In truth this is just prior to the formation of Liquid Liquid, in 1981. Like a no-wave, Saturnian version of Raymond Scott’s big band. The punks at the London Musicians Collective would have loved them.
LI played various NYC lofts and clubs, including Tier 3, Mudd Club and CBGB. Audience members were encouraged to bring their own instruments along. Idiot Orchestra was an offshoot involving more than a dozen players — clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, violin, cello, synth, bass, marimba and drums.
With a fanzine featuring rare photos and a new interview with Richard McGuire.

Curator James Blackshaw brings together Espers’ Swedish cellist Helena Espvall, koto virtuoso Chieko Mori, Dutch lute player Josef Van Wissem — along with a track from Blackshaw himself.

Representing three years of recording after-hours at the New York radio station where he worked, this is TD’s stunning debut, originally self-released in 1961, and later issued by Folkways.
‘Oscillators pulse and clash with fragments of incidental tape music, leaving collages of sound as tuneful and memorable as they are otherworldly. A visionary debut that presages the abstract ambience of modern IDM and an essential addition to any collection of early electronic music.’

Deliciously ethereal and dark folk from the duo of Oxford’s Sharron Kraus and Philly’s Tara Burke (aka Fursaxa).

With Eric Dolphy, Richard Williams, Roy Haynes and George Duvivier in 1960, Van Gelder at the controls.

‘Originally released in 1970, Black, Brown and Beautiful saw legendary composer and arranger Oliver Nelson musically address the state of black America in the wake of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Tracks like Requiem, Lamb Of God and Martin Was A Man, A Real Man directly address the passing of King, whereas Self Help Is Needed and I Hope In Time A Change Will Come passionately ask questions still unanswered today.
“I have always felt that the Federal Government wasn’t going to do a damn thing and American Blacks were going to have to do it themselves. However, you can’t have a foot on your neck making it impossible for you to help yourself. That seems logical – doesn’t it?”
‘Musically, this is a sumptuous big band banquet with Nelson himself talking the soprano sax solo on the aching I Hope In Time A Change Will Come. Those who are fans of classic Nelson albums like The Blues And The Abstract Truth (1961) and the equally polemical The Mayor And The People (1971) will find much to enjoy here.’