Jonathan Colman’s Improvisation Manifesto: A Dungeon Master’s Guide for Musicians

Building a New Space for Improvised Music

In early 2024, bassist Jonathan Colman hosted a night of completely improvised music at Philadelphia’s Silk City, joined by two fellow members of the local improvisational rock scene – musicians who had never played together before in a trio. The audience embraced the spontaneity, and over a year later, Colman continues to host these sessions monthly under the name Dungeon Crawl.

The name is both ironic – Colman has barely played D&D – and fitting, as he’s written what amounts to a Dungeon Master’s Guide for musical improvisation.

From Muscle Tough to Musical Exploration

Colman has spent over a decade as the bassist for Muscle Tough, a spacefunk fusion trio with guitarist Ross Bellenoit and drummer Joe Baldacci. Both he and Bellenoit rely on an extensive range of effects pedals, allowing Bellenoit to pitch down two octaves for basslines while Colman shifts up two octaves to solo.

Colman calls his pedalboard the “crayon box” because of its vast tonal possibilities – an approach that led him to develop Dungeon Crawl as an outlet for pure, unfiltered creativity. Inspired by New York City’s 55 Bar scene and guitarist Wayne Krantz (whose longtime bassist, Tim Lefebvre, is one of his favorites), Colman wanted a space where musicians could explore new ideas without constraints.

The Manifesto: A Guide to Improvisation

As Dungeon Crawl took shape, Colman realized that a rotating cast of musicians would keep each session fresh. To help these players quickly find chemistry, he wrote a short, principles-based manifesto outlining his philosophy and approach to improvisation.

Built on late-night reflections from a bass retreat, the manifesto provides a framework to navigate the unpredictable terrain of spontaneous composition.

Breaking Boundaries While Maintaining Structure

Colman’s approach to improvisation is rooted in a punk/DIY ethos – pushing back against musical conventions and embracing raw, unfiltered creativity. But he doesn’t seek chaos for its own sake. His deep understanding of music theory allows him to craft improvisations that are structured yet unpredictable.

His goal? To help Dungeon Crawl musicians create spontaneous compositions that are both engaging and fulfilling.

Key Principles of the Manifesto

“The manifesto helps dial the players in,” Colman explains. “It’s either a valuable common-sense reminder or introduces them to a helpful nuance they can take with them to other scenarios.”

His guidance emphasizes:

• Deep listening and responsiveness: staying in tune with fellow musicians.
• Developing ideas patiently: sticking with a phrase rather than rushing into new territory.
• Thinking in sections: using “square thinking” to build structure and avoid monotony.
• Exploring harmony in creative ways: utilizing register, coloration, and modal shifts.
• Shaping dynamics with cues: tempo changes, dropouts, and spotlights to maintain momentum.

Most importantly, Colman encourages musicians to embrace uncertainty, welcome risk-taking, and get comfortable with losing themselves in the process.

The Philosophy of Improvisation

At its core, Colman’s manifesto is a reminder that improvisation isn’t about following rules – it’s about surrendering to the moment.

“I think people get to see an intimate version of me as an improviser,” Colman reflects. “A year into it, people know they are coming to something created from scratch on the floor before them. In so many ways, they are a part of it. No one is coming to hear a song or anything; they are there to be plugged into the experience.”

This mindset underpins the entire Dungeon Crawl project: a communal journey that goes beyond performance into pure musical expression.

Looking Ahead: Colman’s Evolution as an Improviser

A year into Dungeon Crawl, Colman continues to refine his own improvisational instincts.

“As an improviser, I am learning to let things stew more and not be so quick to introduce a change to something that’s still developing,” he reflects.

This perspective speaks to his ongoing evolution – an artist always searching for new creative challenges. With 2025 on the horizon, Dungeon Crawl shows no signs of slowing down.

For more on Colman, visit his website.