The Aesthetics series of concerts focus upon the 7 Zen aesthetic art principles, taking a single principle as the focus for each concert. The Shunyata Improvisation Group will approach the 7 Zen aesthetic principles and the discourse about Shunyata in Buddhism as inspiration for our musical practice and stylistic considerations, providing some foundation stones to work from.

This concert focusses upon the Zen art aesthetic of Naturalness as our inspiration point for improvisation:

"The creator of the art, the subject of the art, and the expression itself merge into a single process in which there is no reflection or evaluation, just art manifesting itself." John Daido Loori

"In Zen we put emphasis on demeanour, or behaviour. By behaviour we do not mean a particular way that you ought to behave, but rather the natural expression of yourself. We emphasize straightforwardness. You should be true to your feelings, and to your mind, expressing yourself without any reservations. This helps the listener to understand more easily." Shunryu Suzuki

We are privileged to be supported by Molar Crime, North-East based improvisers Graeme Hopper (percussion/electronics) and Posset (dictaphones/objects)at this concert. We have had several collaborations with Posset (Joe Murray) and look forward to hearing his latest musical adventure with Graeme.

Molar Crime focus on the small, intimate sounds of the everyday; think tea cup rattles or the soft sigh of an escalator.  Before lockdown Graeme and Joe set up regular Saturday afternoon rehearsals carefully building up a personal sound vocabulary and listening-based approach.  Their sound-world is a place where drum skins are as likely to drone as hum, voices appear from stale air, silvery peals of feedback land soft as snow. Naming themselves Molar Crime they have released CDs on Chocolate Monk, 'New Fun' (choc. 570) and played Whitley Bay's 'The Bound' Bookshop.