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Classic British Modern & Free Jazz Recommendations

audio grail said:
I know what you mean, more a experimental stream of warped freedom. Evan Parker plays features heavily (Spontaneous music ensemble etc) the LP is also produced by Denis Preston so whilst it hangs on the fringes, it's shares a great deal of Jazz DNA, probably more so than any other form it could be apportioned to.
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ISWYM - Basil has a jazz background for sure and there are a few of his albums which are more jazzy ('Abstractions Of The Industrial North' and 'Charcoal Sketches' spring to mind) but those two 'Worlds Within Worlds' are way beyond even the freest SME or Music Improvisation Company composition.
 
Another oddity which may appeal is 'Hypothesis' by Vangelis. A jazzy session never intended for release but Giorgio Gomelsky thought otherwise...

 
I have pulled out and am playing my copy of the remarkable Howard Riley solo album from 1984 - For Four on Two Two. At times challenging at others lyrical, almost romantic. He has at times the ability to make his solo piano sound like a whole contemporary classical orchestra. I have the 1985 Moviplay pressing rather than the 1984 Affinity, but the sound quality is really excellent, pretty certain it must be from the mastertape, so doubt the Affinity is much better.

Both pressings can still be found for little money, but there was a 2008 CD reissue that still seems to be available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001F63R9Y/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Edit: for typo's due to IPad auto complete.
 
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Jazzman released a couple of compilation albums in 2015, bringing together some of the more obscure jazz musicians from the '60s through to the '80s. They're cheaper on CD, but you can still pick them up on vinyl if so inclined:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00X9TQQ34/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21

Vol 2:
https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk/various-a-new-life-vol-2

From a blog post on the Jazzman site:
"A New Life is the first survey of British jazz labels and musicians that went their own way in the 1970s, bringing to the light the unknown indie gems and outsider private pressings that let jazz musicians keep the faith into the 1980s. From the time-bending spirit music of London’s Lori Vambe to the psych-jazz of Birmingham’s Poliphony, via Spot The Zebra’s jazz dedication to David Attenborough and Indiana Highway’s modal Christmas carolling, A New Life chronicles a compelling selection of lost and obscure jewels of the British jazz underground."
 
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
I've been enjoying Ian Carr's book 'Music Outside' written in 1973 about the UK jazz scene at the time.

One thing that struck me from the chapters on the free improvisors was that up until this point people had been largely relying on mainstream record labels to release their music (with mixed results). This was the point where, out of necessity, musicians started their own labels like Incus and FMP and built alternative distribution networks - pre-empting punk/DIY by a good few years.

There's a review of the book here: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ian-carr-music-outside-by-nic-jones.php?width=1280
 
It's some years since I read the Ian Carr tome: I must revisit it.

It took me back to the Jazz Britannia series on BBC4 from 2005, and the middle episode in particular:


A good series, but this second episode is particularly fine.
 
This arrived today, a lovely LP well worth supporting (Tracks can be heard in the link.)
https://andyhay.bandcamp.com/releases
Extremely Limited pressing. Hand-painted recycled materials
Some of the finest UK jazz musicians available in the here and now. The music is a journey for the senses, a detailed musical investigation of the immediate place of creation, an invitation for the inner voice of your soul, spoken words, poetry. I've worked in the UK jazz scene for 35 years, this is my debut album.
Individually Fine art painted covers. Recycled materials !!! A complete UK European worldwide first, This album is a 1 off and will never be hand made again. Hand made recycled covers, hand-painted one-off album cover art by a fine artist MFA. comes with stitched insert book + original separate wall art
 
audio grail said:
This arrived today, a lovely LP well worth supporting (Tracks can be heard in the link.)
https://andyhay.bandcamp.com/releases
Extremely Limited pressing. Hand-painted recycled materials
Some of the finest UK jazz musicians available in the here and now.
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Turned up today and it really is superb! A true bargain for the care and craft that has gone into creating it and with a very cool free yet melodic feel. I like this one a lot!

PS Mine is #122, though I’ve no idea of how many.
 
CD pre-ordered, thanks for heads-up:)

I have a Mike Westbrook Brass Band 1981 Polydor LP - the paris album en concert a la chapelle des lombards, which is one of my favourites but cannot play, not released on CD. I wonder if Polydor has still got the tape. Perhaps one day...
 
paulfromcamden said:
The Vortex in London are holding a benefit concert next month for Louis Moholo Moholo who is experiencing some health issues
http://www.vortexjazz.co.uk/event/louis-moholo-moholo-quartet-2010-03-09/
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That’s sad to hear. Last man standing from the Mike Osborne Trio, who I saw regularly back in the mid/late seventies.

I’ve just checked - I still have my copy of Border Crossing on Harry Miller’s Ogun label. Next to Dudu Pukwana’s In The Townships. Louis played on that too.
 
There’s a new issue of the Andy Hay album on vinyl with a different hand painted red cover and it looks like you get the CD too, a bit of a bargain (link).
 
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