★Emanem
Optic
Two of the most adventurous musicians around today, John Butcher and John Edwards have been working as a very compatible duo for some years now. This CD contains concert performances from Brussels and Barcelona. 59 minutes -- previously unissued.
Fixations (14)
Though saxophonist John Butcher is not short on instrumental prowess, his primary assets lie in the realm of ideas. On Fixations, Butcher has rejected conventional jazz thinking (swing, melodicism, harmonic cycles) in favor of creating his own personal language of improvisation. As Butcher puts it in the liner notes, "...improvisation can only make sense when it is somehow connected to the hope of finding, spontaneously, some music you don't really know about beforehand."
So the pursuit of a…
Chapter Two 1981-83
PAUL RUTHERFORD (trombone, euphonium & electronics), PHILIPP WACHSMANN (violin & electronics), and BARRY GUY (double bass & electronics). The first time some early recordings of this trio have been issued. The bulk of the music in this set comes from a late 1983 tour of England - 4 concerts in 6 days - during which this trio used more electronics than before or since. The music in each concert moved in a different direction, so it all had to be included. There are also two slightly earlier perfo…
Buzz soundtrack
One of my Iskra's favourite album " The slow motion unfolding of these pieces isolates the beautiful sounds embedded in even their most cantankerous outbursts. The luminosity of Rutherford's long tones, Guy's glissandos and Bailey's pedal-enveloped chords are undiminished despite a marginal mono recording. At times, the music is almost too inviting and too accessible, given Iskra 1903's revolutionary aura. Buzz Soundtrack will force enthusiasts who thought they knew this trio inside out to liste…
Frankfurt 1991
Outside of Peter Brotzmann and Derek Bailey, I am not certain there are many players, European or otherwise, that maintain such sustained reverence from their peers as Paul Rutherford. And deservedly so, since I know of very few musicians as uncompromising as the British trombonist.While the trombone has languished in mediocrity over the past three decades, with the exception of a select number, on American shores, the European improvisers who call the trombone their home have continued its forw…
Overground
"During the mid-'70s, Howard Riley developed a highly personal musical vocabulary that remained under-documented. His use on the acoustic piano of amplification and electronic effects usually associated with the electric guitar may sound a bit dated today, but it gave his music a distinct color that is still very enjoyable. The material on Overground was recorded in two studio sessions in August 1974 and November 1975 with the same trio as the one found on Synopsis (Barry Guy on bass and Tony Ox…
Another part of the story
Another three grand pianists on three grand pianos. Howard Riley and Keith Tippett have recorded several piano duos in the past, but the addition of John Tilbury coming from another background gives these eight trio improvisations a unique flavour. 66 minutes.
Ballgames & crazy
Improvisations by the transatlantic duo of London based trombonist Gail Brand and the San Francisco based vocalist Morgan Guberman (best known as a double bassist in other contexts). Guberman's use of somewhat meaningless words and Brand's very vocal approach to her horn make for a very distinctive music. 63 minutes.
s/t
Back in stock. Highlights of the groups presented by Emanem: GAIL BRAND trombone - PHIL DURRANT electronics - MARK SANDERS percussion - PAT THOMAS electronics (LUNGE). JOHN BUTCHER saxes - JOHN EDWARDS double bass. VIV CORRINGHAM voice - ANGHARAD DAVIES violin. RHODRI DAVIES harp - MARK WASTELL cello - SIMON FELL double bass (IST). MILO FINE percussion - HUGH DAVIES electronics - PAUL SHEARSMITH trumpet - TONY WREN double bass. STEFAN KEUNE sax - JOHN RUSSELL guitar. ALAN TOMLINSON trombone - ST…
s/t
Highlights of the groups presented by Emanem: Steve Beresford (electronics), John Butcher (saxes), Lol Coxhill (sax), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Phil Minton (voice), John Russell (guitar), Roger Turner (percussion), Maggie Nicols (voice), Caroline Kraabel (sax), Charlotte Hug (viola), Ian Smith (trumpet), Gail Brand (trombon), Oren Marshall (tuba), Pat Thomas (piano), Veryan Weston (piano), John Edwards (bass) Mark Sanders (percussion), Tony Wren (bass), Mark Wastell (cello), Phil Durrant (viol…
The ins and outs
This is a studio recording, and thus somewhat different in approach and tone to the group's continuous live sets; an example can be heard on a compilation from the 2003 Freedom of the City festival. Here the emphasis is more on developing specific ideas with a consistent logic than on modulating between passages of tension and climax. On the longest track, the 13-minute Absolute Xero, the logic is sure and compelling; Skzypce is more playful, with Wilkinson vocalising through his reed and Noble,…
Dialogs
For his second solo CD, the Chicago-based musician adds small speakers, test amps, piezos and motors to his cello to make some remarkable improvised music. As Michael Zerang says in his notes: 'This is a solo recording, yet I hear an entire ensemble.' 55 minutes.
At the Vortex
The whole of a London club date comprising two extended exuberant improvisations, making it very different to their previous releases. Perhaps the most ferocious and relaxed example of this trio on record. 79 minutes.
Feuchtify
A sequence of 13 improvised duets featuring Sharp on soprano sax, dobro, electric fretless guitar, 8-string guitarbass and computer, and Friedl playing inside piano and prepared piano. The results are more instrumental, less electronic than on their previous duo album -- Anostalgia on Grob. Recorded in March, 2001.