John Stevens
Detail-90
Recorded 41 years ago this month, Detail-90 (available as LP or download) presents two side-long improvisations from the seminal free jazz unit: Norwegian alto saxophonist Frode Gjerstad, expat American bassist Kent Carter and British drummer John Stevens (who died in 1994). By this stage the group was eight years old, with the only significant change being the passing of original member South African bassist Johnny Dyani in 1986. However the shift in personnel didn’t alter the trio’s essential …
Dynamics of the Impromptu
** 2021 Stock ** Entropy Stereo Recordings presents Dynamics of the Impromptu by Derek Bailey, John Stevens and Trevor Watts. These pieces run the gamut from whispery low key musings through enraging or boisterous call and response. The moods constantly shift and evolve as Watts, Bailey and Stevens purvey musical structures that defy logic. Emotions flare up as in "Impromptu Dynamics #6". Arguments or debates are imminent. The sensibilities of unity and collaboration resurface as the music seems…
Blue Cat
**400 copies** Blue Cat is a great live recording taken in June 1991 by Frode Gjerstad in Albany, London, during a UK tour. Musicians on these recordings are: Bobby Bradford - cornet, Frode Gjerstad - alto saxophone, Kent Carter - acoustic bass, John Stevens - drums. Mastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios, design by Oskaras Anosovas. Though not specifically billed as such, this archival release from NoBusiness captures a recording from a 1991 UK tour of the group Detail in a quartet formation …
Day Two
Recorded at Staccato Studios, Stavanger, Norway on 12th October, 1982 by Kjell Arne Jensen - with Frode Gjerstad - tenor and soprano saxophones, Johnny Mbizo Dyani - double bass and John Stevens - drums. Re-mastered by Arūnas Zujus at MAMAstudios. Cover drawing by Tora Fredrikke Helle, photos by Judith Sørvik, liner notes by Frode Gjerstad.
Mining The Seam - The Rest Of The Spotlite Sessions
Alto Saxophone – Trevor WattsBass – Barry GuyDrums – John StevensRecorded at Riverside Studios, London, May 1977. Previously unissued.
Application Interaction And...
The trio of drummer John Stevens, bassist Barry Guy and saxophonist Trevor Watts was one of Stevens ’ s hottest small groups and the two records they cut for Spotlite in the late 70s are Atlantic straddling classics that reconcile the emotive supernatural force of the late Albert Ayler with the exacting microdetail of the post SME set. Application Interaction And… was the second of these discs, the first, No Fear, having already been made available on CD by Hi 4 Head. At points the fidelity is p…
No Fear
Recorded in May of 1977 and released a year later on Spotlite, No Fear is one of drummer John Stevens' excellent jazzier sessions. Backed by his regular acolytes Trevor Watts and Barry Guy, the leader of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble revels in the hot free jazz licks he and the saxophonist came up with. His playing is superbly detailed by the recording, the interplay between his hi-hat cymbals and snare drum being particularly impressive in this jazz context. Watts pours a lot of soul into his …
One four and two twos
John Stevens, batterie et voix. Paul Rutherford, trombone et euphonium. Evan Parker, saxophones ténor et soprano. Barry Guy, contrebasse et électroniques. Londres, août 1978. Un quartet initialement sorti en vinyl chez View en 1980 et en CD chez Konnex en 1994. En bonus, Paul Rutherford, trombone et électroniques et Barry Guy, contrebasse à Milan en 1979. John Stevens, batterie et voix et Evan Parker, saxophone soprano à Londres en 1992. Free et historique!
One Time
John Stevens, drums and mini trumpet; Kent Carter, bass; Derek Bailey, electric guitar. track list: 1. One time (11.560) 2. U Kent & I (14.15) 3. Without warning (14.43) 4. Along the coast (10.00) 5. Not a dry glass in the house (06.24) 6. Cheers/tears (03.29) Recorded in Leicester, England in November 1992. Cover art (reproduced above) 'Self portrait' by John Stevens; CD booklet design by Karen Brookman.
Dynamics Of The Impromptu
Recorded live at the Little Theatre Club, Garrick Yard. St. Martins Lane, London, in 1973/74.Processed & premastered at Dynamic Audio Productions, Hastings, England.Track 1 recorded 12/11/1973.Tracks 2-3 recorded 18/12/1973.Tracks 4-6 recorded 17/1/1974.
Catalogue number printed as ESR004 on the disc, as entropy-004 on the spine.