- Q: 'Do you think you've brought anything from your jazz playing into
your playing now?'
A: 'Er...yes. Particularly on a bad day.'
- Q: 'How do you start free improvising?'
A: 'Well I usually start on D as a matter of fact'
Derek Bailey's top records of 1996
Towards the end of 1996, Derek Bailey was asked to contribute to the Bay Guardian's 'Best
CDs of the year' poll. His response is reproduced below with the permission and thanks of John
Shiurba.
Indistinguishable in their excellence, 4 records share top spot:
- 1 Eugene Chadbourne/John Zorn: In memory of Nikki Arani Incus
- 1 Roger Smith/Neil Metcalfe: S&M Incus
- 1 Stefan Jaworzyn/Alan Wilkinson: In a sentimental mood Incus
- 1 Henry Kaiser/John Oswald: Improvised Vancouver Incus
- 5 13 Ghosts: Giganti Reptilicus Scatter
- 6 Duck Baker: Spinning song Avant
- 7 Roger Smith: Unexpected turns Emanem
- 8 Steve Beresford: Fish of the week Scatter
- 9 John Carter/Bobby Bradford: Vol 1 Emanem
- 10 Tha' ol'dirty bastard (The dirty version) Electra
In case the suspicious and ill-informed suspect that my choice of four Incus records to share
joint first place in this poll is somehow influenced by my connection with Incus, let me
reassure them of my impartiality by pointing out that, at Incus, it is our conviction that
we issue only the best available recorded music every year. Further, it is entirely
irrelevant that these are, in fact the only ten records I have heard this year. (Excluding,
that is, a number of my own recordings issued recently on various labels which, naturally,
modesty forbids...
Charlie Appleyard
A close associate of Derek Bailey, Appleyard was responsible for the photographs on
Solo guitar vol. 2. His curriculum vitae or position statement was included in the
programme notes for Company Week 1990:
Son of a Cricklewood glazier, Charlie Appleyard (57-73, estimates vary) made it clear from
the start that he had no intention - citing destiny - to do anything other than play music. His
early career, still under investigation, suggests a weakness for the seedier environs of the
entertainment industry and a tendency to make dubious musical associations.
Subsequently, although justly famous for the invention of improvisation (October 12, 1953)
it was only through the sheer imagination and virtuosity of his Arts Council grant applications,
his self-control in the face of promoters and an uncanny ability, even in the most difficult
situations, to find work for his wife and children which in the end lead to the spleandour of
the career so widely admired today. High points are too numerous and well-known to need any mention
here but, for the statistically minded, he has played in every known combination of musicians
put together in the past 25 years in addition to appearing on 817 LPs and 274 CDs. Cassettes,
he says, don't count.
In his musical maturity, Mr Appleyard has taken refuge in the academic bunker where, through
the assiduous re-writing of history, he seeks to bolster his reputation and enhance his esteem.
Furthermore, as the Founder, Chancellor, Secretary, Co-ordinator and Official Historian
of the Appleyard Institute, a body dedicated to the Propogation, Promotion and Dissemination
of Appleyard Improvised Music, he is presently preparing a book of rules,
"Appleyard Improvised Music, What it is now and how to do it". As he say, 'Let's get this
stuff sorted out once and for all.'
Favourite Derek Bailey recordings
A number of people have been invited to provide their five favourite Derek Bailey discs (LPs/CDs) and
their five favourite tracks; some have complied, others have gone further.
MARTIN DAVIDSON
'As someone who has been working on computers for too many years, I have long since
come to the conclusion that decimal is obsolescent (or should be) - hexadecial
is the way to go. So here are my:
favourite eight DB solo albums'
- Incus CD 10 - Solo Guitar Vol 1
- Incus LP 12 - Lot '74 *
- Emanem CD 4001 - Domestic & Public Pieces *
- Cramps 6202 - Improvisation *
- Morgue 03/04 - New Sights Old Sounds
- Dexter's Cigar 5 - Aida *
- Incus LP 48 - Notes
- Emanem CD 4013 - Lace
With the ones marked * being my four favourites.
HENRY KAISER
Five favourite discs
- The Topography Of The Lungs Incus
- Aida Incus/Dexter's Cigar
- Notes Incus
- Improvisation (1975) Cramps
- One time Incus
Five favourite tracks
- THE LOST CHORD Domestic & public pieces Emanem
- TOKI Time Incus
- LET'S HOPE WE'RE ALL IN THE RIGHT PLACE Lace Emanem
- NO SOUTH Company 1 Incus
- NEW SIGHTS, OLD SOUNDS New Sights, Old Sounds Morgue
TONY MOSTROM
Five favourite discs
- Aida Incus/Dexter's Cigar
- Music and dance Revenant
- Anthony Braxton and Derek Bailey First duo concert Emanem
- LACE Emanem
- Incus Taps Organ of Corti
Five favourite tracks
- Din Din Teo live at Verity's place Incus/Organ of Corti
- Let's Hope We're in the Right Place LACE Emanem
- TH-MR-SB-HB-DB Company 7 Incus
- Improvisation 5012 DGG FREE IMPROVISATION BOX 2 or 3 min. "thematic section"
- about two thirds of the way into LOT 74 Lot 74 Incus
Fave Album covers
- LACE
- LIVE AT VERTIYS
- INCUS 2 solo gtr
- HAN
- 2 LP EMANEM AB DB DUO
- Compatibles (original large photo cover - never used)
- DUO & TRIO IMPROVISATION
- FIGURING
- ICP 004 original edition
- TOPOGRAPHY OF THE LUNGS
RICHARD SHAPIRO
Five favourite discs
'Not easy to keep to five; here's the best I can do:'
- The Topography Of The Lungs Incus
- Aida Incus/Dexter's Cigar
- LACE Emanem
- Solo Guitar Vol 2 Incus
- guitar, drums'n'bass Avant
Five favourite tracks
Hmm. Somewhere I should note those six wonderful tracks from July 1971 that were
released on In Whose Tradition. Perhaps this is the place to do that. Then again
there's also "Happy Birthday To You" and "In My Studio"...
Return to Derek Bailey Main Menu