Alexander Hawkins

For anyone in London: we launch the record at The Vortex tomorrow night!

Really gutted about this - Tony was a wonderful guy, and of course, it goes without saying, player. I had the privilege of playing with him several times in Evan Parker's groups. We also used to play as a duo a little bit...and in fact the last time we played was in Austria last year, when I played church organ. Anyone interested should definitely check out a great record he made with Veryan Weston on organ on Evan Parker's Psi label, called 'Stops'. It was always completely humbling to play with Tony. He had absolutely unflinching commitment to the music at all times - anyone who has ever seen him play will tell you about that 'place' he would seemingly disappear to when the music was really happening...eyes closed, and all bets were off at that point! He knew a lot about sound, but nothing about compromise. He was as interactive as anyone, but no way could you *make* him go to a certain area musically - it was always improvise at all costs. One of the things which makes this especially shocking is the amazing energy he always had whilst playing; there was never any inkling that anything was wrong, and on the contrary, he could really make you *work* like few others whilst playing. It was only a month or so ago that I saw him in trio with Roscoe Mitchell and John Edwards in one of the most breathtaking gigs I've ever been lucky enough to witness. Anyway, RIP Tony.

Thanks for the reminder on this one...just put it on again. Big Eddie Costa fan here!

So - due to a slightly unlikely series of events, this album is actually officially only released this coming Monday, April 9th...so just upping this should anyone be curious! We've recently had some very kind reviews. I believe we get 4 stars in the current Downbeat. There's also this in The Guardian; this in Jazzwise; this in Point of Departure; this in Ni Kantu; this in the Jazzmann; ...and a few others I think! There are copies available in various formats from the label...and I also have a handful! Anyhow - plenty of samples available on the label's page there...so I hope it may appeal to at least some

The cadenza on that performance always blows me away. Extraordinary.

Just stumbled across this link - which includes a couple of fascinating interview transcriptions with Andrew Cyrille and Tony Oxley about Cecil and his music...

Adrian - yes, it's a really wonderful place, both to play and listen. The atmosphere can be *really* electric in there! A real privilege to interview him - not only was he a great guy, but I really came away with serious food for thought about music in general...which is perhaps more than you could typically ask for a 45-minute chat with someone... And Mark - indeed, packed, which was great!

Can I recommend a programme on the BBC this evening? It's a recording of Roscoe Mitchell, who played in London last weekend at Cafe Oto...I was there for both nights of his two-night residency, and it was a really special gig...a trio with John Edwards on bass, and Tony Marsh on drums. Here's a link. [i was also lucky enough to spend some time with Roscoe on the second day, and there's a portion of an interview I did with him in the middle of the programme.]

Can't you tell us what you said? Or did you sign a clause saying you would never repeat a word of it...? Yeah, afraid it's very much one of those 'If I told you, I'd have to shoot you' situations Seriously though - not at my own computer just now, but will try to put a transcript up if I remember later! p.s. thanks everyone for the kind comments!

Thanks for that Adrian! Yes, just got sent the PDF of that yesterday...here's the review portion if anyone's curious, although I think the short interview segment is possibly only in print/available to subscribers...

Well, not sure it adds anything terribly profound to the debate, but quite surreal to see a story about vocal melisma in the BBC's top stories of the day..!

Played and hung out with Vincent Segal the other night in France - lovely guy, great player!

I really like the direction Mark Sanders and John Edwards take Veryan - e.g. on Gateway to Vienna (is that what it's called? I forget just now!). That's freely improvised, although in the 'free jazz' direction IMHO... To hear Veryan play tunes though - see if you can find audio of either Sol6 or Sol12...totally intriguing repertoire!!!

Yes - that Agusti trio with Mark Sanders and John Edwards (btw - one of THE great bass and drums teams around today) is wonderful - Un Lamp Que No S'Acaba Mai... A great solo piano disc not to sleep on on Emanem - Pat Thomas' Nur...fantastic! I'm very grateful to Emanem for putting out one of my very first efforts, as part of the collective group Barkingside...featuring the amazing (not using the word lightly either..!) Alex Ward on clarinet, amongst others... Also - lots of GREAT Lol Coxhill on Emanem... And the Foxes Fox (Evan Parker, Louis Moholo-Moholo, John Edwards, Steve Beresford) discs on these two labels are big fun!

