IMPROVISED MUSIC

 

In early 1968 I began my musical path in free form group improvisation as this was happening in the U.K. At that time I co-founded with Michael Sullivan an improvising group named by Mike Musician's Union. In 1971 I co-founded the improvising group Ovary Lodge with Keith Tippett (and bassist Roy Babbington) and co-founded with Ian Brighton (Electric Guitar) the improvising group Balance. I also ran a trio for a short while called the Frank Perry Trio with (the late) Derek Bailey and Evan Parker. 

Below are links to pages where you may read a little and listen to soundbites of these groups.

 

 

 

 

 

This is a short extract from a 33 minute recording of an improvisation 11/2/1972 by the Frank Perry Trio

"FOR THE LOVE OF . . . . "

Evan Parker - Soprano Saxophone 

Frank Perry - Percussion

 

 

Two examples of spontaneous improvisation from 68 or 69 and 1970. The Trio with Chris McGregor was the first time we played together and I had never heard his music before. I was playing at the Asylum Club one evening during 1971 when Chris approached me in the interval and asked for Mongezi and himself to jam together with me. No discussions whatsoever. In fact, I can't recall any discussions ever when playing improvised music with other musicians - and it always worked. Sometimes we had rehearsals - from my perspective these seemed mostly to serve to confirm that the collected improvisers could work together as nothing played during the so-called rehearsals ever made it to the live performance. Either that or we all enjoyed making music so much that anything served as an excuse! Prior to playing nobody ever said anything as each musician simply picked up their instrument and let the ensuing music emerge out of the silence. Consequently, there is very little I can say regarding these group improvisations, as it was all down to the music and that speaks for itself.

It is a lo-fi recording but gives a hint as to the energy of the times!

Click on name below to listen.

 

    For more on the group click HERE.

 

 

Another piece released recently on Reel Recordings was from another impromptu improvisation at Gary Windo's place in February of 1974. Gary and also his wife Pam used to drive me around as he lived nearby and he often featured in the line-up at Peanuts Club where we/I played quite regularly. It says in the liner notes that he and I played a duo for his children's school and I vaguely recollect that. He rang me and invited me to a jam at his place and his wife played on the piano. I had completely forgotten about this but it was recorded onto R2R and now it has been released. I recalled the microphones but thought it was simply for a memo and not for any kind of release - not that I mind that. There were no rehearsals and this is the first and only time I played with Gary and Pam. I include it here because it features another side to my playing at that time. Click on Roarin' below to listen.

 

Roarin'