Just spent an entire weekend "reviving" old (long-lost) issues of Improvijazzation Nation... it was amazing to discover how much writing had been done since 1990!

       Music, poetry, links to various and sundry radio & performance venues/shows... it was all there.  As I e-mailed those involved in the projects that had been reviewed, it rapidly became apparent just how "fluid" the world of improv & home production is... over 70% of the emails came back from the servers stamped "unknown recipient".  I don't suppose that should amaze me, since I have changed email/server addresses very rapidly in the last 3 to 6 months... but it made me wonder... where did they (all) GO?  Are the improvisors/peformance artists of yesteryear now "yuppies"?  Are they all balding & near to drawing social security?  Did they make legal name changes to protect the innocent?

     There is no question that this scene is still "here"... some of it has (rightfully) migrated to the Internet, but many players (like our friend Ernesto Diaz-Infante) are pursuing the muse with the same vibrant energy that we did so many years ago... all you have to do is search the net for keywords like "improv", "experimental music" & "freeform", & you'll see that there hundreds (if not thousands) of players out there - DOING IT THEMSELVES!

      I often find myself wondering if our efforts in the late eighties & early '90's impacted today's scene at all?  In some ways, it's easy for me to tell that our efforts did make an impression... as I review indie releases that come through the mailslot, I can hear strains of other players I listened to many years ago (live, even).  What do YOU think?  

      D.I.Y. (in my judgement) is "alive & well".  Some folks (these days) call it by different names, perhaps... but it still boils down to artists creating & (often) astounding listeners with what they have wrought.  & (once again, IMHO), this is a great thing!  No matter what name it goes by, the struggle for independence in the arts IS life!  If we could just convince those with the (damned) BOMBS that they should devote their energies to playing instead of politicking with the people's lives, we would move ahead at lightspeed!  

      At any rate, hope you enjoyed this issue, & that you will scan through some of those "back issues" to discover what was "happening" way back when.  No matter WHAT happens... keep on DOING IT YOURSELF!!!!    

Till next time....

Rotcod Zzaj

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