Meet Us

The nature of improvisation is to be flexible and change. As we grow exponentially, we want to understand and honor the lineages of contemporary vocal improvisation as we currently understand them. I begin with Bobby McFerrin, his brilliant solo work and unique ensemble Voicestra, as well as current ensembles Gimme5, Motion and a multitude of his other collaborations. Bobby offered The Well as a name for our network; a place in the center of the community where we come to restore, share and inspire.

I am an originating member of Voicestra from 1984. Our rehearsals in those first years were a revolution of sound, blend, listening and ensemble structure. We began totally improvised concerts in the late 1980’s. As the concerts toured so did word of this new format and wherever we went, ensembles began to form promoting similar ideas. I began teaching the concepts of vocal improvisation in the early ’90’s, many times in the company of David Worm and Joey Blake evolving to my current practice called Vocal River. I felt there was a method that might teach people both music skills and the intuition necessary in the voice and body to release inhibition and find more authentic music alone and together.