Derek Bailey
Derek Bailey (1930 to 2005) was an English experimental guitarist who gave free improvisation its guiding philosophy. He came out of the dance-band and jazz work of the 1950s and by the late 1960s was a member of the Joseph Holbrooke Trio, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and the Music Improvisation Company, later the ever-changing Company. His playing abandoned pulse, key and idiom for a language of intervals, harmonics and abrupt silences.
Company91 - Volume 1 (CD)
Rare 1994 CD-only first volume on Incus with 1991 recordings by the pool of acclaimed free improvising musicians led by Derek Bailey and featuring John Zorn, Pat Thomas, Buckethead, Paul Lovens and Alexander Balanescu.
Company91 - Volume 2 (CD)
Rare 1994 CD-only second volume on Incus with 1991 recordings by the pool of acclaimed free improvising musicians led by Derek Bailey and featuring John Zorn, Pat Thomas, Buckethead, Paul Lovens and Alexander Balanescu.
Company91 - Volume 3 (CD)
Rare 1994 CD-only third volume on Incus with 1991 recordings by the pool of acclaimed free improvising musicians led by Derek Bailey and featuring John Zorn, Pat Thomas, Buckethead, Paul Lovens and Alexander Balanescu.
Improvisation : Its Nature And Practice In Music
Derek Bailey's Improvisation , originally published in 1980, and here updated and extended with new interviews and photographs, is the first book to deal with the nature of improvisation in all its forms,Indian music, flamenco, baroque, organ music, …
Carpal Tunnel
Quite literally one of the most original and influential guitarists on the planet, Derek Bailey has completely revolutionized the language of guitar music in the twentieth century. His work has been championed by almost every cutting edge guitarist: …
Standards
In early 2002 Derek Bailey astounded the free music community with his gorgeous album Ballads, a radical and steely interpretation of the standard repertoire. It became an instant classic, hit a dozen best-ten lists and remains his best selling cd of…
Pieces For Guitar
Private recordings of incredible historical importance (practically the holy grail to fans of free improvisation), Pieces for Guitar presents the earliest known solo recordings of guitar innovator Derek Bailey. Dating from 1966 (possibly 1965) these …
Topographie Parisienne
2025 repress. Originally released in 2019, this essential 4CD box set documenting one of the rarest trio meetings in the history of European free improvisation is finally available again.
Eleven years after the legendary The Topography of the Lungs (…
The Duke of Wellington
The Duke of Wellington is a vivid portrait of Derek Bailey and John Stevens in spontaneous conversation, recorded live at a London pub in 1989. The set captures their dynamic synergy; jagged guitar and agile percussion interlock and diverge in an unr…
Harras
1995 release (no OBI) ** "A stellar trio of free improvisers, each respective kings of the avant-garde jazz scene in different capacities. British improvisation legend Derek Bailey has played with practically every musician of note in the European im…
Improvisation (LP)
Original 1975 LP on Cramps' highly collectable DIVerso series with original innersleeve, with confident and superb guitar improvisations.
Improvisation (CD)
First CD edition of the 1975 LP on Cramps' DIVerso series with confident and superb guitar improvisations. With original slipcase.
New Sights, Old Sounds / Solo Live (2LP)
Original double album released by Morgue in Japan in 1978 with gatefold sleeve. a fantastic 2-LP set and one of the rarest Bailey releases. No obi as issued and no insert.
Notes: Solo Guitar Improvisations (LP)
Very rare 1985 LP on Incus of tasteful solo guitar improvisations never re-issued on either LP or CD.
In Whose Tradition? (LP)
Rare 1987 LP on Emanem with a wonderful selection of solo guitar improvisations recorded at various locations in London between 1971 and 1987.
Takes Fakes & Dead She Dances (CD)
Rare 1998 Incus gem of super raw solo guitar improvisations with purpose, released on CD only.
String Theory (CD)
Outstanding 2000 album on Paratactile of guitar feedback pieces, released on CD only.
The London Concert (LP)
Rare original 1975 edition on Incus of the first album of ground-breaking saxophone/guitar duets by the masters.
Selections From Live Performances At Verity's Place (LP)
Original first edition with black labels and laminated front sleeve of the 1972 LP on Incus, the second album by the guitar and percussion duo and an absolute free improvisation classic.
Selections From Live Performances At Verity's Place (LP)
Original first edition with black labels and matte sleeve of the 1972 LP on Incus, the second album by the guitar and percussion duo and an absolute free improvisation classic.
