FAIRLY EARLY WITH POSTCRIPTS Derek Bailey, Guitars with Anthony Braxton, Flute and Sopranino sax (on 3 & 4)
Kent Carter, Double Bass (on 9 & 10)
John Stevens, Percussion on (9 & 10)
The First twelve minutes of this CD are an unedited version of Derek’s early electric explorations with volume pedal that appeared on an earlier LP and represents some of the finest electric playing I have heard. I own at least fifty LPs of Derek’s playing so that is saying something. The two cuts with Anthony Braxton are from a rehearsal that they did in advance of those legendary 1974 concerts that opened up the world to a new way of thinking about music altogether. There is something amazing about the way Braxton really communicates with Bailey that outshines even the long standing duo Evan Parker and Bailey have and you can see it here. The next three cuts are examples of Derek’s acoustic playing from 1980 with Derek’s dry wit commenting on the proceedings. The cuts with Kent Carter and the late, great John Stevens are excerpts from Steve Lacy’s Saxophone Special CD, so you may have this already but it is nice just to hear these sections on their own. There are more private audio letters that Martin Davidson shares with us, most of which haven’t been heard or in one case, overly edited, that now appear in more complete forms. Even though all but four of these have been previously released, this is a great chance to hear one of the most profound instrumentalists of the any age. A sound innovator who has transformed the way we hear and the way we play. This CD offers a great overview of most of those innovations, form 1971 to 1998. Don’t miss it.
Joee Conroy
This CD is available from :ENANEM, 3 Bittacy Rise,
London NW7 2HH England
EmanemDisc@aol.com