Emanem CDs 1998-2000

LOL COXHILL & VERYAN WESTON "Boundless" (1998) EMANEM 4021
A fine sequence of shortish soprano saxophone and piano duos reflecting the moods of two exceptional improvisers on a winter's day. The first time they have appeared as a duo on record since 1978, revealing their playing to be more adventurous than ever. 70 minutes.

EVAN PARKER / BARRY GUY / PAUL LYTTON "at The Vortex" (1996) EMANEM 4022
The whole of a London club date comprising two extended exuberant improvisations, making it very different to their previous releases. Perhaps the most ferocious and relaxed example of this trio on record. 79 minutes.

SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ORCHESTRA "For you to share" (1970) EMANEM 4023
Concert and studio recordings of peace music organised by JOHN STEVENS for himself and TREVOR WATTS with numerous workshop musicians and audience people on saxophones, percussion and voices mostly contributing a flexible drone. Only Stevens could have organised music as outrageous as this - must be heard to be believed. Reissue of the major work of A 001 with an additional similar piece. 65 minutes.

STEVE LACY "Saxophone Special +" (1973-4) EMANEM 4024
Music for four saxophones (STEVE LACY, EVAN PARKER, STEVE POTTS & TREVOR WATTS) with guitar (DEREK BAILEY) & synthesiser (MICHEL WAISVISZ). Plus highlights from an earlier London concert by LACY, POTTS, BAILEY, KENT CARTER & JOHN STEVENS. Improvisations on original compositions. Reissue of Emanem 3310 (plus an extra piece from the same concert) and the better half of Emanem 304. 77 minutes.

PHIL MINTON "A Doughnut in Both Hands" (1975-82) EMANEM 4025
Solo singing. The variety of sounds that this man can make with his voice and mouth is totally unbelievable. Reissue of Rift 3 with extra material from the same and slightly later sessions. 56 minutes.

RoTToR "The First Full Turn" (1998) EMANEM 4026
The complete first quartet performance by PAUL RUTHERFORD (trombone), JULIE TIPPETT (voice), KEITH TIPPETT (piano) & PAUL ROGERS (double bass) - the highlight of the Le Mans festival. Plus a trombone solo from earlier in the year. 67 minutes.

DEREK BAILEY "Fairly Early with Postscripts" (1971-98) EMANEM 4027
Solo electric guitar improvisations from 1971 (unedited) & 1974 - 1973 concert extracts with KENT CARTER & JOHN STEVENS - 1974 rehearsal extracts with ANTHONY BRAXTON - a 1979 cassette letter (edited less) - previously unissued 1980 acoustic guitar improvisations - postscripts from 1987 & 1998. Reissue of Emanem 3404 sections not on Emanem 4001, plus... 67 minutes.

VERYAN WESTON / JOHN EDWARDS / MARK SANDERS "Mercury Concert" (1998) EMANEM 4028
The whole of a superb concert - proof that there is still plenty of life and freshness to be found in the all acoustic piano / double bass / percussion format. Unlike any other such group, absorbing influences as diverse as Bela Bartok, Paul Bley, Conlan Nancarrow and Cecil Taylor. 61 minutes.

JOHN BUTCHER / PHIL DURRANT / JOHN RUSSELL "The Scenic Route" (1998) EMANEM 4029
Most of two recent concert performances by this exceptional all acoustic saxophone / violin / guitar trio, featuring somewhat longer and sparser improvisations that on their previous issues. 67 minutes.

EVAN PARKER "Waterloo 1985" EMANEM 4030
An hour long improvisation by EVAN PARKER (saxophones), PAUL RUTHERFORD (trombone), HANS SCHNEIDER (double bass) & PAUL LYTTON (percussion & live electronics). 61 minutes - previously unissued.

SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE "Low Profile" (1977/84/88) EMANEM 4031
More outrageous concert recordings by the edition of the SME featuring JOHN STEVENS (percussion, cornet, voice), NIGEL COOMBES (violin) & ROGER SMITH (guitar), with COLIN WOOD (cello) added in 1977. 69 minutes - previously unissued.

ROGER SMITH "Extended Plays" (1993-7) EMANEM 4032
Mostly extended solo acoustic guitar improvisations to complement the mainly short items on his highly acclaimed previous CD (EMANEM 4014). Also a duet with flautist NEIL METCALFE. 78 minutes.

KENT CARTER & ALBRECHT MAURER "The Juillaguet Collection" (1996) EMANEM 4033
Double bass and violin duets, mostly improvised, some based on original compositions. Beautiful string music from two very underrated musicians, recorded by Carter in his studio. 60 minutes.

