November the 14th 2008: PLEASE NOTE: Curious Voice Duo WILL NOT PERFORM AT THIS EVENT - BUT ELISABETH WILL PERFORM WITH HER SOLO SINGER SONGWRITER PROJECT - GO HEAR HER! BEST OF GOBSMACK:
Curious Voice Duo: “… Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir introduce themselves. What follows is quite simply the most spine-tingly beautiful and DIFFERENT collection of sounds I have ever witnessed. Orgasmic hiccups, groans, whispers, tongue-clicks/pops: the shrieks of climax. Absolutely sublime!" - Jamie Stephenson, Sandman Magazine. --------- Nygaard and Jardardottir have incredibly varied backgrounds as performing and composing musicians, but their common ground is their mutual enormous and childlike curiosity for their instrument; the voice. They see the voice as an ever lasting mystery, and through playing with it musically, as in a child’s playing, they are in company continuously astonished to discover new, secret depths and surfaces of its being and behaviour. --------- For more resources on Curious Voice Duo, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/curiousvoiceduo Or the duo’s pages at: http://www.maria-jardardottir.com.

Venue: TBC, London, England. Time: TBC. The performance is open to the public.


Curious Voice Duo is currently booking engangements for 2008 and 2009. If you are keen to have the duo, please feel free to get in touch.

Past:

March the 3rd 2008: Alex Bonney Quartet and Curious Voice Duo at The Oxford:
Alex Bonney Quartet: will be playing a set of new original music by Bonney influenced by Ornette Coleman, Tomasz Stanko, Messiaen and others. Alex Bonney - trumpet, Robin Fincker - sax, Johnny Brierley – bass and Jeff Williams - drums

Curious Voice Duo: “… Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir introduce themselves. What follows is quite simply the most spine-tingly beautiful and DIFFERENT collection of sounds I have ever witnessed. Orgasmic hiccups, groans, whispers, tongue-clicks/pops: the shrieks of climax. Absolutely sublime!" - Jamie Stephenson, Sandman Magazine. --------- Nygaard and Jardardottir have incredibly varied backgrounds as performing and composing musicians, but their common ground is their mutual enormous and childlike curiosity for their instrument; the voice. They see the voice as an ever lasting mystery, and through playing with it musically, as in a child’s playing, they are in company continuously astonished to discover new, secret depths and surfaces of its being and behaviour. --------- For more resources on Curious Voice Duo, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/curiousvoiceduo Or the duo’s pages at: http://www.maria-jardardottir.com.

Venue: The Oxford, Kentish Town Road, London, England. Time: 20:00. The performance is open to the public.


March the 2nd 2008: Jenni Roditi and Curious Voice Duo at The Loft:
The composer and vocalist Jenni Roditi’s eclectic work is unbound by stylistic convention and includes influences from classical, contemporary, popular and world music. Through her own performance and development as a singer she is particularly focussed on composing for the voice and exploits its potential to cross genres to great effect. She has studied with Flamenco Gypsy singers, North Indian Khyal singing masters, Gamelan musicians and Balinese Temple singers. For more information, please visit: http://www.jenni-roditi.com/

Curious Voice Duo: “… Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir introduce themselves. What follows is quite simply the most spine-tingly beautiful and DIFFERENT collection of sounds I have ever witnessed. Orgasmic hiccups, groans, whispers, tongue-clicks/pops: the shrieks of climax. Absolutely sublime!" - Jamie Stephenson, Sandman Magazine. --------- Nygaard and Jardardottir have incredibly varied backgrounds as performing and composing musicians, but their common ground is their mutual enormous and childlike curiosity for their instrument; the voice. They see the voice as an ever lasting mystery, and through playing with it musically, as in a child’s playing, they are in company continuously astonished to discover new, secret depths and surfaces of its being and behaviour. --------- For more resources on Curious Voice Duo, please visit: http://www.myspace.com/curiousvoiceduo Or the duo’s pages at: http://www.maria-jardardottir.com.

Venue: The Loft, Crouch End, London, England. Time: 20:00. The performance is open to the public.


