Part of the residency Peripheral Vision
Southern Cross
"Peripheral Vision & The Clearing
The Clearing The Clearing is a sonic wilderness—a nomadic space where sound roams free, and where the lines between structure and chaos, melody and noise, ritual and rebellion dissolve. Kayla Milmine (soprano saxophone), Jonathan Kay (saxophones, shakuhachi), Nick Fraser (drums, percussion), and Patrick O’Reilly (guitar, electronics) create a constantly evolving sound-worlds that are organic, unpredictable, alive through deep listening and fearless experimentation.
Their music is a nomadic ritual that conjurings new terrains giving rise to magickal sound-worlds. Milmine’s soprano saxophone carves sharp, otherworldly shapes—its raspy, fevered bursts alternating with the haunting, fragile whispers of a momentary pause. Kay’s saxophones and shakuhachi bring breath into worlds both ancient and futuristic, bending time and texture into expansive, meditative drones. Fraser’s drumming serves as both foundation and force of nature—ranging from thunderous pulses to whisper-soft intimations, his rhythms a guiding pulse that shifts with the ensemble’s flux. O’Reilly’s guitar and electronics fracture and reassemble sound, stretching sonic boundaries into new dimensions, with textures that morph between glacial drones and fiery eruptions of frenetic energy.
The Clearing draws inspiration from the restless spirit of free improvisation, channeling the boundless experimentation of Don Cherry, the fearless vision of Anthony Braxton, and the ritualistic resonance of William Parker. It is not a fixed destination but an ongoing journey—a search for sound that is as fluid and dynamic as the moment it inhabits. There are no boundaries, no limits—only the unfolding exploration of the unknown.
Peripheral Vision is one of the most exciting and innovative jazz quartets on the international jazz scene, performing together for 15 years. Based in Toronto, Canada, the creative leaders of the group are long-time musical collaborators, guitarist Don Scott and bassist Michael Herring. They have assembled a synergistic musical unit designed to push the boundaries of jazz while engaging the listener with a grooving, toe-tapping immediacy. Their distinctive musical voice bridges tradition and innovation, with deeply felt influences ranging from jazz, rock, classical, and improv, with a focus on dynamic group interaction. Scott and Herring are joined by saxophonist Trevor Hogg and drummer Nick Fraser. "