George Lewis is fine man. I was just telling someone the other day about a time when I called George Lewis on the telephone way back when. He, the person I was speaking with, said that he had had a similar experience with Derek Bailey! Now here they both are together being great!
This is a great improvisation. I only wish I could have experienced this live!
I'm not a big fan of abstract sound performance, but haters out there are simply brainwashed by corporate cultural imperialism. I say only babies should get formula, everyone else should stop consuming, and start producing art.
It's difficult to understand this kind of music (for the first time especially) without having actually heard it live. It's really not meant to be heard on computer speakers or even a stereo. Best to check out masters like these in person before discounting them. You may find out you've been missing out on a lot. There really is an abstract, emotional, energetic quality that you can't pin down or imagine unless you've been in a room to really experience it live.
Picasso is supposed to have met an American serviceman who was very unimpressed with all abstract art and wasn't shy about expressing his opinion. Rather than argue with him, the artist turned the conversation to the American's life back home.Learning that the young man was engaged, Picasso asked to see had a picture of his fiancee'. When the photo was put before him, Picasso lept up in mock horror: "My God, man! You're not going to marry a woman that small?"
Music is one of the most abstract forms of art, you could even say it doesn' exist; it is just waves in the air. Taliking about physics in music, is something that I personally think is limiting in music. Who are certain persons to say what's music/art and what's not? It is up to the listener. If even one person thinks this is music/art, it is. That's my opinion.
can someone explain to me the appeal of this music? is it what youd call free jazz.... im not critisizing it im just curious to hear your opinions about what makes it good?
bailey himself has admitted that his music was ideomatic after all. There is a common asthetic in a lot of free improvisation and it has become genre. It happens to be a genre that i enjoy imensley.
Maybe its time for you to catch up with the rest of humanity and hear this like any other music (or sound).
Its funny, this video gets so many hater comments, but the 200 people at this concert had no problem "listening" to this music, "getting" this music, etc.
In fact, most of them were thrilled that Derek Bailey finally made it to San Diego.
@bolluxmusic rest of humanity..pish, dream on mate, a very select group of simpletons would class this as music, but be proud of who you are, and keep pretending that by being condescending to people who recognize this for being a load of pretentious shite that you might make the ears of that person turn into the garbage yours must be. Every classically trained ear i've shown this to has laughed and said it was brilliant because its so well done LOL they thought it was a bloody joke
@TheLydianRocks - so much for condescending . . . . . why is it that derek is the focus of so much hate? maybe you should go leave lame comments on fred frith videos and keith rowe videos . . . . or maybe you should post your own videos so we can all post hater comments on them.
Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Gavin Bryars all worked with Bailey. I guess their musicianship is to be laughed at as well.
Lydian, you're still stuck playing adolescent games like who's better - Satriani or Vai. Damn, I did that shit when I was 10 years old, walking home from school with my friends. [Just to taunt you even more: I got Tony MacAlpine's autograph before he was even famous!]
I think that's kind of the point of his music. To not play musically. It's about acoustics and changing the way the instrument sounds, getting unusual tones and timbres out of harmonics or open strings or notes played on the frets. The focus of this is not structure, or melody, or harmony, it's the color of the sound, the tone of it, the timbres.
@castorandpolluxmusic LOL He played in front of 200!!. Wow!! I guess I'm supposed to be impressed. "Now playing in the Blue Velvet room @ the Holiday Inn, the nauseating stylings of Derek Bailey" (originally intended to be a trio but the double bass player was too embarrassed to take the stage....er, I mean the floor on that side of the banquet room!) I passed this around to many guitarists that I've w/ with over the years (jazz, avant, rock, flamenco, classical players) We all had a good laff.
You express an opinion in a perfectly respectable way, and the Bailey fans still ain't happy. They prey on these videos to thumb anyone down who says anything bad. Personally I couldn't agree more.
I once wrote a comment similar to this, then it all went out of control, now I'm getting a constant flow of e-mails telling me i've been replied to. The last few weeks of my life have been spent having some randomer tell me Derek is the best thing since sliced bread.
