Chimera is Tim Crofts, François Houle and Norman Adams. All three are all established artists on the Canadian music scene and have distinguished themselves as leaders on their respective areas (François on the West Coast, in the vibrant Vancouver creative music scene; Norman and Tim in Eastern Canada at the centre of Halifax’s rich community of improvisers). Together, Chimera embodies the unique Canadian language of improvisation, born from our northern perspective, and absorption of European and American new music.

Chimera was born in 2018 at Halifax’s Open Waters Festival on a concert presented by suddenlyLISTEN. Since then they have embarked on a project to establish and disseminate this trio, and have been engaged to play at Zula Presents’ Watch it Burn! in Hamilton, Casa del Popolo in Montreal, on New Music Edmonton’s Now Hear This Festival, and at The University of Regina in March 2020.

François Houle has established himself as one of today’s most inventive musicians, in all of the diverse musical spheres he embraces: classical, jazz, new music, improvised music, and world music. He has twice been listed by Downbeat magazine as a “Talent Deserving Wider Recognition” and was hailed as a “Rising Star” in Downbeat’s Readers’ and Critics’ Poll. His extensive touring has led to solo appearances at major festivals across Canada, the United States and Europe, and he has released more than a dozen recordings, earning multiple Juno Award and West Coast Music Award nominations.

Tim Crofts is a true 21st Century pianist. He performs a wide variety of music in concerts clubs and recordings. However, Tim’s main focus remains improvisation & new music. His musical style combines elements of 20th century classical music with free jazz improvisation and world music aesthetics. In performance, Tim explores the full sonic capabilities of the acoustic piano through extended techniques and a wide range of piano preparations.

Norman Adams is the Artistic Director of suddenlyLISTEN, and a cellist and improviser exploring music, sound creation and multidisciplinary performance. Norm has performed across Canada, the US, the UK and France, collaborating with many leading artists including Joelle Leandre, Eddie Prévost, Pauline Oliveros, Gerry Hemingway, and Jean Derome. He has released two recordings with the C/A/P Trio and currently has a solo recording in production. In 2010 Norm was awarded an Established Artist Award by the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council, and he serves on several arts boards, including the Canadian New Music Network.