February the 7th 2007: Description by the NCM room...:

"Kling Klang
I totally buzz off Kling Klang. Fat electro krautrock riffs and landscapes get channeled through amiable scousers. http://www.myspace.com/klingklang listen to Heavydale

Quack Quack
Yorskhire’s top semi-pro rock band create pulsing rhythmic grooves lovingly fermented from the finest drums, synths and bass they could get their hands on. A very special vintage. http://www.myspace.com/thisisquackquack listen to Conversations

Minghe Morte
Musicianship of the highest calibre which will blow your head clean off. With drums, fucked up sax and bass coming together for infectiously violating rock grooves, tender atmospheres and aggresive spasmodic climaxing. http://www.myspace.com/minghemorte listen to i Punch U Coz i Like U

Curious Voice Duo
Two lovely girls from LIMA* who know their voices. Performing within semi-structures with an innocent improvisational flair, entwining their heavenly voices in gorgeously melodic dialogue. http://www.myspace.com/elisabethnygaard http://www.myspace.com/mariajardardottir listen to Elisabeth’s ’Clinical Waste’ here : http://www.myspace.com/underthestairsstudio listen to Maria’s Part 5 Joy of Liberation on her site * LIMA = Leeds Improvised Music Association http://www.myspace.com/leedsimprovisedmusicassociation"

Venue: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, England. Time: 20:00. Tix: £4. The performance is open to the public.


April the 24th 2007: LIMAcoustic: Audun Ellingsen + LIMAs + Chris Sharkey solo.

LIMAcoustic is a new series of collaborative acoustic concerts wherein a selection of smaller sets provided by LIMA members/ensembles as well as fantastic guest performers and ensembles are put together into a varied and explorative night in Holy Trinity Church in Leeds city centre.

Our second night of the series will feature:

Audun Ellingsen + LIMAs: Norwegian double bass player Audun Ellingsen returns to Leeds to continue his collaboration with LIMA. This time around Audun will build up and orchestrate a night of semi-guided and freely improvised music together with Ståle Birkeland on drums, Christophe de Bezenac on tenor sax, Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir on voices. The featured musicians will appear in smaller and larger units such as solo acts, duos and more.

For more information and listening:
http://www.myspace.com/audunellingsen


Chris Sharkey: “Plays guitar in no particular style with lots of different people. Most of it is made up on the spot.”

For more resources: http://www.myspace.com/chrissharkey


Venue: Holy Tinity Church, Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane, Leeds, England. Phone: +44 (0)113 2454 268. Tix: £4/3. The performance is open to the public. Feel free to bring drinks, but no glass bottles. Enquires: jardardottir at hotmail dot com

March the 19th 2007: LIMAcoustic: 7 Hertz + Curious Voice Duo + Ninon Foiret.

LIMAcoustic is a new series of collaborative acoustic concerts wherein a selection of smaller sets provided by LIMA members/ensembles as well as fantastic guest performers and ensembles are put together into a varied and explorative night in Holy Trinity Church in Leeds city centre.

Our launch of the series is on March the 19th and will feature:

7 Hertz: Crunchy yet smooth mix of folk, jazz, klezmer, contemporary classical and improvised music. http://www.myspace.com/the7hertzband

Curious Voice Duo: Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir employing their voices in childlike and unified exploration, semi-composed and free. http://www.maria-jardardottir.com / http://www.myspace.com/curiousvoiceduo

Ninon Foiret: Flute and bandoneon player creating wonderful world music influenced improvisations. http://www.myspace.com/ninonfoiret


Venue: Holy Tinity Church, Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane, Leeds, England. Phone: +44 (0)113 2454 268. Tix: £4/3. The performance is open to the public. Feel free to bring drinks, but no glass bottles. Enquires: jardardottir at hotmail dot com

March the 16th 2007: Curious Voice Duo at Gobsmack event at The Spitz in London:

Gobsmack is an event featuring explorative voice work curated by Music Orbit and Kerry Andrew. Contributing artists are: Juice (vocal trio ensemble; from throat-singing to human percussion, ethereal harmonies to crackling electronics), Curious Voice Duo (two voices in childlike and unified exploration presenting innovative acoustic vocal music, semi-composed and free), Jamie Woon (soulful looped vocals), Jenni Roditi (Indian-inflected singer-songwriter/contemporary singer) and WanDan (beatboxer).

Order tickets at: http://www.spitz.co.uk

Venue: The Spitz, 109 Commercial St, E1 6BG, London, England. Phone: +44 (0)20 7392 9032. Tix: £5. The performance is open to the public.


March the 8th 2007: The NCM room presents: SO FRACAS + Post War Years + Curious Voice Duo:

- O Fracas:

O Fracas formed and live in Leeds. Alex and Ben have known each other since school. They argued then, they argue now. It's part of the writing process; a fight with an amicable outcome. They found Jim wandering about the moors one day. Luckily social services hadn't got to him yet, so they took him in as one of their own. No one really knows where he's from, but its just one of those mysteries of life.

"O Fracas are a strange, but captivating young band... agitated and complex... exciting... catchy weirdo pop-rock... It's not commercial, but intelligent, ambitious and deserves to carve a niche for itself." - WHISPERIN AND HOLLERIN.COM, 8/10.

