TockTockTock

Not really sure where to start... I noticed that there wasn't a thread on this genre, so I figured I would go ahead and make one.

Definition: free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the taste or inclination of the musician(s) involved

Technically, improvisation has existed since the dawn of musical history, but free improvisation (more or less) began in the 1960s with musicians, such as: Derek Bailey, Group Ongaku, AMM, The Nihilist Spasm Band, and Sun Ra.

Some examples:





So... as you can see from the videos above, there's a lot of variety in this genre of music.

Thoughts? Favorite musicians? Any interesting information?

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

Here's an improv between Melt Banana and Mr.Bungle I really like, sounds like neither:

Melt Banana + Mr.Bungle part A:



Melt Banana + Mr.Bungle Part B:



I would also recommend John Zorn, Fred Frith, Sun City Girls(not on albums but you can find some crazy **** of them doing stuff live), Boredoms(sometimes), Melt Banana lite(Melt Banana with only electronic noise), Anything with Yamataka Eye, Mike Patton, Keiji Haino, Peter Brotzman, Chris Cutler, Hanatarash(again, Eye does his fair share), Tatsuya Yoshida, Hijokiadan(Warning: REALLY disturbing show), Merzbow, etc.

Here's a fun one by Merzbow:

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Sneer

The likes of Zeena Parkins, No-Neck Blues Band, John Butcher, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Lol Coxhill, Joëlle Léandre, AMM, Nihilist Spasm Band and Art Ensemble of Chicago are gold.

There are some great bands around too, like Sunburned Hand of Man, Vocokesh and Sapat, who approach it from a contemporary psychedelic rock angle. Quite a few current psych-folk acts incorporate free-form into their music as well

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Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra

Yes! Another Parkins fan! To be honest, even among the improviser/avant audience she for some reason falls between the cracks. Ridiculously underrated talent:



I also really like her work with Elliot Sharp(who is vastly overlooked as well). I should probably also add Karou Abe, and Evan Parker to the list I haven't already, as well.

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TockTockTock

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu The likes of Zeena Parkins, No-Neck Blues Band, John Butcher, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Lol Coxhill, Joëlle Léandre, AMM, Nihilist Spasm Band and Art Ensemble of Chicago are gold.

What albums would you recommend for The No-Neck Blues Band and The Art Ensemble of Chicago? I've been meaning look into them, but I've never really known where to start.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra I should probably also add Karou Abe, and Evan Parker to the list I haven't already, as well.

Definitely. They're two of the most unique free improv/jazz sax players to ever live... especially Parker (who sometimes sounds as if he isn't even playing the saxophone).

Sneer

Clomeim by the No-Neck Blues Band is a must I'd say, whilst People in Sorrow, Les Stances a Sophie, Phase One and Bap-Tizsm are my favourite AEC albums... Though I've only delved into about a quarter of their huge discography.

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Sneer

Double post, apologies, but how could I forget the awesome Limbus 4?



The Cosmic Jokers material is great too.

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SIRIUSB

I once took a very long lesson (entire day) with Bern Nix from Ornette Coleman's group (the grandfather of Free Jazz), we talked about the mechanics behind Harmolodics, Ornette's theory of Free Improv.

Instead of playing things that we already know and patterns rehearsed, he imparted to me the concepts behind letting everything you know just go, keeping your technique poised for free-flow thoughts and interaction. Distancing yourself from your expectations, allowing there to be a Collective Consciousness within the room, within the musicians, the surrendering of Ego.

I realized how difficult it was to maintain this type of improv, it was brutally honest, to yourself at the very least, you can't lie to yourself, you know when you are 'really' free-formin' and when you were not.

mr dave

I find it's like a transcendental meditative exercise where in retrospect you can tell when your conscious mind 'shuts off' and you're able to experience the music in the moment, being everything and nothing at once and existing with the sound of your note in the moment.

As you mentioned, getting over the Ego is the biggest challenge. It's the distinction between a situation like Freebase Dali mentions with a typical rock band farting out randomness until the singer starts whining and a group of musicians creating something special. I find a lot of musicians are hung up on their ego, it limits the musical risks they're willing to take for fear of saving face.

As for Group Ongaku, I think it's splitting hair at this point. From what I gather they started around the same time as Ornette Coleman was solidifying his philosophical approach to music. Being on opposite sides of the planet in an era before instant communication I think it's more of a combined random synergistic approach to a new style rather than any sort of copycat action.

Though I'd suggest digging for a pre-1959 clip if you're going to make the claim they invented the style.

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TockTockTock

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave Being on opposite sides of the planet in an era before instant communication I think it's more of a combined random synergistic approach to a new style rather than any sort of copycat action.

Yes... that is basically what I was implying.

EDIT: That and that it is impossible for free jazz to have influenced the earliest examples of the style. However, it did have an effect on musicians such as Derek Bailey and (to a lesser extent) Gruppo di Improvvisazione di Nuova Consonanza.

Quote:

Though I'd suggest digging for a pre-1959 clip if you're going to make the claim they invented the style.

Why is that? Is there any documented evidence that shows there were musicians making this kind of music before '59?