Squidco Radio presents a weekly show on the University of North Carolina student-run station Hawkstream Radio. Our April 2, 2014 show is archived at Squidco's Mix Cloud Account.
Here's an approximation of the narrative for the show:
The transition of jazz from melodic structured compositions to free improvisations has been taking place over the last 50 years, starting in the late 50s as creative jazz musicians searched for new modes of expression. At the same time, new instruments have been developed at an extraordinary and unprecedented pace. These are primarily electronic instruments, but also included the unusual use of objects, both for percussive reasons and to create previously unthought of audio interaction. Acoustic instrumental players also found new ways to express themselves, using every inch of their instrument to generate unique sounds and tones. These integrated into the jazz mainstream in a variety of ways, and allowed a departure from melodic structures into new paradigms for music creation.
Today's show will focus on those results, in one of the most recognized new forms of improvisation: electroacoustic improvisation, or ea-improv as it's more commonly known. The field is wide and varied, and there is no specific style that signifies the form. Which is perhaps its great appeal - surprises abound in music that explores new territory, finding unexpected and evocative sound integrating new instruments and approaches to music making without prejudice or predisposition.
Many ea-improv works are long, and today's show will present just 3 tracks from influential organizations and players of the form. Each tracks rewards detailed listening, so listen closely!
We start with one of the greatest free improvising groups, the British group AMM, which started life in 1965 as the trio of Keith Rowe on guitar, Lou Gare on saxophone and Eddie Prévost on drums. Their radical approach was to explore improvisation in concert settings using electric guitar and amplified acoustic instruments, performing long works that demanded an open mind and attention. Prévost has remained a key player in the, reforming the group from time to time with other key free improvisers. This track, titled "One Tree Hill" is from their "Trinity" album with saxophonist Jon Butcher, and was recorded live at Trinity College of Music in Greenwich, England in 2008, with John Tilbury on piano.
Linking the next track is 4g with Keith Rowe on guitar and electronics - Rowe was a founding member of AMM, and continues to perform in a variety of settings with many of today's leading ea-improvisers. 4g is a bit of a supergoup, with Oren Ambarchi on guitar, electronics, Christian Fennesz on guitar, computer, and Toshimaru Nakamura on input mixing board. This is from their 2005 release "Cloud", and the track is titled "Perfect Grass".
Last is another important electroacoustic improvising band, Polwechsel, from their "Traces Of Wood" on the Hatology label. For 40 years Hatology has consistently followed creative trends in improvised music and contemporary composition, and Polwechsel is a perfect example of the melding of both approaches. The band is the quartet of Burkhard Beins on drums, percussion, Martin Brandlmayr on drums, percussion, Werner Dafeldecker on double bass, and Mcihael Moser on cello. The track is titled: "Grain Bending".
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