Ben - vocals, guitar, Alex - guitar, vocals, Jim – drums and Matt - bass, vocals.

For additional information:

http://www.ofracas.com
http://www.myspace.com/ofracas

- Post War Years:

Post War Years start jumping around at the sound of a horn sound. It's just what happens when you are that startled. They all went to different schools in Leamington Spa in the middle of England - then they started making fun with old organs and samplers and powerful 'electric' guitars. This fun is now available to hear at gigs and concerts across the world wide world. They have been slowly stitching it right on the button.

Simon – vocal, guitar, organ, Henry – vocal, guitar, samples, Tom – vocal, bass, Fred – drum and drums.

For additional information:

http://www.myspace.com/thempostwaryears

- Curious Voice Duo:

"… Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir introduce themselves. What follows is quite simply the most spine-tingly beautiful and DIFFERENT collection of sounds I have ever witnessed. Orgasmic hiccups, groans, whispers, tongue-clicks/pops: the shrieks of climax. Absolutely sublime!" - Jamie Stephenson, Sandman Magazine.

For additional information please visit the duo’s MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/curiousvoiceduo
Or the duo’s pages in the left hand menu at this site.

The concert is presented by The NCM room in collaboration with LIMA. Venue: The Packhorse, 208 Woodhouse Lane (near the University), LS2 9ES, England. Phone: +44 (0)113 2453 980. Time: 20: 00. Tix: £4. The performance is open to the public.

December the 7th 2006: A double bill concert with two duo sets plus a potential melt down at the end of the evening from:

Gunboat Diplomacy: Improvisations from Leon Johnson on tenor saxophone and Paul Hession on drum set.

Curious Voice Duo: Improvised and semi-guided material from Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir on voices.

Bring your reindeer and your own red snout and be embraced by warming love and uplifting December laments.

Venue: The Adelphi, 5 Hunslet Road, Leeds, England. Time: 20:00. Tix: £4/3. The performance is open to the public.

November the 17th 2006: In concert performing their creative original composed, semiguided and improvised material. Curious Voice Duo will do one of the sections of a tripple bill concert along f-ire COLLECTIVE featuring Oriole and Ingrid Laubrock Quintet.

Venue: The National Center For Early Music, St Margaret's Church, Walmgate, YO1 9TL, York, England. Time: TBA. Tix: TBA. Tel: +44 (0)190 4632 220. The performance is open to the public.

October the 25th 2006: Paul Hession at 50 with guests: Paul Hession was invited to curate his own celebration (!) and he chose to rekindle an old collaboration that first started back in the 80's. The duo with Jeffrey Morgan is two old friends getting together to mull over various issues...... Reeds and percussion is a well established duo format that lends itself to animated discourse and these two should provide a tasty aperitif. (Sorry about the mixed metaphor).

Furthermore he invited two more ensembles to join in and contribute with each their act:

- Curious Voice Duo:

“… Elisabeth Nygaard and Maria Jardardottir introduce themselves. What follows is quite simply the most spine-tingly beautiful and DIFFERENT collection of sounds I have ever witnessed. Orgasmic hiccups, groans, whispers, tongue-clicks/pops: the shrieks of climax. Absolutely sublime!" - Jamie Stephenson, Sandman Magazine.

- Conquistador:

Conquistador is a six piece improvising band that comprises two saxophones, guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. The band is led by Leon Johnson who, in addition to playing tenor saxophone, runs a well known bar in Leeds. Conquistador play a spontaneous melodic and groove based music that runs the gamut from pure abstraction to straight ahead...
The other members of the band are: Pete Williams – alto saxophone, Stephen Barnett – guitars, Tarek Modi – fender rhodes, Dave Kane – bass and Paul Hession – drum set.

In other words this will be a great and energetic party!

Venue: The Wardrobe, St Peters Square, Leeds, England. Time: 20:00. Tix: £7/5. The performance is open to the public.

March the 24th 2006: Curious Voice Duo is booked for doing a workshop and performance at the Leeds International Jazz Conference 2006 - Jazz, Politics and the Popular. The duo will do a combination of a concert performance and a seminar where they will talk about their work; being composition, performance and research concerning having the voice as the only sound source. The workshop/performance will be open for festival attendees only and the audience is welcomed to ask questions and put forwards feedback and comments throughout.
Venue: Leeds College of Music (specific room to be confirmed), Leeds, England. Time: 15: 30 - 16: 30. Tix: Conference pass. The performance is not open to the public.

March the 10th 2006: Curious Voice Duo strikes again! This time with acoustically performed composed/semi-composed/free pieces in the stunning church room of Holy Trinity Church in Leeds City Centre.

