About
The Shunyata Improvisation Group play an extraordinary style of music; intimate, distinct, quiet, acoustic, entirely composed in the moment with each of our concerts providing an immersive meditative experience. Inspired by Zen approaches to art, emphasising spaciousness, the group explores both textural and melodic forms of improvisation.
The group have released three albums, featured on the seminal Tusk Editions compilation album series, performed in music venues, sacred spaces, art galleries and the Tusk and Djazz festivals. The group have been broadcasted on Radio 3, Tusk TV and Panic Radio France.
Created in 2018 to develop improvisation inspired by Zen Art Principles audience feedback has confirmed the beneficial emotional impact the music creates.
The group have released three albums, featured on the seminal Tusk Editions compilation album series, performed in music venues, sacred spaces, art galleries and the Tusk and Djazz festivals. The group have been broadcasted on Radio 3, Tusk TV and Panic Radio France.
Created in 2018 to develop improvisation inspired by Zen Art Principles audience feedback has confirmed the beneficial emotional impact the music creates.
The musicians of the Shunyata Improvisation Group
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John Garner –ViolinJohn trained in classical, jazz and South Indian music. He has an impressive discography and toured at home and internationally. John combines immaculate technique with a fearless musicality and free-wheeling improvisational aesthetic.
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Mark Carroll –CelloMark is a composer, cellist, and pianist. As a composer, he has been commissioned by the London Sinfonietta and performances of his works include in the Royal Festival Hall and on Radio 3; as an improvising cellist he enjoys exploring the wider timbre possibilities of the instrument. Mark performed a solo electric cello improvisation at the 2016 Tusk Festival at the Sage Gateshead.
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NofC -Percussion, Melodion and VoiceAs an enthusiastic amateur, NofC has sung in multiple large and small choral contexts over a great many years, learnt melodeon via the Sage-based Folkworks programme, and performed improv with Cooking with Three and Newcastle Improvisers Workshop.
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trubba not -Guitartrubba not – acoustic guitar, trubba not has performed hundreds of concerts over several decades as a jazz and ambient guitarist. trubba not has a direct, spacious style seeking to emphasise the natural clarity of the acoustic guitar.
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Take a look at us on Instagram below
The Zen Aesthetic Principles which inspire us
- Asymmetry- not adhering to perfection
- Non-attachment- Open minded and detached, being without any form completes every form
- Naturalness- Artless in its natural form, without pretence
- Simplicity- Not complicated or gaudy
- Silence- Limitless Silence, the inward looking Mind
- Wizened Austerity- Solitary, dignified like an old tree
- Profound subtlety-A hidden memory lingering deep inside, limitless implications
Audience Feedback
“Exactly what is needed in this structured /unstructured world, Two hours of structured? Unstructured ? Peace, Lovely.”
“Surprising journey, hadn’t imagined was going to take, a welcome thank you”
“Uplifting-as ever it was thus”
“Always a pleasure, a beautiful serene experience”
“Loved the space in which everything/nothing happened”
“It’s both an odd and time bending experience it’s the slowest and quickest 2 hours of music you will listen to”
“Reflective practioner musicians +reflective practioner audience= Unique experience.”
“Surprising journey, hadn’t imagined was going to take, a welcome thank you”
“Uplifting-as ever it was thus”
“Always a pleasure, a beautiful serene experience”
“Loved the space in which everything/nothing happened”
“It’s both an odd and time bending experience it’s the slowest and quickest 2 hours of music you will listen to”
“Reflective practioner musicians +reflective practioner audience= Unique experience.”
