Hello all,

I ask all you avant garde fans which duo performance album do you prefer?

Fred Frith & John Zorn's The Art of Memory



Or


Evan Parker & Derek Bailey's Arch Duo




I am comparing these albums due to the fact that they are similar. Both consist of a guitarist & saxophonist, both are well known in the avant garde or free improv circles, & both albums are related to each other in one way or another.

So just vote for the album that you prefer.

Regards,

Alexander

I assume none of the members here have heard either album?

Sorry for the lag, I seem to have been neglecting Avant-Garde/Experimental for a few days. In any case, I'm going to have to go w/ Zorn and Frith on this one. I love Evan Parker, but I'm not the biggest Bailey fan, and I really don't think their styles work very well together. It's hardly an unpleasant record, but the playing just seems uninspired and the musicians don't really appear to be playing in response to each other; to put it crudely, it sounds like Arch Duo is more a matter of two parties masturbating in the same room, while The Art of Memory is two parties making love...there's far more chemistry and mutual appreciation apparent on that record. I also enjoy Frith's spastic yet emotive playing over Bailey’s chaotic mess (( for lack of a better description )) and Zorn's percussive/wailing/other-worldly sounds are a wonderful compliment to his bizarre guitar textures. I'd say that I love Art of Memory, while Arch Duo is merely enjoyable...

So, Floydian, what's your opinion on these albums?

It really depends on my mood. I was never a big fan of Zorn, but since I enjoy Frith, it was worth to check out. Being the Parker & Bailey fan that I am, I would have to agree with you to an extent that it is a bit uninspired. I still enjoy it very much though. You have to acknowledge that Bailey almost disregards all of his surroundings while performing. I don't have much of a preference actually. I enjoy both & they are very worth while. That is why I did not vote...

Regards,

Alexander

I prefer The Art of Memory. I think Parker's and Bailey's later hatred of each other started around this time. Though I could be wrong. Now if you want an incredible recording that is a result of Parker and Bailey's hatred check out Cecil Taylor's Nailed. The Ultimate Free Jazz cutting contest occurs on Nailed.

They hate each other????

So much so, that it caused major tension during the recording of Nailed. Tony Oxley and Bailey are close friends.

I don't think anyone really knows why Parker and Bailey had a falling out.