SOUTH WALES IMPROVISERS

South Wales Improvisers, in partnership with SHIFT, has established a dynamic environment for musicians to participate in free improvised ensemble music. This initiative offers regular twicw monthly sessions that encourage a wide array of participants to immerse themselves in the creative spontaneity of musical expression. Emphasising inclusivity, SW Improvisers invites individuals of all skill levels, from experienced musicians to complete beginners, to join in. The core of these gatherings is the joyful exploration of sound, making prior experience unnecessary for participation.

If you are interested in taking part in regular sessions contact; chris-parfitt@sky.com


All sessions take place Sundays 2pm-4pm on the dates below:


2025 –

December 7th / 21st



2026 –

Jan 14th/28th

Feb 11th/25th

Mar 10th/24th

April 7th/21st

May 5th/19th

June 2nd/16th/30th

July 14th/28th

Aug 11th/25th

Free improvisation is “usually performed collectively between two or more players”, where “conception and realization are fused into one action or process”, and where there is “no storage of conceptual or thematic information to be drawn upon”. Free improvisation takes place “in the here and now without resorting to support systems of symbols to be translated”. (Gaudinsky 1982: 37)

Free improvisation is a collective process, and it does not connect itself to common conventions and predetermined frameworks. (Lutz 1999: 2)

A typical definition of freely improvised music is that: “free music is what is played when players do not consciously reinforce musical idioms or existing compositions”. (Berndt 1996: 1)

In free improvisation, the music is discovered and invented spontaneously, “while performing it, without preconceived formulation, scoring, or content”. (Solomon 1986: 226)