The Ex & Brass Unbound

The Ex has been around since 1979, always experimenting with styles, musical forms and kindred spirits, favouring improvisation over predictability. The band remains as vital as ever. Since the 1980s they have collaborated with improvisers from all over the world, both on record and on stage. Think of the legendary Ex festivals, the remarkable collaboration with Tom Cora, and albums such as Joggers & Smoggers, Instant, Een Rondje Holland and The Ex at Bimhuis (1991-2015).

A particularly striking chapter in the history of The Ex is their project with Brass Unbound, which grew out of their collaboration with Ethiopian legend Getatchew Mekuria. For those performances they were joined by improvisers such as Mats Gustafsson, Ken Vandermark, Wolter Wierbos and Roy Paci, all of whom appear on the album Enormous Doorfrom 2013. More than a decade later, The Ex resumes the collaboration with Brass Unbound. Familiar fellow travellers Ken Vandermark, Mats Gustafsson and Roy Paci are on board, joined by three younger musicians who have entered their orbit in recent years: Hanne De Backer, Signe Emmeluth and Guro Kvale. A quartet and six guests: ten musicians in all.