Derek Bailey did not come out of a vacume from space. He started playing standards in small and large groups in the UK. Also was a killer studio musician from what I've read and heard about. The rest as they say is history.
Derek once played at McCabe's in Santa Monica. He looked up midway thru the gig and saw all the guitars on the wall and said, "Well I guess you could all join in now."
@@cosmicpickle6562 Wow, nice to see the original German label...(2?) Nice to hear this again, so much better than I remembered it...probably too "high-proof" for me at 16.
This was recorded at the Little Theatre Club in London, by Martin Davidson on his Revox. There was about twice as much music recorded, but ECM were not yet in the business of issuing sets of records, so they chose just this much. (Where is the rest of it, I wonder?) I remember Dave Holland playing his cello by scraping the strings with a pipe-cleaner (remember those?), but whether that's on the LP I can't tell. Derek gave me a tape of the whole gig, but it's decades since I mislaid it, to my great regret.
Todd S. Jenkins called the album "a dark resonant masterwork". Personally I don't hear this as dark or resonant. I would call it persistent, focussed and sincere. The versatile Dave Holland - just months earlier he was with Miles. Thanks for the upload. Love the still of the record label. Just the color of it brings back memories.
Glad you enjoy it Todd. Holland certainly is a versatile musician. I'm not sure I would call this 'dark' either though it is often difficult to describe music this abstract. But I love it at well-and love to play it in the very late-night hours as I feel it's well suiting to that listening situation/atmosphere.
The first time I ever listened to Derek Bailey it was his LP "Aida' ...hard to find and expensive...I heard about it thru a Guitar Player review. Sadly, I couldn't warm up to it. Then later on I noticed Henry Kaiser gushing about it so I gave it several more listens. Eventually I came to appreciate it. One day I sent Derek a fan letter of sorts telling him I think I finally get what he's trying to say. He graciously replied shortly thereafter.
No kidding? That's wonderful. I sure would have liked to meet him myself. There's a wonderful video somewhere here on UA-cam where he's giving an unplugged performance with just folks sitting around him in what I think is a New York city record store. Very small place. Sure would have loved to see him someplace like that. Yeah, his work is nothing that one gets into immediately and I can't explain why this particular album I find really 'does it' for me. I only really discovered how much I loved it recently when I copied the vinyl into my computer after years and years of not playing it-and this time I just couldn't stop listening to it, which is what lead to me posting it up here....
I would have loved to see him in person, too....he blazed his own path as few artists ever will...against all convention and fads. We should all be so dedicated!
I totally agree. I would love to see a detailed bio on him, wondering how he managed to get by in those early days before he made a name for himself. Hell, even after he made a name for himself it must not have been easy, I doubt his records sold in the tens of thousands, yet he persisted.
Ben Watson's biography 'Derek Bailey and the Story of Free Improvisation' is quite wonderful and the stuff about DB's early life if particularly enjoyable. Thanks for uploading this album, Cosmic Pickle!
@@thePsykomanteum Thank You, Nandor. I always tried to keep my vinyl in good shape by copying any album to cassette that I loved (or even liked) to save the wear and tear-all this decades before even thinking that many of my vinyls would go out of print and not even see CD releases down the line. This album is a perfect example.
Well, at least for those with open ears and open concept of what music could be. Would that be a better statement perhaps? I know a lot of folks really don't understand this type of thing....
completely unfamiliar with Derek Bailey's music till now. This is unbelievably gorgeous. Thank you ever so much for posting it.
You're welcome Constance-it's not usually the type of music one 'gets' on first exposure in general!
Derek Bailey did not come out of a vacume from space. He started playing standards in small and large groups in the UK. Also was a killer studio musician from what I've read and heard about. The rest as they say is history.
Great Album , Thanks
You're very welcome...😋
Thanks. Recorded in the Star Wars Bar.
Derek once played at McCabe's in Santa Monica. He looked up midway thru the gig and saw all the guitars on the wall and said, "Well I guess you could all join in now."
Really-nice story, thanks for sharing. I'm sorry I never got to see Derek in person myself...
@@cosmicpickle6562 Wow, nice to see the original German label...(2?) Nice to hear this again, so much better than I remembered it...probably too "high-proof" for me at 16.
McCabe's is such a unique room. I swear, the guitars, on the wall, vibrate during quiet sections.
still love it!!