It looks like you've posted more than one "comment similar to this".
But i wonder what this music will sound like to you ten years from now.....or if your opinions would change if you bought a Derek Bailey CD and listened to it every day for a month straight.....
I mention it because i've learned so much about myself from both Mr. Baileys and Mr. Lewis' music, it would be a shame for you to miss out on any similar insights.
Thanks for posting this. I love hearing those harmonics whistling out of Bailey's guitar. These two make it sound as if trombone and electric guitar were always made for each other.
I completely see why this is good improvisation going on. But it's like they're not improvising off each other. does this fall into jazz? and why/not?
Bailey wrote an entire book focused on improvisation in different cultures. He also liked to use the terms free improvisation and/or non-idiomatic improvisation for this type of playing.
Both of these performers have a background in jazz, but i wouldn't call this clip " jazz". In fact, i don't know what to call it. Maybe "good music from two important people"?
Yeah I found that part of the book after watching the clip. Good answer though. Thanks. I'm thinking more it's important music from two good people. But that's my opinion.
No wonder the Spruce Street Forum went under. Guests would start murdering each other if they had to converse with this in the background. No offense to the musicians...
Seriously, why would you talk over a musical performance? That's sheer and utter DISRESPECT for the musicians. But I guess you're not a person of ethics....
To be honest sometimes I wonder if the diners at half of the restaurant gigs I play at would even *notice* if we went off into free improv :-)
Could just do it for 5 seconds to get everyone's attention and than carry on with Corcovado as if nothing had happened. Now there's a situationist thingy...
I heard George interviewed on WKCR twenty years ago. He got a bit tongue tied in response to a question about his composing and called himself a Tromboser.
George Lewis is fine man. I was just telling someone the other day about a time when I called George Lewis on the telephone way back when. He, the person I was speaking with, said that he had had a similar experience with Derek Bailey! Now here they both are together being great!
This is a great improvisation. I only wish I could have experienced this live!
WretchedExcess 1 year ago
This would have been a great show to see, hear, and experience.
heathdwatts 1 year ago
Nice very nice!
RhcpRoskildeTv 1 year ago
Wonderful music from two masters of improvisation.
shuffleboil 1 year ago 4
I'm not a big fan of abstract sound performance, but haters out there are simply brainwashed by corporate cultural imperialism. I say only babies should get formula, everyone else should stop consuming, and start producing art.
xblack13 1 year ago 4
It's difficult to understand this kind of music (for the first time especially) without having actually heard it live. It's really not meant to be heard on computer speakers or even a stereo. Best to check out masters like these in person before discounting them. You may find out you've been missing out on a lot. There really is an abstract, emotional, energetic quality that you can't pin down or imagine unless you've been in a room to really experience it live.
kayserbone 1 year ago
This is rather like looking at static on a TV screen. Every so often an image appears to form, but - nope, it's gone.
PraecoNoctis 1 year ago
I saw george lewis play with evan parker, what a great player. His runs were so crisp it was frightening.
edcerc 2 years ago
I dig this man. I've always loved Derek Bailey.
revdom666 2 years ago
Well, that was a well spent 3 minutes 50 seconds in my day. I'm ready for anything now.
cubistguitar 2 years ago 2
Picasso is supposed to have met an American serviceman who was very unimpressed with all abstract art and wasn't shy about expressing his opinion. Rather than argue with him, the artist turned the conversation to the American's life back home.Learning that the young man was engaged, Picasso asked to see had a picture of his fiancee'. When the photo was put before him, Picasso lept up in mock horror: "My God, man! You're not going to marry a woman that small?"
