Enchanting Improvisation: Landmark Works and Popular Albums of Free Jazz
For example, works that attempted completely different styles or methods from existing classical music came to be called modern music, and there’s a genre called post-rock that developed approaches different from standard rock styles—there are many subgenres within any given genre.
Free jazz, true to the term, is a genre newly born within the umbrella of jazz, characterized by avant-garde methodologies and freaky, free-form improvisation.
This time, we’ve selected a representative album and some popular works that are labeled as free jazz.
It’s by no means music that will appeal to everyone, but if you’re interested, please take this opportunity to give it a try!
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Enchanting Improvisation: Representative Works and Popular Albums of Free Jazz (31–40)
QuadrangleJackie Mclean
This is “Quadrangle” from the album JACKIE’S BAG by jazz saxophonist Jackie McLean, who hails from New York State, USA.
The tracks are as follows: 1.
Quadrangle 2.
Blues Inn 3.
Fidel 4.
Appointment in Ghana 5.
A Ballad for Doll 6.
Isle of Java [Bonus tracks] 7.
Street Singer 8.
Melonae’s Dance 9.
Medina
DreamsSteve Lacy
The soprano saxophonist who was active in the groups of Thelonious Monk and Cecil Taylor is Steve Lacy.
He left numerous classic recordings, and this number—performed repeatedly on several albums, including Saxophone Special—is among them.
Complete CommunionDon Cherry
This is the album Complete Communion by Don Cherry, a jazz trumpet and cornet player from Oklahoma, United States.
The tracks are as follows: 1.
Complete Communion: Complete Communion/And Now/Golden Heart/Remembrance 2.
Elephantasy: Elephantasy/Our Feelings/Bishmallah/Wind, Sand And Stars.
He also had connections with Japanese percussionist Masahiko Togashi and recorded with him.
Porto NovoMarion Brown
While many free jazz wind players are known for intense overblowing, extreme sounds, or high-speed playing, Marion Brown—called a “poet”—was a saxophonist who kept some distance from that kind of free style.
He was someone whose music was free in spirit.
Monoceros 3Evan Parker
When free jazz spread to the United Kingdom, it produced music that paid less heed to the specifically American cultural aspects of jazz and focused instead on its “free” nature.
Evan Parker, famous for special techniques such as circular breathing that allow him to play endlessly without pausing for breath, is also a British musician.
[Captivating Improvisations] Free Jazz Masterpieces and Popular Albums (41–50)
Live in Altena 1970John Surman
This is “Live in Altena 1970,” an album by the jazz saxophonist and clarinetist from Tavistock, England, the John Surman Trio.
The tracklist is as follows: A1.
Billy The Kid A2.
Tallness A3.
Dee Tune B1.
In Between B2.
Spikenard
No Waiting, ThreeDerek Bailey
Alongside Evan Parker, one of the performers representing British free improvisation is Derek Bailey.
Beyond performance, Bailey was highly active in other areas as well, founding the independent label Incus and forming the free music group Company.
This is one of the masterpieces he created with the double bassist Joëlle Léandre.