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Back to Emanem CDs 2007-2008
See also Emanem 2-CD sets 2009 & Emanem 3-CD sets 2010
VERYAN WESTON "Allusions" (2002)
EMANEM 5001
Most of an solo piano concert performed in Bordeaux. The free improvising basically
follows on from his 1993 recording Playing Alone (Acta 9). It is mostly a
leap forward from the earlier album, but there are also some fond looks backwards
as when fragments of tunes from the jazz age creep in. One can hear the influence
of the two major pianists of the 1960s - both the spaciousness of Paul Bley and
the density of Cecil Taylor - and also that of composers, most notably Béla Bartók
and, above all, Conlon Nancarrow, who used piano rolls to create music not playable
by mere mortals. Out of all these influences, Weston has long found his own voice
in a style that is administered strictly through the keyboard and pedals. His
improvising ranges from somewhat isolated pecks at the keyboard to involved passages
that sound impossible for one pianist to play. There are times when his left and
right hands sound like fairly unrelated entities, as if there was a duet going on.
79 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
OKKYUNG LEE / PETER EVANS / STEVE BERESFORD "Check for Monsters" (2008)
EMANEM 5002
Cellist Lee organised this trio with Evans on trumpets and Beresford on piano for
a mini-tour. This CD contains music from two of their four concerts - in New York
City and Philadelphia. Although they had not played together before as a trio, they
manage to sound like a long-standing improvising group, with much togetherness and
listening to each other - finding numerous ways to complement each other. The music
is often very dense or fast, but they do frequently come back down to earth. Anyone
who either likes or dislikes any of the participants is bound to enjoy this music
which showcases both the individuals and the group. 58 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
MILO FINE "Ananke" (2006/7)
EMANEM 5003
Never mind the piano, the pianist is Fine! Milo Fine describes the particular piano
as 'more remains than intact', yet he still manages to get the right music out of
'that wonderful beast'. The earlier date is unaccompanied piano improvised mainly
at the keyboard. On the other longer concert, recorded towards the likely demise
of the 'beast', Fine spends most of his time working on the innards resulting in
a very wide range of sound. He also uses some electronics, and is joined by alto
saxophonist JARON CHILDS and percussionist DAVU SERU in a trio set that ranges from
the minimal to full-on blowing. This should appeal to those who love pianos both
in and out of tune. 79 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
SOPHIE AGNEL "Capsizing Moments" (2008)
EMANEM 5004
A veritable tour de force of 'inside' prepared piano playing - preppiano
extensif. The whole of a solo improvisation performed at Les Instants Chavirés
near Paris. Sophie Agnel's preparations, neither static nor fixed, evolve during
the course of her playing as she adds, moves or removes an object, or replaces one
artefact with another. These preparations include disposable water cups, nylon fishing-line,
bouncing balls, aluminium ashtrays, aluminium foil, industrial nylon, inner-tube
rubber and polished rock all of which result in a remarkable sound world far
removed from that usually associated with the piano. This is her second solo CD
- the first (on Vand'Oeuvre) was made in 2000, and since then she has appeared in
several duos and trios with a variety of musicians. 51 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
ARC "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2008)
EMANEM 5005
SYLVIA HALLETT (violin & electronics, voice), DANNY KINGSHILL (cello, voice),
GUS GARSIDE (double bass & electronics)
First formed in 1988, arc have developed, through improvisation, a collective
language that draws on the European textures of the violin family (with a little
bit of voice added). This is their first album to use live electronics, at times
effectively increasing the group to a quintet. They previously released two
albums of acoustic improvisations in 1992/3 on Uneasy Listening and Slam.
52 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
STELLARI STRING QUARTET "Gocce Stellari" (2006/7)
EMANEM 5006
PHILIPP WACHSMANN (violin), CHARLOTTE HUG (viola), MARCIO MATTOS (cello), JOHN EDWARDS (double bass).
If there were stars in the world of free improvisation, then the members of this
quartet would surely be among them - four very distinctive and fluent musicians,
who also have the talent to work together to produce a fifth distinctive and fluent
entity, namely an improvising string quartet. The whole of their performance at
the 2007 UNCOOL Festival in Switzerland is included, as well as some studio recordings
made near London the previous year. These unamplified performances prove that here
is still plenty of life in the violin family. 69 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
GROSSE ABFAHRT "Vanity" (2008)
EMANEM 5007
TOM DJLL (trumpet, preparations & electronics), MATT INGALLS (clarinet, bass clarinet),
MATTHIEU WERCHOWSKI (viola, violin), THERESA WONG (cello), DAVID CHIESA (double bass)
JOHN SHIURBA (electric guitar), GTIM PERKIS (electronics), GINO ROBAIR (energised surfaces & voltage made audible).
