Enchanting Improvisation: Landmark Works and Popular Albums of Free Jazz

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

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!

[Captivating Improvisations] Free Jazz Masterpieces and Popular Albums (41–50)

Life at the Donaueschingen Music FestivalArchie Shepp

Archie Shepp, Life at the Donaueschingen Music Festival, 1967, “One for the Trane”, (2)

Life at the Donaueschingen Music FestivalArchie Shepp

This is the album “Life at the Donaueschingen Music Festival” by Archie Shepp, a jazz and free jazz saxophonist from Florida, United States.

He is a musician who performs free jazz influenced by African music.

The tracks are as follows: A.

One For The Trance, Part I B.

One For The Trance, Part II

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SyphonJohn Butcher

John Butcher, John Edwards, Mark Sanders – Syphon

SyphonJohn Butcher

John Butcher is also a British performer.

At first he was described as a post–Evan Parker player, but over time he developed distinctive techniques—such as breath-only playing—and came to create a new era of free improvisation.

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Bird and DizCharlie Parker

Dizzy̲ G̲i̲l̲l̲e̲s̲p̲i̲e, Charli̲e̲ P̲a̲r̲k̲e̲r ̲ ̲B̲i̲r̲d̲ & ̲D̲i̲z̲ (1̲9̲4̲5̲,̲4̲7̲,̲5̲1̲)̲

Bird and DizCharlie Parker

This is the album “Bird and Diz” by Charlie Parker, a jazz alto saxophonist born in Kansas, United States.

It’s a captivating classic featuring Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Buddy Rich.

The tracklist is as follows.

[Side one] 1.

Bloomdido 2.

My Melancholy Baby 3.

Relaxin’ with Lee 4.

Passport [Side two] 1.

Leap Frog 2.

An Oscar for Treadwell 3.

Mohawk 4.

Visa

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No Waiting, ThreeDerek Bailey

Derek Bailey & Joëlle Léandre – No Waiting, Three

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.

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spiritual natureTogashi Masahiko

Masahiko Togashi – spiritual nature

spiritual natureTogashi Masahiko

Japan is also one of the meccas of free jazz.

In the dawn of Japanese free jazz, one of the leading figures was drummer and percussionist Masahiko Togashi.

A masterpiece that incorporated traditional Japanese instruments and sought a uniquely Japanese form of jazz is “Spiritual Nature.”

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New York Art QuartetNew York Art Quartet

New York Art Quartet (1964)

New York Art QuartetNew York Art Quartet

This is the free jazz band New York Art Quartet’s album “New York Art Quartet” (1964).

The group consists of four members: saxophone, trombone, drums, and bass.

The tracks are as follows: 1.

Short 2.

Black Dada Nihilismus 3.

Sweet 4.

Rosmosis 5.

Untitled 6.

No.

6

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SevenPaul Bley

Paul Bley – Seven (from “Homage to Carla”)

SevenPaul Bley

Paul Bley is a hidden genius who debuted as a free jazz pianist—participating in Ornette Coleman’s group and the Jazz Composers Guild’s October Revolution—and later devoted himself to a revolution in jazz harmony that had become a derivative of modern jazz.

This is a piece composed by Bley’s wife, Carla Bley.

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