About

Northwoods Improvisers History

Mike Johnston, Mike Gilmore and John Plough formed Northwoods Improvisers in 1976 in Traverse City Michigan. Originally the band was a total improvising electro-acoustic ensemble. Switching to an all acoustic instrumentation in 1980. Greatly influenced by the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and the Art Ensemble of Chicago, in their formative years Northwoods often played together in a family members' cabin in the woods. The initial concept was to create an open musical style attempting to incorporate a sense of nature (the forest) into their sound.

Early band photos, 1979 concert at Powers Hall CMU, photos by Denny Grantz

After playing with various drummers for a few years Northwoods connected with Nick Ashton in 1986 when he moved back to Indiana from New York. In the late 80's they performed in Michigan off and on with saxophonist/writer Bill Smith from Toronto (editor for Coda Magazine.) In the late 80's and early 90's the group released a few self produced recordings on cassette tape; and in 1994 they released their first of two releases on the U.K. Arc label from saxophonist Trevor Watts (of Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Amalgam, etc.) In the late 90's they published their first of many recordings on the Entropy Stereo label out of Detroit, the band still releases music on the label to this day. Mike Gilmore, Mike Johnston and Nick Ashton performed together as a trio throughout the 90's, and in 2000 they joined forces with Detroit Saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey. 

Photograph by Sue Barber

Photograph by June Johnston

In 2000 Northwoods began performing with Faruq Z. Bey. Faruq brought Detroit saxophonists Mike Carey (joined 2001) and Skeeter Shelton (joined in 2002) into the ensemble forming a sextet. They performed together until 2014 (Faruq passed away in 2012). Producing five CDs (and one DVD) on the Entropy Stereo label (Detroit) and four LPs on the Italian Qbico and Sagittarius A Star labels. After Faruq passed away in 2012 the remaining 5 members performed concerts with Connie Crothers and Eddie Gale before going their separate ways.

Photograph by Robert Barclay

Photograph by Don Barber

Northwoods continued on as a trio jamming with various musicians after 2014. Mike Gilmore moved out of Michigan in 2018, so Nick Ashton and Mike Johnston carried on, bringing different members into the band until the current Northwoods sextet solidified in 2022 with members Dominic Bierenga (saxophone), Donovan Boxey (saxophone), Mike Khoury (violin) and Jack O'Brien (cello, bass).


Northwoods through the years has been a do it yourself creative-music oriented ensemble. With a strong focus placed on open honest listening and playing.


ALL MUSIC IS ACOUSTIC.

A list of members and guest artists that have performed with the Northwoods collective over the years -

Dennis Gonzalez - Trumpet

Eddie Gale - Trumpet

Connie Crothers - Piano

Eugene Chadbourne - Guitar 

Perry Robinson - Clarinet

Peter Kowald - Bass

Anthony Holland - Saxophones

Kenny Green - Piano

Rod Williams - Piano

Bill Smith - Soprano saxophone

Mike List - Percussion 

John Plough - Drummer and founding member of the Northwoods Improvisers

Ray Kaczynski - Drums and percussion

Cliff Davies - Drums (played with Ted Nugent)

Bill Blackford - Guitar

Don Barber - Drums and percussion

Kirk Lucas - Cello, guitar

Patrick Boyer - Guitar, tambura 

Brad DeRoche - Guitar

Randy Marsh - Drums

Miles Frank Davis - Trumpet

Len Bukowski - Contra alto clarinet

Ben Bracken - Guitar, etc.