Onstage company
Documented collaborators
ICP Orchestra is a cornerstone of European improvised music, known for its concept of Instant Composition—treating improvisation as formal, on-the-spot exploration within predefined structures. Since its formation in 1967 by percussionist Han Bennink and pianist Misha Mengelberg, the group has pushed the boundaries of what improvised music can be, weaving in elements from Monk, Ellington, Nichols, and other jazz greats while maintaining a distinctly contemporary voice. With a flexible nine-person core augmented by strings and horns, ICP Orchestra has curated a vast catalog of performances and recordings that invite both spontaneity and attentive listening.