chimera
Chimera arose from the vision of a musical gathering whose generative impulse would be the music itself. Nothing planned.
No forethought of how it should sound, no strategies for what form it will take. Nothing is pre-composed — it composes itself spontaneously. There is no conversation about the music. The music is the conversation.
The artists in this collective ensemble are all master musicians, innovators, composers, and improvisors. They have deeply immersed themselves in streams of avant-garde jazz, Indian raga, Moravian folk music, overtone singing, as well as early and modern European classical, American folk, and other genres and styles.
Individually they have performed with a stunning array of influential creative artists, such as Fred Frith, Bang-on-a-Can All-Stars, ETHEL, Paul Winter, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Simon, David Hykes, Pauline Oliveros, Bill Frisell, Matthew Shipp, Tani Tabbal, and Joe McPhee, to name but a few.
All this they leave at the door as they enter the shared space to meet in the moment, sharing a deep respect of each other’s experience and perspective, anticipating fresh expressions of deep feeling, awestruck beauty, and sheer delight. Together they explore new territory to create music that defies description.
THE ARTISTS:
Iva Bittová has worked in a wide range of musical genres, including jazz, rock, classical, and opera. She writes: “Deciding on a name for my style of music is far from over yet. Whatever it is, many of my listeners have long considered it highly original. It has always been everyday life that inspired my music and interpretations. Its inspiration has been total silence and an absolutely positive atmosphere. Those are the most important conditions and surroundings in which my ideas spring into life. I believe they have a significant impact on my music.”
Bassist, improviser, and composer Michael Bisio has been called a poet, a wonder, and one of the most virtuosic and imaginative performers on the double bass. With over 150 recordings — more than two dozen as leader or co-leader — Michael continues to grow and live in the tradition. The tradition is to move the tradition forward. “The physicality of Mr. Bisio’s bass playing puts him in touch with numerous predecessors in the Avant Garde, but his expressive touch is distinctive.” — The New York Times
Steve Gorn’s flute is featured on the 2011 GRAMMY®-winning recording Miho: Journey to the Mountain with the Paul Winter Consort, and on the Academy Award–winning documentary film Born into Brothels. He has performed Indian Classical Music and new American Music on the bansuri bamboo flute, soprano saxophone, and clarinet in concerts and festivals throughout the world. His unique blend of Indian music and contemporary world music can be heard on recordings with Paul Simon, Glen Velez, Jack DeJohnette, Paul Winter, Krishna Das, Jai Uttal, Tony Levin, Adam Rudolph, Layne Redmond, Richie Havens, Alessandra Belloni, Badal Roy, Simon Shaheen, Deepak Chopra, Robert Bly, Coleman Barks, and numerous Indian musicians.
Singer, guitarist, and composer Timothy Hill weaves a natural purity of voice with threads of otherworldly abstract sound, blending seamlessly into a style that transcends genre. He has performed with such diverse artists as John Cage, Bill Frisell, Jeff Buckley, Allen Ginsberg, Odetta, Pete Seeger, Madan Gopal Singh, Pauline Oliveros, Iva Bittová, Brooklyn Raga Massive, and Brad Mehldau. He appears on numerous recordings with David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, including the seminal Hearing Solar Winds. The New York Times called Hill “a virtuoso of the Tibetan chanting technique.”