Am I alone....... ?!!

Rigsby

I was wondering am I alone in listening to the genre of jazz generally known as free/improvised music. You never hear much of or about in Ireland. I have been interested in it for about twenty years. As the shops here never stocked any, cd's/lp's were almost impossible to get until the advent of the internet. Some of the names associated with this music would be, Albert Ayler, late period Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, Evan Parker and Peter Brotzmann among a lot of others. There has been a few gigs here but the music is very popular in the Netherlands, France and Germany. The latter has a festival dedicated to it. While I agree it is a little inaccessible at first, after a while you begin to get taken in (some might say overpowered :eek: ) by it. Any other like minded people out there ? I might also add that I like all the branches of jazz.

herbieflowers

Ornette Coleman is crazy...Eric Dolphy's Out To Lunch is a classic too

John

I recently got into Albert Ayler and Anthony Braxton, some great stuff. I've a list of things to buy thanks to a friend of mine who's big into free jazz so I look forward to seeing what his other recommendations are like.

Actually, Derek Bailey is another artist I really like but he's very different to everyone else listed above. Sorry I never got to see him live.

Rigsby

John wrote:

I recently got into Albert Ayler and Anthony Braxton, some great stuff. I've a list of things to buy thanks to a friend of mine who's big into free jazz so I look forward to seeing what his other recommendations are like.

Actually, Derek Bailey is another artist I really like but he's very different to everyone else listed above. Sorry I never got to see him live.

I saw Bailey play in Dublin about six years ago (alas he died last year). It was a great gig. I subscribe to a magazine called "Cadence" which specialises in this music (I think it's available in "Tower" Wicklow St.). Another two of my favourites are saxophonists Charles Gayle and Ivo Perelmann (real power-house stuff and not for the faint hearted :eek: ).

John

Must check out that magazine when I get a little more into this area. I'm still new to it, I came at it from experimental composing and noise. Backwards really to the jazz route I imagine most people take!

carl_

Keith Jarrett is another one too look out for. His solo concerts are exceptional examples of free jazz. His trio has also released a few albums that were completely free... see: "Always Let Me Go" (April 2001, ECM) for a good example. He's also a good deal more lyrical than the likes of Cecil Taylor (who's cool too).

flanger20002003

Just thought I'd throw out the auld cliche and mention Branford Marsallis. I'm not a huge fan, but his performance in Cork last year was probably the most free jazz thing I've ever seen. Anyone else see 'Blackzilla'? Twenty minutes later I'd forgotten what song they were playing!

Rigsby

flanger20002003 wrote:

Just thought I'd throw out the auld cliche and mention Branford Marsallis. I'm not a huge fan, but his performance in Cork last year was probably the most free jazz thing I've ever seen. Anyone else see 'Blackzilla'? Twenty minutes later I'd forgotten what song they were playing!

I am big fan of Marsallis, but I would not have associated him with free jazz. However, I was not at the concert so maybe he has changed since I last saw him perform.

Setun

Rigsby wrote:

I am big fan of Marsallis, but I would not have associated him with free jazz. However, I was not at the concert so maybe he has changed since I last saw him perform.

He has changed.

That was mental, right there. And he's playing in the NCH soon, if you want to see for yourself.

www.nch.ie