice, soprano and bass saxophones, novelty instruments)
Gillian Whiteley (voice, violin, accordions, recorder, hurdy-gurdy)

The Blank Canvas Octet is a project exploring free improvisation in music in a large ensemble context. It uses the ‘system 50:50` – where chess clocks are used to bring cohesion to the sound field which can often become cluttered. The result is a dynamic and shifting canvas of sound that allows small discreet sounds to be heard and deeper layers to be felt and expressed. An exciting project to participate in, to witness and to hear.