Tom Djll put this electro-acoustic improvising octet together when Matthieu Werchowski
and David Chiesa were visiting the San Francisco area, resulting in some performances
that are more about the group than the individuals. A duet by the two visitors
is also included. 60 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
ROSS BOLLETER "Night Kitchen" (2002-9)
EMANEM 5008
An hour of ruined piano - 14 solo improvisations on up to 5 ruined pianos simultaneously
with no overdubbing. These tracks (with two exceptions) were recorded at night,
or at dawn at the latest. The four or five pianos occupy most of the kitchen, and
are set up so that they can be played simultaneously.
63 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
"Teatime" (1973-5)
EMANEM 5009
The 1975 release of the TEATIME LP introduced the outside world to five of
the 'second generation' London-based improvisers:
Reissue of Incus LP 15 with additional material. 53 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
LOL COXHILL & ROGER TURNER "Success with your dog" (2003/10)
EMANEM 5010
Although Coxhill and Turner have worked together in various combinations for
over 40 years, this is the first album to feature them as a duo. The main part is
a concert recorded in Brest on a 2003 French tour showing their unique take on soprano
saxophone and percussion duo improvisation. The remainder is a more minimal performance
from a more recent London concert. All previously unissued. 58 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
PAUL HUBWEBER & PHILIP ZOUBEK "Archiduc Concert : Dansaert Variations" (2007)
EMANEM 5011
The whole of a duo concert on trombone and prepared piano, recorded at L'Archiduc
in Brussels - a bar whose art deco interior is featured on the cover. This is the
second CD by this duo following on from the highly acclaimed NOBODY'S MATTER
BUT OUR OWN on NurNichtNur. Both musicians are now amongst the freshest exponents
of their respective instruments, and they interact with each other superbly. 60 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
CHARLOTTE HUG & FRED LONBERG-HOLM "Fine Extensions" (2009)
EMANEM 5012
Two string improvisers from opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean who get on as
though they grew up in the same neighbourhood. They first met in Chicago in 2005,
and issued a duo CDR on the limited edition Flying Aspidistra label. Their second
record contains the whole of a 2009 concert in Zürich featuring Hug's viola &
voice and Lonberg-Holm's cello responding to each other at breathtaking speed.
53 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
ISKRA 1903 "Goldsmiths" (1972)
EMANEM 5013
A previously unissued concert by the original version of Iskra 1903 - PAUL
RUTHERFORD (trombone), DEREK BAILEY (guitar) and BARRY GUY (double bass). Arguably
their best extended concert captured on record. Plus two short extracts from another
concert. 75 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
OTHERWAYS and FREE SPACE "Life Amid the Artefacts" (1973/84)
EMANEM 5014
The bulk of this CD features OTHERWAYS, a 'second generation' London group that
has not appeared on record before. This delayed publication, combined with the
general lack of recognition of the musicians involved, does not prepare one for
the excellent music they made together, distinctly different from other groups of
the period. HERMAN HAUGE (alto saxophone), MARC MEGGIDO (double bass) and DAVE
SOLOMON (percussion) are heard in two 1973 quartets, one with NIGEL COOMBES (violin)
the other with SIMON MORTIMER (piano). There are also some saxophone/percussion
duets from 1984. The remaining 15 minutes feature another previously unissued group
from 1973, FREE SPACE, which was assembled by JOHN STEVENS to explore medium-sized
improvisation. The other participants are TREVOR WATTS, HERMAN HAUGE, JOHN RUSSELL,
NIGEL COOMBES, RON HERMAN, MARC MEGGIDO and DAVE SOLOMON. 76 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
VERYAN WESTON "Different Tessellations" (2010)
EMANEM 5015
Two very different versions of Weston's compositional framework based on a cycle
of pentatonic scales. Tessellations I explores the possibilities of improvising
with a pre-established form as a soloist and was conceived for acoustic piano.
