David,
Shock horror! I thought you were already well-versed in Sharrockiana, or I
would have bombarded you with hours of listening by now. For me, the
essential album is "Guitar," from 1986. Sharrock "solo," multitracked parts.
Sort of his "Conversations with Myself," I guess. I included one track from
this on the "Preaching to the Choir" compilation for Frank's Apa a few years
ago. Seems like that was the comp that never made it to your house, which
means you've never been introduced to the pleasures of the Compulsive
Gamblers, either. Poor guy.
Other Sharrock to hunt down: "Ask the Ages," with Pharoah Sanders, Elvin
Jones and Charnett Moffett. 1991, Bill Laswell produced. (Laswell also
produced "Guitar.") And I like everything I've heard by Last Exit, the
lung-bursting uber-quartet of Sharrock, Peter Brotzmann, Shannon Jackson and
Laswell. There are several live albums, and one studio album which Brotzmann
for one doesn't like, but which I still play pretty often.
The coolest thing about Sharrock is the fact that he played guitar because
asthma kept him from playing saxophone. I think you can hear that in his
playing -- phrasing and duration and the clusters of notes seem to imply a
lung-powered instrument. Not your average flatpickin'. Key Sharrock quote:
"I consider myself a jazz saxophonist with a very fucked-up horn."
William
> I'm sure this lp has been mentioned here before. Is this a good introduction
> Sharrock lp or should I be looking elsewhere? The only other record I have
> is "Highlife". Opinions?
> Yr Pal
> David H.
>
>
