Tony Oxley – Tony Oxley [LP] (1975, Incus)

 

One of the founders of jazz-based free improvisation in the U.K., from 1963 to 1966 Oxley was one-third of Joseph Holbrooke Trio, a pioneering group based in Sheffield that also included guitarist Derek Bailey and then-bassist (later composer) Gavin Bryars. The group started out as a relatively conventional jazz outfit, but by 1965 it had begun playing totally improvised pieces. The group's relative isolation from other currents in British free music -drummer John Stevens' London-based Spontaneous Music Ensemble was a contemporary- purportedly helped the band develop a unique approach. After the members moved to London in 1967, Oxley became the house drummer at Ronnie Scott's, a famous mainstream jazz club. He also continued working in experimental contexts. After winning Melody Maker's reader's poll, Oxley was given the chance to record as a leader. His first album was 'The Baptised Traveler' (1969); the record reflected Oxley's steadfast interest in free improv. In 1971, with Bailey and saxophonist Evan Parker, Oxley established Incus Records, which became England's premier free jazz/improv label. 

 

This self-titled album collects in six tracks the counterpoints between him and such European improvisational musicians as Bailey (guitars, with whom he recently released an unreleased for Tzadik, “The Advocate”), Parker (sax), Holdsworth (trumpet), Barry Guy (bass) and Howard Riley (piano) side by side with more alienated solo sorties. A harlequin work, rather uneven and compelling, which favors dark atmospheres and a few sunny glimpses (communicated by trumpet and saxophone) in its explorations, proceeding by singletons: not as flamboyant and expansive as the collective Company, however much the same elements appear. 'Tony Oxley' plummets in the finale, hijacking on deaf and stranger scours, particularly in the fifth “South East Of Sheffield”; a scenario as fitting as ever for this music that, in its own deaf noise effects, anticipates the ‘concrete’ sounds of Stapleton and co. and thousands to come. [SOURCE: RATE YOUR MUSIC] 

 

Label: Incus – INCUS 8 

Format: Vinyl, LP, Album 

Country: UK 

Released: 1975 

Style: Free Improvisation 

 

Tracklist: 

A1 Never Before Or Again 10:40 

A2 M-W-M 6:30 

A3 EIROC II 5:30 

B1 East Of Sheffield 6:20 

B2 South East Of Sheffield 5:40 

B3 P.P.1 8:30 

 

Notes: 

Recorded over a four year period (71-75), these tracks illustrate the evolutionary development of Tony Oxley's music, and particularly his percussion vocabulary. Amplification has played a large part in this development, giving breadth to the instrument, and allowing a reconsideration of the role of percussion in relation to improvised and structured music. 

Track A1 recorded 1972 

Track A2 recorded 1975 

Track A3 recorded 1971 

Track B1 recorded 1971 

Track B2 recorded 1973 

Track B3 recorded 1975 

 

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