clifford_thornton Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 Gutted to learn that Keith Tippett, English pianist and one of the music's leading lights, has passed at age 72. This has been confirmed by Moonjune Records as well as his wife Julie Tippetts (née Driscoll) via social media. What a goddamn year. Quote
aparxa Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 So sad news. I had the pleasure to listen to Keith Tippett co-leading Viva la Black in Grenoble in 2008. Thank you for the mujic and for the positive vibrations! Quote
sidewinder Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 (edited) Terrible news. He had heart problems in recent years but before recent events I saw mention of performances lined up in this part of the world and I was looking forward to catching at least one of them. 72 years is far too young; deepest condolences to the family. A gifted, grounded and most committed musician and one of the greatest things to ever come out of Bristol. What a great recorded legacy though - the early albums, Centipede, King Crimson, Ovary Lodge, the Ogun years, Mujician plus his various small and larger groups of more recent years. An important musical legacy. Grateful to have caught him solo on a few occasions and with Mujician. I think the favourite performance I saw has to be the solo recital at Bath Guildhall around 2003-4, using ‘prepared’ piano. Edited June 14, 2020 by sidewinder Quote
clifford_thornton Posted June 14, 2020 Author Report Posted June 14, 2020 Yeah, indeed, an amazing legacy... only wish I had had the chance to see him perform! Quote
sidewinder Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 This is a fairly recent release - and an excellent one. Quote
mikeweil Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 R.I.P. I do not remember the reason, but this album was kind of a cult object in my friends' circles back then: Quote
felser Posted June 14, 2020 Report Posted June 14, 2020 Really interesting musician. RIP. I even enjoy the Centipede "Septober Engergy" set quite a bit. Quote
clifford_thornton Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Posted June 15, 2020 1 hour ago, mikeweil said: R.I.P. I do not remember the reason, but this album was kind of a cult object in my friends' circles back then: original pressing copies of that are very, very difficult to find. Beautiful album! Quote
GA Russell Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 2 hours ago, felser said: Really interesting musician. RIP. I even enjoy the Centipede "Septober Engergy" set quite a bit. RIP. Septober Energy was a favorite of mine, too. Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 This is so sad. He was always the most humble of performers, invariably thanking the audience profusely for sitting and listening to an evening of spellbinding music. The most recent of his performances I saw help sum up his breadth - solo; with Julie and a string Quartet: in duo with Peter Brotzmann; with the Octet playing O'Gonogon. This is a really sad way to start the week. The last news I'd read was that he was over his heart issues. British and world Jazz has just become less bright. RIP Quote
sidewinder Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 5 hours ago, clifford_thornton said: original pressing copies of that are very, very difficult to find. Beautiful album! There was an OK vinyl reissue of that one some years ago but I guess that one is hard to get now too. 16 minutes ago, mjazzg said: The last news I'd read was that he was over his heart issues. That’s what I’d heard too - was looking forward to that cancelled Bristol performance with Matthew Bourne being rescheduled. Quote
sidewinder Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 (edited) A good article on Tippett’s life and career here. https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/06/16/keith-tippett-spontaneous-combustor/ I might even have seen that TOTP performance with Fripp and co and if my memory is right he did another TOTP appearance with Larry Stabbins in the early 80s ! Edited June 15, 2020 by sidewinder Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 5 hours ago, sidewinder said: A good article on Tippett’s life and career here. https://jazzjournal.co.uk/2019/06/16/keith-tippett-spontaneous-combustor/ I might even have seen that TOTP performance with Fripp and co and if my memory is right he did another TOTP appearance with Larry Stabbins in the early 80s ! Working Week with Stabbins perhaps. My first Camden Jazz Festival gig was WW, always had a soft spot for the first album and the 12" singles Quote
clifford_thornton Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Posted June 15, 2020 7 hours ago, mjazzg said: This is so sad. He was always the most humble of performers, invariably thanking the audience profusely for sitting and listening to an evening of spellbinding music. The most recent of his performances I saw help sum up his breadth - solo; with Julie and a string Quartet: in duo with Peter Brotzmann; with the Octet playing O'Gonogon. This is a really sad way to start the week. The last news I'd read was that he was over his heart issues. British and world Jazz has just become less bright. RIP I recall listening to an interview with him and he seemed like the nicest guy imaginable; always hoped I'd get the chance to hear &/or interview him someday myself but it was not to be. Fucking sucks. Quote
Steve Reynolds Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 Lost track of recent music but Mujician was a defining band for me maybe 20 years ago. “Birdman” & “Colours Fulfilled” remain for me two of the ultimate fully improvised free jazz recordings with Tippett at the core of that incredible inventive beauty. As I once said about Mujician at it’s peak (and was mocked strongly) the greatest improvised music in the history of improvised music RIP to one of the true great voices of this music Quote
clifford_thornton Posted June 15, 2020 Author Report Posted June 15, 2020 Mujician were awesome. Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 I saw Mujician at the Vortex in 2010, stage front and centre. The intensity of the playing and interaction amongst the players made me think at the time that this is what hearing the Coltrane Quartet must have been like. I haven't felt that about any other band, before or since. Awesome indeed. Half of them gone now. Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jun/15/keith-tippett-the-jazz-great-music from one of our best writers Quote
sidewinder Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, mjazzg said: Working Week with Stabbins perhaps. My first Camden Jazz Festival gig was WW, always had a soft spot for the first album and the 12" singles I don’t think it was Working Week, likely that slightly earlier band ‘Weekend’. There’s a bit about it in Tippett’s interview on Jazz Britannia I think. I caught Mujician too, on their home turf, but at a slightly earlier date. If I remember rightly ex forum member Bev Stapleton was also there but I never saw or met him ! This is pretty incredible ! https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2egzr0 Edited June 15, 2020 by sidewinder Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 8 hours ago, sidewinder said: 29 minutes ago, sidewinder said: I don’t think it was Working Week, likely that slightly earlier band ‘Weekend’. There’s a bit about it in Tippett’s interview on Jazz Britannia I think. I caught Mujician too, on their home turf, but at a slightly earlier date. If I remember rightly ex forum member Bev Stapleton was also there but I never saw or met him ! This is pretty incredible ! https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2egzr0 Which reminds me I should email Bev. He's a big KT fan, I inherited some of his Ogun LPs Quote
sidewinder Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 Just checked Jazz Britannia Ep. 3 - not Weekend or Working Week but he didprovide a backing track for the first Acid Jazz LP (never heard it). So - no 80s TOTP appearances by the look of it. Quote
mjazzg Posted June 15, 2020 Report Posted June 15, 2020 (edited) "I close my eyes, say a little prayer, whether I'm playing preconceived or spontaneous compositions, and I give my all. !'m interested in moving an audience. That's my job:' Did he ever. Every time in my experience. KT from Wire interview with Julian Crowley, 2091 Edited June 15, 2020 by mjazzg Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
.jpg.74a8b4abc7779f03e7e55653a1d9537d.thumb.jpg.a9eb0c1a66878897c11d43b00b49bdc0.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.