* Edition of 200 * Convergence was formed in 1976 (and disbanded around 1980), with written music for the ensemble scarce, improvisational sessions became more frequent. Their first few concerts at The Music Gallery had a somewhat haphazard and random mix of students, some of whom didn’t quite get the notion of free improv. Recorded live at the Music Gallery in September 1979, their instrumentation includes trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion, home-made instruments and toy instruments, which puts them in a zone between the boundaries of avant-garde jazz and free-form contemporary classical, a la Mev, Le Sonde, New Phonic Art, Gruppo di Improvvisazione Nuova Consonanza. Screenprinted jackets, two inserts.
"Fascinating unearthing by Beniffer of a document of this short-lived experiment in free improvisation that came into being as an off-shoot of the Humber College Ensemble For Experimental Music in 1976: Convergence existed between 1976 and 1980, progressing from performing written pieces to total free improvisation. The instrumental line-up is singular: percussion (including steel drums, a first in improvised music?), piano, trombone and trumpet and the group walk the line between free jazz, avant classical performance and weirdo communal freak with considerable aplomb. There are long periods of silence subtly bisected by cranky tones and elongated brass statements leading into heady percussive voids that touch on the NNCK/Embryo collaboration Embryonnck while giving the nod to some of the St Louis Black Artist Group experiments . Although they came out of an academic establishment there’s less of a pointillist Spontaneous Music Ensemble feel to the music and a little more garage band grit,. The steel drums really work to wonk the music, locating it in some kind of fourth world conservatory where it’s possible to get down as much as it is to take off. An excellent exhumation and another thrilling chapter in the secret history of 20th century free music. Recorded live at the Music Gallery September 18, 1979, screenprinted sleeves. Recommended. " - Volcanic Tongue
