Described forty years ago as an "undergrounder by design," Jack Wright is a veteran saxophone improviser based mainly in Philadelphia. In 1979, after an academic career teaching at Temple University (European History) and activist politics, he returned to the instrument of his youth. Almost immediately he discovered free improvisation, virtually unknown at the time and still obscure. He is one of the few who have played this exclusively since then, one of the originals of the 80s era. He plays mostly on tour through the US and Europe in search of interesting partners and playing situations. He is still the "Johnny Appleseed of Free Improvisation," as the late guitarist Davey Williams dubbed him back in that earlier era, continuing to inspire musicians, playing and organizing sessions and gigs with visiting and resident players old and new. His Spring Garden Music House has been around since 1977, for the past sixteen years housing only improvisers and providing space for private playing sessions.

He has avoided the standard career aimed at visibility and prestige, seeing it as a hindrance to musical growth. The partners he's preferred over the years have also been mostly unknown to the music press, and too numerous to list here. His current focus is sound-oriented, mostly associated with the underground known as noise music. His main partners the past several years have been Zach Darrup, guitar,Ben Bennett, percussion, Evan Lipson, double bass, and Ron Stabinsky. keyboards, the personnel of Wrest, Minimal Disturbance, Roughhousing, Never, and RAWL.

Jack is what used to be called a "musician's musician," yet unschooled in music, learning through interaction with partners and private discipline. He's said to have the widest vocabulary of any, and still expanding--leaping pitches, punchy/precise timing, the entire range of volume, intrusive and sculptured multiphonics, vocalizations, and obscene animalistic sounds. The past dozen years he's come back to more physically engaged playing, but with a phrasing and variable sound unique among sax players.

In 2017 he published, The Free Musics, which has sold around 900 copies, mainly to improvisers in the US through direct contact, and often on tour. In 2022 he published another book, Shaky Ground, which combines his self-questioning and life experiences with a historical analysis of the current situation, particularly the left today. His books are available directly from him, info at Spring Garden Editions: http://www.springgardenmusic.com/Spring_Garden_Editions.htm

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Ben Wright from Dixon, New Mexico plays double bass. He cut his teeth in Philadelphia punk rock, and has since been working the double bass for 30 odd years, bolstered by intense spats of incidental formal training. A lover of the lowest frequencies, Ben has explored many disparate forms of music through the bass, yet always returns to the wellspring of improvisation. Currently, Ben plays with Irksome, Wind Up Birds, Radio Free Bassanda, poet John Biscello, Jack Wright, Dave Wayne, and assorted eclectic partners locally and nationally.

"I play music for the bliss of that instant when I lose consciousness of my surroundings, my instrument, and myself… there is only music. That is the crux where spontaneous creation between performers and audience is conceived."

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TRIO

Forlano/Koyle/Tatum

Recognized for their authentic, fearless performances, Jesse Tatum is a musician, performing chamber music, orchestral music, operas, and solo works. They are Principal Flute of The Santa Fe Symphony, Santa Fe Pro Musica, Opera Southwest Orchestra, and a Core Member at Chatter, where she has performed over 15 years of adventurous chamber music with the innovative Albuquerque-based chamber ensemble. Additionally, Jesse has performed many seasons with The Santa Fe Opera and the New Mexico Philharmonic.

Tatum is described as “reliably excellent” (Santa Fe New Mexican), “The principal flutist Jesse is just a rock star” (Ryan McAdams, conductor), “She is the music of the universe and cannot be contained” (Meow Wolf). Pasatiempo called her an “overachiever” in their profile of the flutist.

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Gregg Koyle is a percussionist who has spent the majority of his time as of late in the world of classical music, performing with Santa Fe Pro Musica, Chatter and the Santa Fe Opera. However, one of his passions has been the sonic environment of free improvisation and cross disciplinary collaboration, which remained embedded in him from his graduate school days at the University of Michigan, performing at Detroit’s Post-Industrial De-Constructionist Café.

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David Forlano who, prior to relocating to Santa Fe in 2005, worked extensively in sound and score design for theater and dance in Philadelphia. His work with Toshi Makihara in sound performance and improvisation, during that time, placed him as a regular in the Philadelphia free improvisation scene. He is currently a very active participant in New Mexico's active experimental music scene.  His current genre-bending musical explorations withTrey Gunn meld free-improvisation, electronics and live sampling into their sound.  David has a regular practice collaborating with a variety of musicians. 

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