Selections From Live Performances At Verity's Place (CD)
1995 and only CD re-issue of the 1972 Incus LP, the second album by the guitar and percussion duo and an absolute free improvisation classic.
Company 2 (LP)
Original 1977 edition on Incus of the second Company album by the trio of illustrious improvisers, never re-issued on either LP or CD.
Company 3 (LP)
Original 1977 edition on Incus of the third Company album with duets by two giants of improvisation, never re-issued on either LP or CD.
Company 4 (LP)
Original 1977 edition on Incus of the fourth Company album with electric guitar / soprano saxophone duets by the unparalleled musicians, never re-issued on either LP or CD. Includes Incus catalogue.
Dart Drug (LP)
Rare original LP edition of the 1981 Incus album of fantastic guitar and percussion duets by the guitar master and former King Crimson amazing precussionist.
Dart Drug (CD)
Rare 1994 CD re-issue on Incus of the 1981 album of fantastic guitar and percussion duets by the guitar master and former King Crimson amazing precussionist.
Moment Précieux (LP)
Original 1987 LP on Les Disques Victo of electric guitar and soprano/alto saxophone duets by these amazing musicians recorded live at the 1986 Victoriaville Festival.
Nipples (CD)
Rare first and only CD re-issue of the essential early manifesto of European improvisation, featuring Brötzmann, Han Bennink, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Fred Van Hove, Buschi Niebergall.
Epiphany (2LP)
Original 1982 double-LP set with gatefold sleeve on Incus featuring improvisations by various combinations of a large group of who's who of the international free improvisation scene, including Derek Bailey, Fred Frith, Akio Suzuki, Keith Tippett, Ge…
Trios (LP)
Original 1983 LP set on Incus featuring trio improvisations by a large group of who's who of the international free improvisation scene, including Peter Brötzmann, Derek Bailey, Hugh Davies, Evan Parker, Vinko Globokar, Jamie Muir, etc..
Improvisations (LP)
Original German edition on Japo of the 1978 album by 'the' free jazz big band, featuring Peter Brotzmann, Derek Bailey, Albert Mangelsdorff, Peter Kowald, Paul Lovens, Evan Parker, Tristan Honsinger, Alexander von Schlippenbach and a host of others.
Iskra 1903 (2LP)
Rare second pressing with white labels from 1983 in original 1972 gatefold sleeve of one of the very early Incus releases from 1972, the revolutionary and monumental album by Barry Guy, Derek Bailey and Paul Rutherford.
The Music Improvisation Company (LP)
Original 1970 edition on ECM of the landmark first album by the improvisation supergroup with electronics composed of Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Jamier Muir and Hugh Davies, with Christine Jeffrey. Adventurous and essential.
1968-1971 (LP)
Rare original 1976 edition on Incus of the second and last album, with recordings from 1969/70, by the improvisation supergroup with electronics composed of Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Jamier Muir and Hugh Davies.
1968-1971 (LP)
Rare original 1976 edition on Incus of the second and last album, with recordings from 1969/70, by the improvisation supergroup with electronics composed of Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Jamier Muir and Hugh Davies.
So, What Do You Think? (LP)
Original and only edition on Tangent of the 1973 album by John Stevens' and Trevor Watts' Ensemble featuring Derek Bailey, Dave Holland and Kenny Wheeler. With rare insert limited to copies exported to France. A classic never re-issued on either CD o…
Guitar Solos 2
Original first Italian edition on Caroline from 1978 of the second volume of the Guitar Solos series featuring Derek Bailey, Fred Frith, G.F. Fitzgerald and Hans Reichel. With original innersleeve. Never re-issued on either CD or LP.
Irma
In 1977, for Brian Eno’s Obscure Records, I made a version of Irma. These notes arise from that experience and explore how the piece can be performed. Irma is an unusual score—printed on a single 50cm x 50cm sheet. Its notation consists of verbal fra…
Ensemble Pieces
A split album by Christopher Hobbs, John Adams, and Gavin Bryars, released in 1975 as the second title on Brian Eno's imprint Obscure. The album includes two pieces by Hobbs and one each by Adams and Bryars. Side A opens with the experimental composi…
Playing
1993 release (RARE) ** ""This lovely duet between avant guitar kingpin Derek Bailey and drummer/trumpet player John Stevens is a fine example of what Bailey was up to in the early '90s, before he discovered drum'n'bass and Bill Laswell, among other …