This is a joint concert with the duo of Christophe De Bezenac (tenor sax) and Ståle Birkeland (drums/percussion) who also eagerly explore the sonic characteristics acoustically with their duo free improvisations. The duos will likely fuse for a quartet piece or two in the end of last set.

The concert is presented by LIMA (Leeds Improvised Music Association). Venue: The Holy Trinity Church, Leeds city centre, England. Time: 20: 00. Tix: £3. The performance is open to the public.

November the 25th 2005: The Termite Club ("a non-profit organisation promoting free-jazz-molten-noise-furiously-out-folk-nightmare-drone-minimal-loop-electro-acoustic and other extreme and experimental musics for 20 years") is celebrating their 22nd year this year and is conveniently arranging a little improvised music festival the weekend 24th - 27th of November where they have invited Curious Voice Duo to contribute with a set of their voicy escapades. Many other interesting acts as well, so have look at the line-up.
Venue: The Fenton, Woodhouse lane (by the university), Leeds, England. Time: 19: 30. Tix: £6/£4. The performance is open to the public.

October the 17th 2005: Curious Voice Duo will be doing a morning performance at The Venue, Quarry Hill, Leeds, England. Time: 10: 00. Free entrance. The performance is open to the public.

October the 17th 2005: Curious Voice Duo will be doing an afternoon performance at The Venue, Quarry Hill, Leeds, England. Time: 14: 00. Free entrance. The performance is open to the public.

June the 9th 2005: Curious Voice Duo will be doing an afternoon performance at The Venue, Quarry Hill, Leeds, England. Time: 16: 00. Free entrance. The performance is open to the public.

June the 2nd 2005: Curious Voice Duo will do another joint concert shared with one of Paul Hession’s ensembles, the trio: Paul Hession/Paul Moore/Blaise Siwula.

Paul Hession (drum set) "has the ability to impart swing to apparently metreless playing" according to critic Brian Morton. Resources on Hession: http://www.softdrum.com
Paul Moore (double bass) is about to finish his studies at CLCM and this will be his first gig as a civilian! He is a robust bass player with a big sound...
Blaise Siwula (alto saxophone) born in Detroit in 1950, he now lives in New York where he has played with the likes of Cecil Taylor, Peter Kowald, Vincent Chancey & William Parker. In NYC he is active with the Improvisers' Collective & organises gigs for C.O.M.A. Resources on Siwula: http://home.earthlink.net/~bbrjsiwula/

The concert is presented by LIMA (Leeds Improvised Music Association). Venue: The George (Basement), Great George Street, Leeds city centre, England. Time: 20: 00. Tix: £4/£3. The performance is open to the public.

May the 27th 2005: Curious Voice Duo will perform a set of their playful and daring vocal improv and semi-compositions at the Adelphi in Leeds. The concert is promoted by The Termite Club ("a non-profit organisation promoting free-jazz-molten-noise-furiously-out-folk-nightmare-drone-minimal-loop-electro-acoustic and other extreme and experimental musics for 20 years") and is a double bill concert with duo work from the alto saxophonist Wally Shoup (Seattle, US. Resources: http://www.speakeasy.org/~wallyshp/wshoup/ ) and drummer/percussionist Paul Hession (Leeds, UK. Resources: http://www.softdrum.com ).
Venue: The Adelphi, 5 Hunslet Road, Leeds, England. Time: 20: 00. Tix: £5/£3. The performance is open to the public.

May the 18th 2005: In a church concert Curious Voice Duo will acoustically perform a set of original, fresh and contemporary vocal music both based on guided/compositional tools and free improvisation. The work will feature the two musicians in challenging exploration of the voice.
The concert is presented by LIMA (Leeds Improvised Music Association). Venue: Holy trinity Church, Leeds city centre, England. Time: 19: 30. Tix: To be confirmed. The performance is open to the public.

April the 13th 2005: In concert performing contemporary compositions blended with free improvisation.
The concert is part of the concert series arranged through the newly founded association LIMA (Leeds Improvised Music Association). Venue: The Adelphi, 5 Hunslet Road, Leeds, England.
Time: 20: 30. Tix: £3. The performance is open to the public.

April the 6th 2005: Curious Voice Duo recorded material for their debut CD, ‘At the Tip and the Root of the Tongue’. The recording is mixed and finished and they are currently in the process of searching for a record label/distributor for releasing the CD.

March the 22nd 2005: Curious Voice Duo will perform a set of original, fresh and contemporary vocal music exploring their interesting use of the voice. The concert is at The Wardrobe, Quarry Hill, Leeds, England. Time: 21: 00. Free entrance. The performance is open to the public.