Phil James: Already Gone

Nils Jacobson

Senior Contributor since 1999

Still scratching his head and wondering if it's real

Recent articles (720 total)

Published: August 1, 2000

The integration of electronics with improvisation has taken a short and rocky course. The occasional use of the sampler is about as electronic as jazz usually gets without turning into cheese. But the full arsenal of turntables, loops and effects is successfully applied on Already Gone. From an electronica point of view, this would probably qualify as a form of "trance." From a jazz point of view, things are more complicated. Sparse improvisation motors forward through a thickly textured electronic field—with various instruments (and tunings) serving the role as lead. A bit dark, very thoroughly produced, and particularly suited for headphone listening.

Already Gone distinguishes itself as experimental music—and as such, provides an interesting listen... but it can also be a bit hit or miss. Recommended to those who want to stay on the leading edge of the relatively new improvisation/electronica fusion.

Track Listing: Six variations.

Personnel: Phil James: shakuhachi, voice, harmonium, pedal steel guitar, Native American flute, turntables, electronics, drums.

Record Label: Sparkling Beatnik Records
Style: Modern Jazz