2300skiddo 2 years ago 4
haha I remember this - where did you read this account from? I can't seem to recollect tho.
tzeqin 2 years ago
Wow this is really cool. Thanks for posting. What struck me first about Derek Bailey is his impeccable time.
limaktba 3 years ago 2
Music is one of the most abstract forms of art, you could even say it doesn' exist; it is just waves in the air. Taliking about physics in music, is something that I personally think is limiting in music. Who are certain persons to say what's music/art and what's not? It is up to the listener. If even one person thinks this is music/art, it is. That's my opinion.
tartetel 3 years ago 10
you could say even WE don't exist; we are just waves in the air
joznick1 2 years ago 3
can someone explain to me the appeal of this music? is it what youd call free jazz.... im not critisizing it im just curious to hear your opinions about what makes it good?
topperspoppers 3 years ago 2
behaves no idioms, has no paradigm. directly creative? stuff like that..
Jack458111 3 years ago
bailey himself has admitted that his music was ideomatic after all. There is a common asthetic in a lot of free improvisation and it has become genre. It happens to be a genre that i enjoy imensley.
edcerc 2 years ago 2
Wonderful post!
professorspira 3 years ago
Not to be mean, but if I wouldn't been told otherwise I'd take these people for two retards who have never seen an instrument before.
Earthnut2k 3 years ago
Maybe its time for you to catch up with the rest of humanity and hear this like any other music (or sound).
Its funny, this video gets so many hater comments, but the 200 people at this concert had no problem "listening" to this music, "getting" this music, etc.
In fact, most of them were thrilled that Derek Bailey finally made it to San Diego.
Keep your ears open - - - -
castorandpolluxmusic 3 years ago 3
@bolluxmusic rest of humanity..pish, dream on mate, a very select group of simpletons would class this as music, but be proud of who you are, and keep pretending that by being condescending to people who recognize this for being a load of pretentious shite that you might make the ears of that person turn into the garbage yours must be. Every classically trained ear i've shown this to has laughed and said it was brilliant because its so well done LOL they thought it was a bloody joke
TheLydianRocks 1 year ago
@TheLydianRocks - so much for condescending . . . . . why is it that derek is the focus of so much hate? maybe you should go leave lame comments on fred frith videos and keith rowe videos . . . . or maybe you should post your own videos so we can all post hater comments on them.
castorandpolluxmusic 1 year ago
@TheLydianRocks
Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Gavin Bryars all worked with Bailey. I guess their musicianship is to be laughed at as well.
Lydian, you're still stuck playing adolescent games like who's better - Satriani or Vai. Damn, I did that shit when I was 10 years old, walking home from school with my friends. [Just to taunt you even more: I got Tony MacAlpine's autograph before he was even famous!]
newdawg100 1 year ago
@TheLydianRocks
I think that's kind of the point of his music. To not play musically. It's about acoustics and changing the way the instrument sounds, getting unusual tones and timbres out of harmonics or open strings or notes played on the frets. The focus of this is not structure, or melody, or harmony, it's the color of the sound, the tone of it, the timbres.
Envee211 11 months ago
@castorandpolluxmusic LOL He played in front of 200!!. Wow!! I guess I'm supposed to be impressed. "Now playing in the Blue Velvet room @ the Holiday Inn, the nauseating stylings of Derek Bailey" (originally intended to be a trio but the double bass player was too embarrassed to take the stage....er, I mean the floor on that side of the banquet room!) I passed this around to many guitarists that I've w/ with over the years (jazz, avant, rock, flamenco, classical players) We all had a good laff.
Sbrownlee 1 year ago
hahaha
totally,
but this is actually "free jazz", sometimes
i compare lil' wayne's style tipe of this type of music
ariez12r 3 years ago
are youa realitiono persona?
45rabbitsoutof10 3 years ago
I wonder if they prearranged and wrote this before they took the stage?
jdeertick 3 years ago
Are you kidding me?
Try and transcribe this and see how far you get. Start with the time signature lol
crimeNcity 3 years ago 2
but that doesn't necessarily make it "good", just to be complex. this is amazing though
joznick1 2 years ago
I call this abstract music
tankwfw 3 years ago 2
Proves that freedom is not anarchy ;-)
Intelligent50 3 years ago 3
Or that anarchy is not chaos
basger89 3 years ago
This duo is awesome .I wish there were more groups like this around.
trombizzle69 3 years ago
This sounds even worse than shreds vids. But got to respect their courage to do something as extraordinary as this...
azzholioo 4 years ago
You express an opinion in a perfectly respectable way, and the Bailey fans still ain't happy. They prey on these videos to thumb anyone down who says anything bad. Personally I couldn't agree more.