Yeah - Jim Hobbs is a *fantastic* player!

Frankie Douglas? e.g. with Sean Bergin? No idea if he died young or is still around however - just the 'Frank' guitarist who came to mind!

Yes, the new Blue Notes is either available, or will be (very) imminently...Peter, I'm not entirely sure, but I think what you're referring to is that John Jack, who ran Cadillac, retired from the distribution game last year. Ogun releases are all still available through the shops, and through contacting Hazel Miller directly - but as you say, I don't think through the (now-defunct) Cadillac website. FWIW - I was with Louis Moholo-Moholo recently, and he is very excited by this new release...I haven't heard it yet, but it's pretty special from what various people say... But Ogun - definitely still going strong...I was chatting with Hazel only the other day about things, and - more news soon - but Louis M and I have a duo which we recorded last October which will appear on Ogun later in the year... ...and it's preaching to the converted I know, but let me reiterate for everyone(!) - Hazel does a really wonderful job: runs that label with proper old-fashioned (in absolutely the most positive way) values...please do give them whatever custom you can...the music is, it goes without saying, totally wonderful, and it's a label which really tries to do right by everyone involved!!! (friendly retail advice: buy the new Blue Notes, and treat yourself at the same time to the recently released Louis/Johnny/Dudu/Frank Wright album...you won't regret it )

I had the privilege of working with Wadada for a week towards the end of last year, and want to echo this...he was extremely generous with time, advice etc. throughout, added to which, he was simply a great guy to spend time with...and of course, the recorded evidence speaks for itself - one of the *great* trumpet players.

...oops...I of course mean 'Angelica' not 'Angelican'!

I caught a broadcast of this on Mezzo and I agree that it's well worth the time. So the album's as good? I will pick up a copy sometime then. Well I wouldn't want to compare, but will definitely stand by my recommendation of Tabligh The latest incarnation of the Golden Quartet has Angelican Sanchez on piano, and Pheeroan AkLaff on drums...now *he* will sound spectacular in that band IMHO...

FWIW - just to clarify - they do do longer reviews too: they just also have a 'round-up' section, which this review seems to have been part of. I'm not clear what the editorial policy is here as to what goes in which section, but many things do get a more extensive treatment. Completely agree with comments about Kevin Le Gendre, who is both an extremely knowledgeable reviewer and sensitive interviewer. (Did anyone catch his chat with Roy Haynes at the London Jazz Festival? Fantastic stuff.)

Yes - IMHO Tabligh is absolutely wonderful...Ronald Shannon Jackson is on really fantastic form: as, it goes without saying, are Wadada and Lindberg. This band is also my favourite context for Iyer, FWIW...If you can find it, track down the La Huit documentary of this group's performance at the Banlieues Bleues a few years back...some taster clips on Youtube, if I remember right...

Yeah, I'd agree that Ballads would be a good way in, especially from the 'jazz' direction...Mirakle likewise, in a slightly different way... Somewhere, there are recordings of Konitz sitting in with Joseph Holbrooke (Derek/Oxley/Gavin Bryars) from the mid-60s...pretty interesting... Company could certainly get pretty out...is it on '91 where there's Buckethead alongside Alex Kolkowski? If you're into Steve Lacy, another way in could be the early Company duos, or through Derek on a few of the Saravah recordings. Bailey/Braxton is another great one. (On a vaguely related note - I would have loved to have heard him with Roscoe - I don't know if that ever happened?) One personal favourite very rarely commented upon is 'Village Live' on Incus - Derek with both Louis Moholo and Thebe Lipere on percussion - very beautiful...really makes me wonder what he would have sounded like sitting in with the Art Ensemble. And also: let's not forget the *completely* remarkable duo with Cecil Taylor from Berlin...an astonishing dynamic - listening to them figure each other out during the opening half hour or so is uttrley compelling IMHO.

Funny - I was talking about these to a friend only last night! I really like both...as you say, quite different from one another. I also agree - Evan's concept is really effective here. Part of what I like about these records is that it's taking me several goes to 'figure them out' - they're fascinating in that respect too.