LOL COXHILL "Alone and Together" (1991-9) EMANEM 4034
Improvised unaccompanied soprano and sopranino saxophone solos of the usual high standard, plus duets with STEVIE WISHART (violin & hurdy gurdy) and MARCIO MATTOS (cello & electronics). All recorded in concert. 70 minutes - previously unissued.

EVAN PARKER "Foxes Fox" (1999) EMANEM 4035
Studio recordings with STEVE BERESFORD (piano), JOHN EDWARDS (double bass) & LOUIS MOHOLO (percussion). Extended quartet performances plus short duos and trios. The session was so relaxed, that it felt and sounded like a concert. 77 minutes.

JOHN RUSSELL / MAARTEN ALTENA / TERRY DAY "The Fairly Young Bean" (1981) EMANEM 4036
Acoustic guitar, cello or double bass, & percussion trio improvisations - intended for release as the third CAW LP, that never happened. A complete studio session featuring unique music. 76 minutes - previously unissued.

KARL BERGER & EDWARD BLACKWELL "Just Play" (1976) EMANEM 4037
Hard-swinging vibraphone and percussion Free Jazz duets based on compositions by Berger and Don Cherry. In contrast to these largely metallic sounds, there are also two African sounding improvisations on two instruments made from wood - a bala(fon) and an osi-drum. Reissue of Quark 9996 with an extra piece from the same concert. 61 minutes.

THREE & FOUR PULLOVERS (1975-8) EMANEM 4038
A trio concert by STEVE BERESFORD (toys & electronics), NIGEL COOMBES (violin & electronics) & ROGER SMITH (guitar) described by Beresford as "a cross between an SME tiny-elements-interlocking-thing and an AMM landscape." Plus excerpts from a quartet concert 3 years later with BERESFORD also playing piano & euphonium, COOMBES just on violin, SMITH continuing on guitar and TERRY DAY on percussion, alto saxophone, cello and mandolin. Reissue of Quartz-Mirliton Cassette 12 with extra material from a later concert. 76 minutes.

SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ORCHESTRA "Mouthpiece" (1973) EMANEM 4039
Outrageous sounds produced by a workshop orchestra directed by JOHN STEVENS - an SME-type improvisation; instrumental & vocal drones; a mechanically rhythmic yet unpredictable piece; and an all-out improvisation featuring non-vocal mouth sounds, vocal sounds & instruments. The exact personnels of this ensemble music are not known (apart from the leader on cornet), so they are not given. 70 minutes - previously unissued.

TONY BIANCO / PAUL DUNMALL / SIMON PICARD "Utoma Trio" (1999) EMANEM 4040
Three high-energy post-Coltrane improvisations featuring percussion and two tenor saxophones. 59 minutes.

MASASHI HARADA CONDANCTION ENSEMBLE "Enter the Continent"(1999) EMANEM 4041
Eight and six piece ensembles conducted by Harada's dancing. Participants are GREG KELLEY (trumpet), TUCKER DULIN & CHRISTIAN PINCOCK (trombones), ERIC CARLSON (tuba), BHOB RAINEY (soprano saxophone), ALETA COLE (violin), DAN LEVIN (cello), MIKE BULLOCK (double bass) & PHIL TOMASIC (electric guitar). 73 minutes.

STEVE LACY "Hooky" (1976) EMANEM 4042
Virtually the whole of the 1976 Montreal solo concert - one of his best - including the complete Tao cycle and several other pieces. Reissue of half of Quark LP 9998 with over 50 minutes of previously unissued material from the same concert. 78 minutes.

FRANK LOWE & EUGENE CHADBOURNE "Don't Punk Out" (1977 + 1979 & 2000) EMANEM 4043
A unique set of tenor saxophone and guitar duets mainly based on original compositions, with a couple of free improvisations and some pieces by other musicians. Considered by some to be among the best work of both musicians. Solo additions feature three Lowe pieces performed on a collapsing guitar in 1979, and some saxophone recorded in 2000. Reissue of QED LP 995 with extra later material. 65 minutes.

HOWARD RILEY TRIO "Synopsis" (1973) EMANEM 4044
Graphic scores interpreted by pianist Riley with BARRY GUY on amplified basses and TONY OXLEY on percussion and electronics. Perhaps the best recorded example of this exploratory trio that lasted for about six years. Reissue of Incus LP 13 with extra material from the same session. 66 minutes.

Continued in Emanem CDs 2001

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