I once wrote a comment similar to this, then it all went out of control, now I'm getting a constant flow of e-mails telling me i've been replied to. The last few weeks of my life have been spent having some randomer tell me Derek is the best thing since sliced bread.
Frankly all I can say is "LOL"
RyanCoosh 3 years ago
Well, i guess we're all "randomers", aren't we?
It looks like you've posted more than one "comment similar to this".
But i wonder what this music will sound like to you ten years from now.....or if your opinions would change if you bought a Derek Bailey CD and listened to it every day for a month straight.....
I mention it because i've learned so much about myself from both Mr. Baileys and Mr. Lewis' music, it would be a shame for you to miss out on any similar insights.
translationhasfailed 3 years ago
Thanks for posting this. I love hearing those harmonics whistling out of Bailey's guitar. These two make it sound as if trombone and electric guitar were always made for each other.
cometkohoutek 4 years ago 3
Sounds like the soundtrack to the really bad 1960's Tom & Jerry Cartoons by Hannah & Barbera.
This stuff is what gave jazz a bad name. They should just call it imrov and leave the Jazz word out of it.
Jazz is about rhythms and there just ain't none here. Sorry. But hey, who's cares what I think.
jennilou68 4 years ago
Actually, you're the one using the word "jazz" here.
And maybe its time to redefine your definition of rhythm.
I've been enjoying your videos, by the way.
castorandpolluxmusic 4 years ago 2
I completely see why this is good improvisation going on. But it's like they're not improvising off each other. does this fall into jazz? and why/not?
salvara2 4 years ago
Bailey wrote an entire book focused on improvisation in different cultures. He also liked to use the terms free improvisation and/or non-idiomatic improvisation for this type of playing.
Both of these performers have a background in jazz, but i wouldn't call this clip " jazz". In fact, i don't know what to call it. Maybe "good music from two important people"?
castorandpolluxmusic 4 years ago
Yeah I found that part of the book after watching the clip. Good answer though. Thanks. I'm thinking more it's important music from two good people. But that's my opinion.
salvara2 4 years ago
No wonder the Spruce Street Forum went under. Guests would start murdering each other if they had to converse with this in the background. No offense to the musicians...
chatelet55 4 years ago
What makes you think people would talk over this? This is not background music. Spruce Street Forum was a venue where people came to listen....
castorandpolluxmusic 4 years ago
Seriously, why would you talk over a musical performance? That's sheer and utter DISRESPECT for the musicians. But I guess you're not a person of ethics....
thecosmicrain 4 years ago 10
I'm guessing this wasn't at a lounge bar...
To be honest sometimes I wonder if the diners at half of the restaurant gigs I play at would even *notice* if we went off into free improv :-)
Could just do it for 5 seconds to get everyone's attention and than carry on with Corcovado as if nothing had happened. Now there's a situationist thingy...
beanabus77 3 years ago 2
Yes, situationism lives on!!
jazzmunky 3 years ago
Derek is playing a lot more jazzlike on this clip. Even though he siad jazz died round 1955 or 1960.
johnarthurknight 4 years ago
Amazing, thank you so much for posting this gem.
BraveUlysses01 4 years ago
I heard George interviewed on WKCR twenty years ago. He got a bit tongue tied in response to a question about his composing and called himself a Tromboser.
dontoledo 4 years ago 2
brilliant...
silkfarm 4 years ago
amazing, thank you very much for posting
a11571 4 years ago
a sheer delight...thanks for posting!
ADURG1 4 years ago
Ah, the brilliant George Lewis, I was wondering when he would make an appearance on youtube..even better that it's with the late Mr. Bailey.
mahoodworm 4 years ago