This album is fantastic I regret selling my copy
This was recorded at the Little Theatre Club in London, by Martin Davidson on his Revox. There was about twice as much music recorded, but ECM were not yet in the business of issuing sets of records, so they chose just this much. (Where is the rest of it, I wonder?) I remember Dave Holland playing his cello by scraping the strings with a pipe-cleaner (remember those?), but whether that's on the LP I can't tell. Derek gave me a tape of the whole gig, but it's decades since I mislaid it, to my great regret.
Todd S. Jenkins called the album "a dark resonant masterwork". Personally I don't hear this as dark or resonant. I would call it persistent, focussed and sincere. The versatile Dave Holland - just months earlier he was with Miles. Thanks for the upload. Love the still of the record label. Just the color of it brings back memories.
Glad you enjoy it Todd. Holland certainly is a versatile musician. I'm not sure I would call this 'dark' either though it is often difficult to describe music this abstract. But I love it at well-and love to play it in the very late-night hours as I feel it's well suiting to that listening situation/atmosphere.
Great contribution here, Mr Pickle !
Thank you Johan, enjoy the music!
Personally the more I listen to this, the less 'out there' it sounds to me!
-Gary
It really is like some weird telepathy. Thank you for uploading this beautiful piece of art.
You're welcome It's always nice to discover someone else who appreciates this type of thing (they're aren't many)...A shame it's out of print though..
The first time I ever listened to Derek Bailey it was his LP "Aida' ...hard to find and expensive...I heard about it thru a Guitar Player review. Sadly, I couldn't warm up to it. Then later on I noticed Henry Kaiser gushing about it so I gave it several more listens. Eventually I came to appreciate it. One day I sent Derek a fan letter of sorts telling him I think I finally get what he's trying to say. He graciously replied shortly thereafter.
No kidding? That's wonderful. I sure would have liked to meet him myself. There's a wonderful video somewhere here on UA-cam where he's giving an unplugged performance with just folks sitting around him in what I think is a New York city record store. Very small place. Sure would have loved to see him someplace like that. Yeah, his work is nothing that one gets into immediately and I can't explain why this particular album I find really 'does it' for me. I only really discovered how much I loved it recently when I copied the vinyl into my computer after years and years of not playing it-and this time I just couldn't stop listening to it, which is what lead to me posting it up here....
I would have loved to see him in person, too....he blazed his own path as few artists ever will...against all convention and fads. We should all be so dedicated!
I totally agree. I would love to see a detailed bio on him, wondering how he managed to get by in those early days before he made a name for himself. Hell, even after he made a name for himself it must not have been easy, I doubt his records sold in the tens of thousands, yet he persisted.
Ben Watson's biography 'Derek Bailey and the Story of Free Improvisation' is quite wonderful and the stuff about DB's early life if particularly enjoyable.
Thanks for uploading this album, Cosmic Pickle!
Downtown Music Gallery is the name of the store. It's still around, just in a different location. Great, great place.
n i c e. I used to play it in the record store where I worked as a young'n.
It must have been a very hip record store-but I have to wonder what the customers thought when this was playing in the store while they shopped!
To make them feel better I put on the duo with Anthony Braxton....@@cosmicpickle6562
Ha! Well it certainly would make a decent bookend to this Bailey/Holland album!
Another reminder of how futuristic DB really was....
Dave Holland is THE MAN !!!
👍A lot of players think they can do this kind of music.
Most cannot.
Agreed
@@cosmicpickle6562 not a lot of non-redundant uploads on here, this rare vinyl is appreciated...and clean!
@@thePsykomanteum Thank You, Nandor. I always tried to keep my vinyl in good shape by copying any album to cassette that I loved (or even liked) to save the wear and tear-all this decades before even thinking that many of my vinyls would go out of print and not even see CD releases down the line. This album is a perfect example.
Great stuff! Thanks.
You're very welcome, Brian-so glad you enjoy it!
“hahaha” ..Warning Derek Bailey.
I disagree...It's absolutely FOR those who are ignorant of Derek, A Blessing, an Epiphany, A Catharsis!
Well, at least for those with open ears and open concept of what music could be. Would that be a better statement perhaps? I know a lot of folks really don't understand this type of thing....
The devil can't play no love song
Stewart Lee led me here
I like this and bailey's work with han bennink, but his solo stuff just grates on my nerves