Arthur Gadney wrote, a few days ago (I'm catching up): Hello.

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Derek Bailey - Pieces For Guitar

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Blimey! Wonder how Zorn got Bailey to let these be put out? If they were any good wouldn't DB have put them out on Incus ages ago?

No, he wouldn't. This is from the Incus homepage: “The Incus vaults hold many so far unissued tapes and videos but its not known when, if ever, they might appear. Our preference is for new or recent recordings and there are usually too many of these in the pipeline to allow us time for rummaging around in the archives.“

Thanks.

Well, that certainly put me in my place. Whether it was intentional or not, this came across as a rude put down. I would expect better. Anyway, I don't take this as proof that "No, he wouldn't". Firstly, the Incus site merely states that their *preference* is for new or recent recordings. The way I read it, this does not preclude archival recordings. Secondly, someone obviously *has* been rummaging around in DB's private archive (presumably DB) otherwise these "personal" recordings would not have come to light. I can't put myself into DB's head, but if it were me and I had my own record label, my first preference would be to release it myself - like the Joseph Holbrooke Trio rehearsal extract. So I smell a rat. I may be wrong, but that's the reasoning behind it. All of you ignored my request for impressions of "Hemopheliac" so I'll ask again - should I spend two hours listening to it again, or sell it on the internet to some completist Patton fan (no doubt it's intended audience anyway)? And finally, someone (I deleted the email by mistake - sorry) asked about the Gift in London. We discussed this nearer the time, but I've appended my comments from then at thre bottom of this email if you're interested. I was surprised at the time that no-one commented on the point about Zorn playing the gig even though he didn't like performing "this kind of music", but then again no-one here (Steve Smith excepted) seems particularly interested in talking about Zorn anymore. Alastair "I was at this too, and I have to say I agreed mostly with the Guardian's point of view. I (more or less) stopped going to rock concerts because if I wanted to hear the CD, I could listen at home (in a chair) and the sound would probably be better. OK, the sound and chair arguments don't apply with the Barbican (or “Barbi-kharn“, as JZ called it) but you know where I'm coming from... It surprises me that people came to the gig expecting Zorn to play sax (as has been reported earlier). Have they not heard the CD? The fact that Zorn felt compelled to say that he didn't usually like playing this kind of music live spoke volumes - considering how many different projects he has on the go could he not have suggested that, much as those at the Barbican like “The Gift“ that something else would be preferable? Reminds me of Spinal Tap's decision to play “Jazz Odyssey“ in front of a festival audience ;>) I also thought it was a great shame that Dave Douglas came all the way over merely to play on one track, although the encore more than made up for it. Someone mentioned electric Miles; Ribot was very McLaughlin circa “Jack Johnson“, Jamie Saft finally got to let loose in a Chick Corea style and the percussionists gave it that “Dark Magus“ feel. Hey Dave, you were at this too. Now you've had time to ponder, anything to add? " -- Personalised email by http://another.com