Ken Vandermark has been probably the most creative representative of Chicago’s improvised music for over twenty years. He is a leader or co-leader of bands: Vandermark 5, Bridge 61, the Peter Brotzmann Chicago Tentet, FME, Sonore, The Nilssen-Love/Vandermark Duo, the Territory Band and Free Fall, DKV. In 1999 he won the McArthur Foundation award – a prestigious award granted annually to the most outstanding artists from various fields of art. He has recorded several dozen highly reviewed albums. Recorded in 2005 in Krakow’s Alchemia, the 12-alchemy box entitled Alchemia was recognized by critics of the world’s largest jazz portal allaboutjazz.com as one of the five most outstanding albums of the year.