I make no mystery of my deep affection for Roscoe Mitchell. It was an encounter with the Art Ensemble of Chicago during my teens, that planted the seeds for my lifelong love of Free-Jazz. I’ve gone out of my way to see him play, at every available chance, for the last 20 years. The man is astounding. I can’t think of a better living saxophonist. When I returned to London a few months back, after two years in New York, I was feeling starved for all the wonders that transpire within the walls of Cafe Oto. I noticed that Roscoe was playing two consecutive nights with John Edwards and Mark Sanders – two of the brightest lights in European Free-Jazz, and jumped at the chance. I don’t take pictures at gigs often, but after arriving at the first evening, I realized my camera was in my bag, and figured what the hell. Both nights were mind-melting. Roscoe was in top form, as were his Edwards and Sanders. They locked together and cracked apart in perfect harmony. The power of their playing was overwhelming. On both nights Roscoe displayed some of the most incredible circle breathing I’ve ever witnessed – stretching toward the half hour mark with rippling drones.  If you find him coming your way, drop everything. These are the images I took over both nights. They’re a little jumbled up. I decided to let them lay where they fell. They could never do the music justice, but I hope you enjoy.    Continue reading “photos from roscoe mitchell + john edwards + mark sanders @ Cafe Oto 10/27/15 + 10/28/15” →

On the Edge: Improvisation in Music was produced for the British television in 1992, by Chanel 4. The four part mini series was written and produced by Derek Bailey. It’s a visual extension of his seminal book Improvisation: Its Nature And Practice In Music, and is wonderful. Bailey, who in my opinion was one of the most important musicians ever to have emerged from Britain, was well know for his advocation of improvisation as an art form, his belief in active listening, and of music as a live idiom. He was often regarded as cranky and cantankerous, but comes off as charming, and incredibly articulate in the series. What’s particularly important, is that Bailey’s argument is not structured to advocate his generation’s practice, but rather toward the importance of improvisation in the broadest sense. He addresses Jazz, music from diverse cultures from across the world, blues, rock, the gestures of children and beyond. Like many great artists, his hope was to help change how people saw the world, and what was possible. It’s a wonderful journey through the possibility of creation. It blows my mind that Bailey convinced anyone to let him make it, but here it is. All four part after the jump. Highly recommended! Continue reading “derek bailey’s on the edge: improvisation in music (1,2,3,4)” →

Recorded at the Third Annual Festival of the Avant Garde in San Francisco. Continue reading “forty-two for henry flynt by la monte young – performed by Peter Winkler (gong) 1965” →

Everyone has seemed to love the photo albums I posted on La Monte Young and Joan La Barbara, so I thought I’d round it out, and broaden my subject to the breadth of avant-garde music from the 1960’s and 70’s. This is one of my favorite periods of music. These are images that I’ve collected while wanderings around the internet. I’ve done my best to cover as broad a range as seemed reasonable (roughly 60 images), but I haven’t managed to be as inclusive as I might have liked. Let’s chock it up to taste for now, as those represented are among my favorites of the generation.  I hope you enjoy, and that they give you a window into an incredibly exciting period of thought, experiment, and sound. Continue reading “photo album for the 1960’s & 70’s american avant-garde” →

Anyone who knows me, or has visited The Hum and read my Introductions to Indian Classical Music Part 1 and Part 2, knows of my devotion to Hindustani and Carnatic music. The musical traditions of India are among the oldest on the planet. Their influence on the diverse cultures they have touched, over millennia, are incalculable. Chances are, where ever you are, no matter what sounds you prefer, Indian music has helped sculpt the music you love. Continue reading “the amazing mandolin sisters” →