#3: 1988 by SIMF

After a one-year hiatus and a noticeable increase in improvised music activity in Seattle, musicians Wally Shoup, Dennis Rea, Charley Rowan, and Doug Haire formed a planning committee with the goal of giving the festival a higher profile through advertising, writing about improvised music, and bringing in notable players from outside Seattle. Their efforts resulted in the Third Seattle Festival of Improvised Music, held on February 28, 1988, at the New Melody Tavern (now the Tractor Tavern) in Ballard. The success of that festival, both musically and in terms of attendance – more than 200 audience members squeezed into the room on a Sunday night for five hours of performances – far exceeded expectations and confirmed a growing interest in free music in the Seattle area. From that point on, the SIMF became an annual event that has grown with each succeeding year. (Dennis Rea)

The poster, designed by David Hartz, billed the event as "5 hours of improvised music and dance performance."

Participating artists:
Eric Amrine, guitar
Rob Angus, electronics
Marc Barreca, electronics
Jesse Bernstein, spoken word
Johnny Calcagno, ?
Nancy Campbell, flutes (Olympia)
Amy Denio, alto sax/guitar/accordion/voice
Tom Djll, trumpet/electronics (Bay Area)
Craig Flory, clarinets
Lori Goldston, cello
Robert Hinrix, guitar
Kathleen Hunt, dance
Robert Jenkins, electric guitar
Jon Keliehor's Improbable Birds (members ?)
Pete Leinonen, bass
Jeff McGrath, ?
Metaphonics (members ?)
Katie O'Looney, drums (NYC)
Dennis Rea, electric guitar
Charlie Rowan, ?
Wally Shoup, alto sax
Harlan Mark Vale, drums (Olympia)
Roberto Valenza, ?

Set list:
Solo - Marc Barreca
Trio - Johnny Calcagno, Robert Hinrix, Kathleen Hunt
Trio - Nancy Campbell, Amy Denio, Katie O'Looney
Quartet - Catabatics (Dennis Rea, Charlie Rowan, Wally Shoup, Harlan Mark Vale)
Solo - Tom Djll
Jon Keliehor's Improbable Birds
Metaphonics
Quintet - The Nördströms (Eric Amrine, Lori Goldston, Robert Jenkins, Katie O'Looney, Dennis Rea)
Quintet - Operavisation (Rob Angus, Jesse Bernstein, Craig Flory, Pete Leinonen, Jeff McGrath, Roberto Valenza)

Initiated in 1986 by Paul Hoskin, the Seattle Improvised Music Festival is perhaps the longest running festival of free improvised music in North America.

More material will be added here as it emerges. We welcome contributions.

Artists wishing to have their recordings removed will be accommodated upon request.