“Meet the others”- sharing extended listening as tools in improvised music 

 This project focus on two main areas:

1) Practical exploration of frameworks for improvised music and sharing of artistic process knowledge.

2) Bridging artistic expertise and artistic research (AR) 

The project is situated in an artistic national and international context where jazz improvisation intersects with other genres and artistic expressions—a continuation of a long-standing tradition where jazz performers have constantly sought new frameworks and inspirations, not to mention free jazz's opening towards other artistic expressions within the experimental field. The participants have actively contributed to the development of this field nationally and internationally. Within artistic research, several doctoral works from the Department of music have contributed to this expanded field in various ways. The project connects with ongoing NTNU-projects at the Department of music, The poetics of space (Duch et al) and Rhythm and Intentionality in Computer Assisted Music making (Brandtsegg et al). Nationally, important AR contributions in this field include the works of Qvenild, Grydeland, Snekkestad and Zack from NMH, Zanussi, UiS, and Møster, UiB, among others.i Internationally, Norway stands out with its focus on artistic methods at the centre of the artistic researchii, while in Europe one often finds a more scientific approach to AR. (Kahr et al, 2022). In the development of the AR tradition, institutions experience a tension between a practitioner culture and the research perspective (Fadnes in Karh et al 2022)iv. This project aims to bridge that gap through the unique environment at NTNU’s Jazz Department, known for its high-level students and faculty, strong methodological foundation, (Solli et al 2021) and dynamic regional, national and international artistic collaborations. The department’s classical performing program also provides opportunities for interactions across genres. 

 Overarching research questions: 

1)What strategies can continue, emerge, or shift in the meeting points between improvisation, tradition, technique, and discipline—focusing on Jazzlinja’s core values: embodied knowledge, listening, presence, awareness, and interaction? 

2)How can artistic knowledge be shared with emphasis on artistic language and methods? 

Areas of developing expertise and knowledge: 

From a performer's perspective: To listen deeply/listen openly/listen informed in the interaction, to both systematically and intuitively be able to ask new questions to the artistic material, to oneself, and to others, to take the "other's" perspective in the encounter with traditions, ways of thinking and disciplines, to develop, clarify and share specific performer strategies, to share artistic knowledge, experience, criticism and enthusiasm.