His 110 page bailey book is published in french by lenka lente. For the project, muir reunited with the guitarist derek bailey. Both shed enormous amounts of light on his motivation for making music the way he did. By drawing on conversations with some of todays seminal improvisersincluding john zorn, jerry garcia. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation ben. Incus records for improvised, experimental, avantgarde music. This brilliant biography of the cult guitar player will likely cause you to abandon everything you thought you knew about jazz improvisation, postpunk and the avantgarde. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation 9781781681053 by watson, ben and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Ben watson derek bailey was at the top of his profession as a danceband and recordsession guitarist when, in the early 1960s, he began playing an uncompromisingly abstract music.
Its nature and practice in music is a book that i will confess to having found somewhat frustrating when i first encountered it years ago. Improvisation by derek bailey, 9780306805288, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Derek bailey s improvisation, originally published in 1980, and here updated and extended with new interviews and photographs. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation watson, ben on. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation lifts the lid on an artistic ferment which has defied every known law of the music business. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation has 2 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. About derek bailey and the story of free improvisation.
The four part mini series was written and produced by derek bailey. Derek bailey was at the top of his profession as a dance band and recordsession guitarist when, in the early 1960s, he began playing an uncompromisingly abstract form of music. Continuing their ongoing series of reissues of music by derek bailey, honest jons records present a first vinyl reissue of aida, originally released on the guitarists own incus label in 1980. Zorn then contacted birminghambased drum and bass producer d. Derek baileys improvisation, originally published in 1980, and here updated and extended with new interviews and photographs, is the first book to deal with the. This book is designed to be contradictory, argumentative and unfinished ben watson announces in his introduction. His fortyyear career saw him performing all over the world with a dizzying range of collaborators. Derek bailey s improvisation, originally published in 1980, now revised with additional interviews and photographs, deals with the nature of improvisation in all its formsindian music, flamenco, baroque, organ music, rock, jazz, contemporary, and free music. At the time i was uninterested in having much to do with the classical music with which the work is so frequently and perhaps surprisingly occupied, whilst i came to. Overlooking one or two shortlived predecessors in the 1950s, thats probably true. Derek bailey 29 january 1930 25 december 2005 was an english avantgarde guitarist and figure in the free improvisation movement. Using a combination of interviews and essay, he looks at. Derek baileys improvisation, originally published in 1980, and here updated and extended with new interviews and photographs, is the first book to deal. After spending several years improvising his guitar to the sound of jungle and drum and bass music on pirate radio, bailey proposed to collaborator john zorn that he make an album of his musical fusion.
When derek okd the release of these tracks for my label i began the process to master the music for compact disc. Bailey abandoned conventional performance techniques found in jazz, exploring atonality, noise, and whatever unusual sounds he could produce with the guitar. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation by ben watson. John eyles notes that guitarist derek bailey has been quoted as saying that free improvisation is playing without memory. Derek bailey michael welch untitled improvisations. Derek baileys improvisation, originally published in 1980, and here. In his landmark book improvisation, bailey writes, the lack of precision over its free improvs naming is, if anything, increased when we come to the thing itself. On christmas day, 2005 derek bailey died in his hometown of london, england. An uneven mix of criticism, marxist theory, digression and read more derek bailey and the story of free improvisation by ben watson. News also comes in via twitter that jin yufeng and experimental musician wei wei aka vavabond have translated derek bailey s improvisation. I would recommend the ben watson book as a great read.
Today his antiidiom of free improvisation has become the lingua franca of the avant scene, with pat metheny, john zorn, david sylvian and sonic youths thurston moore amongst his admirers. Incus records was established in 1970 by derek bailey, tony oxley and evan parker. This section lists books that either specialise in european free music or in which the music forms a substantial component. Indian music, flamenco, baroque, organ music, rock, jazz, contemporary, and. Singlemindedly devoted to unpremeditated improvisation, bailey published a book on the subject in 1980 called improvisation. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation by ben. This book is an account by practicing musicians from various idioms of their. Its a visual extension of his seminal book improvisation.
Today his antiidiom of free improvisation has become the lingua franca of the avant scene, with pat metheny, john zorn, david sylvian and sonic youths. Usually it is referred to as, the first independent, musician run record company in britain. This brilliant biography of the cult guitar player makes you forget everything you think you know about jazz improvisation, post punk and the avantgarde derek bailey was at the top of his profession as a danceband and recordsession guitarist when, in the early 1960s, he began playing an uncompromisingly abstract music. April 22, 1985 the arts theatre incus festival london, england.
On christmas day 2005, derek bailey died, aged 75, from complications arising from motor neurone disease. Derek bailey, 75, guitarist and master of improvisation. Known as the father of free improvisation, he was one of the most creative guitarists ever, in terms of both his music and the innovative new techniques that he brought to the instrument. Much of his work was released on his own label incus records. By drawing on conversations with some of todays seminal improvisersincluding. Derek bailey and the story of free improvisation book.
The essential text on improvisation in music, the late derek baileys book takes a truly global look at the role of improvisation in different cultures and situations. Derek baileys book on improvisation is really a classic. Although he was first a pop and jazz musician who liked to accompany singers, he w. As the joseph holbrooke trio, with bassist gavin bryars and drummer tony. Derek bailey was at the top of his profession as a dance band and recordsession guitarist when, in the early 1960s, he began. 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, rock, jazz, contemporary, and free music. Derek bailey available for download and read online in other formats. Music profile for derek bailey, born 29 january 1930. Its nature and practice in music is a book that i will confess to having found somewhat frustrating when i first. Magazines that regularly though not in every issue feature the music are listed at the end of this section books bailey, derek 1992. Guitar, drums n bass is an album by free improvisation guitarist derek bailey, released by avant records in 1996.
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