Name: Company 1983
Brand: Derek Bailey

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

HJRLP215

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2020-02-07

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Proper

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

769791975859

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Derek Bailey

Genre GB

Jazz

Label GB

Honest Jons

Derek Bailey was one of the most influential and adventurous experimental guitarists to come from England. He evolved from the trad-jazz scene of the fifties into the avant/jazz scene in '60s London. As a member of various groups, including Joseph Holbrooke Trio, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, and Music Improvisation Company (later known as Company), he played a pivotal role in shaping the British free-jazz scene. In the early seventies, Derek and Evan Parker started their own record label called Incus Records, one of the first artist-run outfits.

Throughout his career, Derek collaborated with renowned musicians from around the world. He formed relationships with European players like Han Bennink and Peter Brötzmann, Japanese free players such as Abe Kaoru and Toshinori Kondo, as well as American improvisers like Anthony Braxton, George Lewis, and John Zorn.

In addition to his musical contributions, Derek organized an annual festival called Company Week in the 80's & 90's. This festival brought together a unique group of international improvisers from diverse backgrounds.

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Wonderful, previously unreleased recordings by Derek Bailey and his guests at Company Week in 1983. What's remarkable throughout this album is the respect and affection the musicians show for each other, exemplifying the dictionary definition of 'company' as 'the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment.' 

It starts with Landslide, a brilliant, spiky, spluttering, twanging reunion of Music Improvisation Company members Evan Parker (tenor sax), Hugh Davies (electronics) and Jamie Muir (percussion). Next up, Seconde Choix, with Joëlle Léandre's close-miked prepared bass and Bailey's acoustic guitar seemingly heading in different directions before coming together miraculously in just four minutes. The opening of First Choice, a duet between Bailey and Muir, is a revelation for those who moan that the guitarist plays too many notes. His patient and truly exquisite exploration of harmonics is beautifully counterpointed by Muir's metallic percussion. On Pile Ou Face (Heads Or Tails) Davies concentrates on his high register oscillators, carefully shadowed by Parker's soprano until Léandre's deft, springy pizzicato lures them into the playground. JD In Paradise is a surprisingly delicate wind quartet, with John Corbett's trumpet, fragile and Don Cherry-like, punctuating the sinuous interplay between Peter Brötzmann and J.D.Parran (on sopranos, flutes and clarinet), while trombonist Vinko Globokar growls approvingly in the background. 

Igor Stravinsky's magnificent definition of music as the jeu de notes comes to mind listening to Bailey's duet with cellist Ernst Reijseger (executing fiendish double-stopped harmonics with staggering ease). Technical virtuosity has never sounded so effortless – it is, as its title Een Plezierig Stukje simply states, a fun piece. On the closing La Horda Bailey and Reijseger team up with the horns for what on paper looks like it could be rough and rowdy sextet but which turns out once more to be a thoughtful, spacious exchange of ideas, shapes and colours. 

Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Jamie Muir, Joelle Leandre, Hugh Davies, Ernst Reijseger, John Corbett, JD Parran, Vinko Globokar, Peter Brotzmann.

Company 1983

Music GB