"Philipp Wachsmann. Born Uganda, 1944; violin, viola and electronics.

In the CD booklet to Gushwachs, John Corbett notes that Phillip Wachsmann came to free improvisation from a predominantly classical background, particularly via the contemporary experiments of "indeterminacy, graphic and prose-based scores, conceptualism and electroacoustics, listening to Webern, Partch, Ives, Berio and Varèse, reading 'Die Reihe' and interrogating the rhythmic, harmonic and melodic preoccupations of Western art music. Starting in 1969, Wachsmann was a member of Yggdrasil, an ensemble performing works by Cage, Cardew, Feldman, Ashley and others and in this group he used contact mikes on the violin and made his own electronic instruments, ring modulators and routing devices. Ironically, his studies with Nadia Boulanger in Paris (1969-1970) pushed him hard in the direction of free music. He recalls: 'Despite her neoclassical orientation, her insistence that composition is about the imagination of performance and its realisation, the live moment, and her stunning ability to make this happen was a powerful influence on me, steering towards 'performance' and therefore 'improvisation'.'"

Wachsmann moved from Yggdrasil to Chamberpot - recorded on Bead 2 - and shortly thereafter appeared on Tony Oxley's influential February papers, forward looking in the virtual 'industrial' orientation of some of the tracks, years before this became an accepted genre; the two musicians have continued to work together, in various groupings but notably in the percussionist's Celebration Orchestra. Philipp Wachsmann has also performed and/or recorded with: Derek Bailey's Company, e.g. on the recording Epiphanies; Georg Graewe; Barry Guy; Iskra 1903; King Übü Orchestrü; London Jazz Composers' Orchestra; Evan Parker, particularly as part of the Evan Parker Electronic Project; Quintet Moderne; Fred Van Hove's ML DD 4; Rüdiger Carl's COWWS (now CPWWS) Quintet; and Lines, with Martin Blume, Jim Denley, Axel Dörner and Marcio Mattos. He also plays as a solo musician.

Phillip Wachsmann also administers Bead Records."

"David Leahy is a Kent (UK) based musician and dancer specialising in things improvised, from Free Improvisation in music to Contact Improvisation in dance.

In my past, I journeyed through Classical music, through celtic and world music to arrive at Jazz, before focusing my energy on music with less recognisable stylistic constraints. My relationship with dance began as a composer for choreographies, before becoming an accompanist and finally a dancer myself.

I now maintain a duel practice working in the UK and internationally as a soloist and performer (music, dance and combined) / accompanist / composer / conductor and facilitator.

I produce my own work as well as in collaboration with others. Notable ongoing relationships with individuals and institutions include ; London Improvisers Orchestra, Wuppertal Improvisers Orchestra, MbUSkers (Kent-based MbUS group), and Improvisers on the European free improvised music scene. Fevered Sleep (Theatre Company), London Contact Improvisers, Trinity Laban, Greenwich Dance Agency, Underscores in London, Slap, Tina Krasevec, Hagit Yakari, Daun Ensemble, Deirdre Starr, Geraldo Si, Benedict Taylor, Angeline Conaghan and Groundswell Arts.

I recently completed a Masters in Creative Practice at Trinity Laban, which focused on my movement practice. However, my final project centred around the translation of the Contact Improvisation framework, the Underscore developed by Nancy Stark Smith, so as to be suitable for improvising musicians (Music-based Underscore). This is now an ongoing practice with regular sessions in both Kent and London, which is also fuelling plans for further study into music as a somatic practice.

Bruno Gustralla is a cellist and bandoneon, born in France in 1957, living with ceramicist Aline Stanway in Oxford. His main work is restoring and making violins and cellos as part of Oxford Volins. He plays cello and bandoneon in MUE, Set Ensemble, Ensemble Azut, Oxford Improvisers, Cold Harbour Trio, DEC Project. He has collaborated amongst others with Philipp Wachsmann, Dominic Lash, Cafe Reason Dance Company, Macarena Ortuzar, Helena Gough, Martin Hackett, Pete McPhail and various members of the collective Oxford Improvisers. Experience as an instrument maker influences his attitude to sound. He uses conventional notation, field recordings and various sound editing techniques.

Trevor Taylor is an improvising musician based in the UK, performing electroacoustic improvisation. He is best known for his band Circuit, and his associations with saxophonists Evan Parker and Paul Dunmall. He is also the label leader for FMR (Future Music Records).

Catherine Hope Jones is a UK artist and sound artist, know mostly for her photograph work for free improvisation albums. With Imaginary String Quintet she is noted for providing sounds.