http://www.guardian.co.uk/obituaries/story/0,3604,1674695,00.html
Not quite in the league of a Boxing Day tsunami, but some sad news this Chrismas, though hardly surprising for a 75-year old and he's left a wealth of recordings behind. Derek Bailey is/was one of my big musical inspirations - someone who, on hearing for the first time, I instantly clicked with. It's a pity I won't get to see him play live.
The other old master who I'd love to see play while there's still the chance is Cecil Taylor. How much longer will he be around?
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As for my own musical response, my first instinct was to whip out the banjo and free improvise a tribute to DB. But it took a while to get things set up for recordings and there were noisy kids running around. I did come up with a new track yesterday though - which, being made with multitracking and post- roduction effects is at the opposite end of the spectrum to free improvisation. It's a Christmas Day recording of two Aussies talking about 'the Lebs' with a bit of FruityLoops for added silliness.
I'm over in Gosford, New South Wales at the moment, loving the warm weather & water, and making field recordings of the birds & insects. I reckon you could just make a straight field recording and the noise/drone fans would snap it up... the birds are a bit more raucous than the NZ ones and the way the waves of cicadas and frogs fade in and out is very 'noise'. Looks like the album I'm working on will consist of "Melbourne in winter" and "New South Wales in summer" halves.
Off to Sydney this afternoon...
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Oh and I've got gig dates for a January North Island tour!
Friday 13th - Photospace Gallery, Wellington
Tuesday 17th - Missing Link, New Plymouth
Thurs 19th or Sat 21st (tbc) - the Wine Cellar, Auckland