[NewMusic] Booking / 'Usual Suspects'

[Matt J. Ingalls]

> PG:
> Well, I don't see such a radical difference here in improv vs.
> composition. Composition is "fixed" - it speculates that given a setting
> of predetermined musical choices, one can predict the outcomes. In the
> case of improvisation, the speculation is that anything can happen.

but just because it *can* does not mean that it *will* happen.

> On the other hand, if I were to put together a group of improvisers and
> we got together and played once a month - I have a feeling the music
> would be more predictable than the "predetermined" music we came up

but as an audience member i could care less. i just want to hear 
something amazing!  i want to be surprised - and it seems much easier to 
predertmine that leave it up to chance.

> Damon's point is a good one - playing around with lots of different
> people kind of creates this meta-band (which is what Raskin and I
> discovered in the 2+2 construct - everyone seems to speak this
> "language" that is developing), where certain practices are fluid and
> easily transferable across a variety of groups. I like that - and again,
> it sort of emphasizes the "usual suspects" routine - but in the bay
> area, that list of usual suspects is pretty large - and that's a
> beautiful thing, IMO.

yea, i would say its more like a meta-composition
or rules of engagement - totally NOT "anything can happen"

-m