(The composer recorded a version in 2003 on a Luthéal piano in Brussels released
as Emanem 4095). Only the first half of the 2010
version by the young concert and improvising pianist LEO SVIRSKY is included here
because of CD durational limitations. His interpretation of the piece is very much
his own. Tessellations II explores the possibilities of improvising with
the same pre-established form in a group situation. The organisation of the piece,
with its use of cycles and loops, was inspired by working with Trevor Watts' Moiré
Music in the 1980s. It was composed for THE VOCIFEROUS CHOIR, - nine a cappella
singers mostly based around Graz in Austria - Anush Apoyan, Iris Ederer, Annette
Giesriegl, Dorothea Jaburek, Sofija Knezevic, Siruan Küng, Franz Schmuck, Patrik
Thurner & Veryan Weston. It is a mix of lines and layers that can be found in
the polyphony of Renaissance contrapuntalists and the Pygmies of Central West Africa.
There is no text or narrative, so the piece transcends any national border or literal
meaning, resulting in a rhythmic tribute to the human voice that should have a very
wide appeal. 76 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
STEVE LACY "School Days" (1960/3)
EMANEM 5016
A 1963 gig by the quartet of STEVE LACY (soprano saxophone), ROSWELL RUDD (trombone),
DENNIS CHARLES (drums) and, on this occasion, HENRY GRIMES (double bass) playing
their original piano-less interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk. The 1975
release of this material on Emanem 3316 (subsequently reissued on QED and Hat) was
the first appearance of this important band on record, thanks to the foresight of
Vashkar Nandy and Paul Haines who recorded them excellently. This new CD presents
the music in the order of performance for the first time. Also included are the
two extant examples of Lacy with the THELONIOUS MONK QUINTET (with CHARLIE ROUSE,
JOHN ORE & ROY HAYNES) made at a 1960 festival in Philadelphia. (The recording
of a third piece was truncated before Lacy's solo, so it has been omitted). These
were recently issued on RLR with significantly inferior sound, quite a bit of skipping,
and the wrong date - all of which have been corrected here. 69 minutes.
Withdrawn
TREVOR WATTS & VERYAN WESTON "5 More Dialogues" (2011)
EMANEM 5017
In the ten years since their first duo recording, 6 DIALOGUES
(Emanem 4069), saxophonist Trevor Watts and pianist
Veryan Weston have performed numerous times as a duo in various parts of Europe
and the Americas. This second recording shows the close rapport this free improvising
duo have developed as a result of this continued work. 59 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
CHARLOTTE HUG "Slipway to Galaxies" (2010)
EMANEM 5018
Charlotte Hug's third solo (unaccompanied) CD is the first to feature her voice
as well as her viola. The two are used together to create an even more complex
instrument than before sometimes sounding like a duo performance. Recorded in her
home town of Zürich after several visits to Cork in Ireland, she has subtly absorbed
elements of the Celtic tradition into her wordless singing and playing. Her previously
known imagination and expertise on the viola are now matched and enhanced by the
prowess of her voice. 65 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
PASCAL MARZAN & JOHN RUSSELL "Translations" (2007/10)
EMANEM 5019
Improvised guitar duets recorded at two dates by two very different musicians from two
countries. In spite (or perhaps, because) of their differences, the French nylon-strung
and the English steel-strung guitarists fit together hand-in-glove. Once again the
world of free improvisation encompasses and fuses musicians from very different
backgrounds to create a unified whole. 73 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
BARREL "Gratuitous Abuse" (2009/10)
EMANEM 5020
ALISON BLUNT (violin), IVOR KALLIN (violin & viola), HANNAH MARSHALL (cello)
Another very worthy addition to the series of string groups that have been featured
on Emanem. These three musicians have been performing in various combinations with
others on the London improvising scene for several years, including the London Improvisers
Orchestra. About six years ago Blunt and Kallin were often playing gigs together
either as a duo or with a third string player. They were impressive enough to be
invited to the 2007 Freedom of the City festival, where they chose to add Marshall,
with whom Blunt had previously performed duos. That first performance of this trio
was so musically successful that they decided to continue as such, and chose to
call themselves Barrel as they used a lot of scraping. Since then they have often
played in various locations in and around London, and this album is their choice
of the resulting recordings. 79 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
KAY GRANT & ALEX WARD "Fast Talk" (2008/11)
EMANEM 5021
Kay Grant (voice) started in the downtown New York scene but crossed the Atlantic,
while clarinettist Alex Ward started playing with Derek Bailey. Both have now been
vital members of the London improvising scene for many years, as these duo improvisations
- recorded at four recent gigs and one studio session - attest. Both bring their
individual experience in multiple musical styles, and their evolution together is
evident in the scope of the playing. (Three of the ten pieces also involve live
electronic vocal processing.) 52 minutes.
SPECIAL OFFER: GBP 7.00
Continued in Emanem CDs 2012
Return to Emanem home page or
complete CD list
or go to index of musicians
or complete discography