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Derek Bailey / Mototeru Takagi: Live at FarOut, Atsugi 1987
BySure, in both England and Japan the seeds of improvisation were planted through the trickle of recordings and occasional tours by American musicians, but for the most part we can now celebrate the evolution of these island sounds. Bailey is an artist known to most free improvisation aficionados, Takagi less so. The saxophonist was a member (for a short time) of Masayuki Takayanagi's New Direction Unit and he collaborated with the likes of Toshinori Kondo and Sabu Toyozumi. Takagi recorded with Milford Graves Meditation Among Us (Kitty Records, 1977) and Bailey Duo & Trio Improvisation (Kitty Records, 1978), when both artists were touring Japan. This recording from 1987 is being released for the first time and is an excellent example of a free improvisation metamorphosis on a biogeographic island that was seeded by migratory sounds.
The CD contains four duos (70 minutes) and the limited edition LP three tracts (52 minutes). Bailey for his part delivers a strong performance, albeit one that is sympathetic to Takagi's soprano saxophone. "Duo I" is a slow developing almost meditative (if that is possible) twenty-eight minutes. The pair are unhurried and deliberate. Takagi's sound comes closest to that of Steve Lacy and Lol Coxhill's straight horns, as he is capable of both a strong and a sympathetic sound. "Duo II" begins with a Bailey solo acoustic attack as Takagi enters nearly at the end of the track. "Duo IV" opens with the saxophonist pressing upper register notes before Bailey, now on electric guitar, paints a background landscape. Listeners can explore the uniqueness and musical biology of these superb free improvisation evolutionary branches.
Track Listing
Duo l; Duo ll; Duo lll; Duo lV.
Personnel
Derek Bailey
guitarMototeru Takagi
saxophone, sopranoAlbum information
Title: Live at FarOut, Atsugi 1987 | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: NoBusiness Records
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Derek Bailey / Mototeru Takagi
Album Review
Mark Corroto
Live at FarOut, Atsugi 1987
NoBusiness Records
Derek Bailey
Masayuki Takayangi
Toshinori Kondo
Sabu Toyozumi
Milford Graves
Steve Lacy
Lol Coxhill