derek bailey

derek bailey playing the guitar 1983

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Music

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• derek
• bailey
• guitar

[Osthropek]

i've always thought that derek's approach to playing was more interesting on paper rather than into sound. i love people like fred frith and keiji haino but listening to the albums released under bailey's name just really bores me. still I am greatly inspired by the guy, because he is no doubt a hugely talented player.

[groupoem]

you heard it here first guitar aficionados “Terrance Robinson” and his band "The Group Home” reforming out of Vancouver BC (original members) spring 2012. Stay tuned. Derek Bailey would be proud

[OldManRiverz]

Kandinsky said that music is the abstraction of sound. I see Bailey as the abstract expressionist of sound. The action musician.

[akrotirifry9]

@freejazzandcheese1 Reading it now. Thanks!

[freejazzandcheese1]

@freejazzandcheese1 ...Domonic Lash (musician) did a PHD on Derek Bailey and uncovered Bailey's huge private study of the guitar. It certainly holds a good defence of Bailey when you see how he conceived the instrument in such a different way. Most people who play guitar are extremely backward and self concious to have such courage and ingenuity. Its a shame really. Go on the INCUS RECORDS site and search writings section. It is the second one down. Fascinating stuff!

[freejazzandcheese1]

@freejazzandcheese1 ..is played but how it is played. This is not a "free for all" "play what you like" music. It is a language and should be treated as such. I suggest to keep a wide open view of what you hear and look at how players interact and how ideas are developed in group improv. In solo just listen to Bailey (Lot 74 is a good one) with the lights off alone and concentrate. I can of course tell you much more but I think it only needs time and patience. Also...

[freejazzandcheese1]

@akrotirifry9 Being intrigued is a good place to start. I certainly don't recommend you analyse it from a theoretical POV, at least not harmonically. Try and see rhythm as a non metronomic concept. You have to see Bailey's music as very rhythmic. If you can understand this then you may start to see what makes him so good. Free improvisation is strictly about rhythm and tone. In a way jazz is too and harmony counts as just a mathematical rule book. It is not specifically what note..

[akrotirifry9]

@freejazzandcheese1 I really want to understand how Bailey's music makes sense from a theoretical POV. I neither like nor dislike his stuff, but I'm intrigued by it. I know a fair bit if music theory, but I'm not at a level high enough to analyse/understand the workings of Bailey's music just by listening to his stuff. Can you give me some link whereby I can understand how his music 'works'? (not being sarcastic here)

[freejazzandcheese1]

It's a shame so many people write such cruel and callous things when examining Derek's guitar playing. From the age of fourteen I have been in completely overwhelmed by how wonderful his playing is. His rhythmic density, attack and unparalleled comping. I am a guitar player myself studying a jazz degree in Leeds and I am still terrified of attempting to play like Bailey. I will defend him to my grave and I hope some people will reserve their judgement and endevour further into understanding him.

[kingzoot00]

@NiggerAnus "Steve Vai is a genius" - absolutely.  Steve Vai is one of my favourite guitarists.

Derek Bailey is a genius too.