The first time I met Ajay Heble, Artistic Director of the Guelph Jazz Festival at the time, I knew I had found a kindred spirit, a sonic adventurer, a scholar, and super lovely person to hang with. Him and his wife Sheila are the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Just ask their dog Braxton and he’ll tell you all about them just by the look in his canine eyes! I got to know Ajay more and more over the years, including working in Gaspé with him as part of the Coin-du-Banc En Folie Summer Improvisation Camp (see photos).

Ajay is also the founder of the International institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation, an amazing resource and think tank for everything concerning improvisation and communities. If that wasn’t enough, Ajay spearheaded the development of the first ever improvised music PhD program at the University of Guelph! Thanks to IISCI and Ajay, I get to visit Guelph to perform at the University of Guelph’s Arboretum.