High Zero is the premier festival of Improvised, Experimental music on the East Coast, being fully devoted to new collaborations between the most inspired improvisors from around the world.

The festival exposes large audiences to this radical music in its pure form. Large-scale public concerts, recording sessions, workshops, and guerilla street performances are all part of the heady mix. The players are carefully selected by the festival's organizers for their intense, unique music, whether it is based around dramatic intensity, humor, specially designed instruments, original approach, raw sound, or nearly superhuman instrumental technique. The resulting collaborations challenge the limits of music and delight by their audacity, expressiveness, immediacy, and innovation. It isn't about stars or established projects; it is about the most uncompromising and stimulating new improvised music we can bring together.

Schedule Of Events:

Solo
Sam Pluta electronics

Set 1
Darien Baiza drums
Bonnie Lander voice
Jamal Moore reeds, percussion, electronics
Chris Williams trumpet

Set 2
Ishmael Ali cello, SP-404
CK Barlow sampling
Rachel Beetz flute, electronics

Set 3
Thomas Florin piano
Tom Leonardson synthesizer
The Emperor King Bishop: Solomon Selassie sax, keys, bass, electronics, voice
Luc Vitk accordian, hichiriki, synth, drums

Set 4
Titania Berti violin
Che Davis trombone
Putu Tangkas Adi Hiranmayena Balinese gamelan
Roman Norfleet voice, reeds, electronics, percussion

6:00pm - High Zero Parade

Marching to cross-rhythms with strange instruments and extended techniques, the High Zero Parade is a long-standing tradition on the first night of the festival.

All are welcome. Bring a loud instrument. Percussion and low brass especially welcome.

Meet at Baltimore Theatre Project at 6pm. Parade will start moving at 6:15 headed up Maryland to Layafayette St. over to Charles Theatre, down Charles St. to Biddle, west to the Meyerhoff, and then back to BTP. This should take approximately 35 minutes.

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