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Derek Bailey & Company: Klinker
ByThis concert, digitally recorded by Tim Fletcher, was the only occasional that Bailey graced the currently-hibernating Klinker Club with his presence, and, fortuitously, this was a memorable gig. The interplay between Gaines and Bailey is good-humoured, empathetic and relaxed. On "An Announcement," Bailey teasingly announces Gaines' arrival on stage by requesting applause (twice). Similarly Gaines talks to the audience on "You Should See Me When I'm Making Money," revealing that he and Bailey go "way back." Other than these conventionally-titled tracks, the remaining ones use the initials of the protagonists involved as titles.
Sometimes, as on "DB/WG2" Bailey seems to take a little time to synchronise with the irrepressible rhythms of Gaines's dancing but they get there soon enough. Gaines is a veritable human dynamo as evidenced on CD2's "WG/MW," and Mark Wastell's cello is almost eclipsed by the sheer boundless energy generated by Gaines who gives an amusing vocal narrative, regaling the audience with previous incidents in his long life (meeting Maurice Chevalier, for example) whilst tap-dancing. After four minutes he is joined by Wastell on cello at which point Gaines concentrates on the dancing. We hear some breathtaking sostenuto and trademark harmonics from Bailey who is accompanied here by Simon H. Fell on "DB/SF1" and the ensuing track "DB/SF2," with Fell alternating between pizzicato and deep arco bass. Any opportunity to hear Bailey is important; he was totally inimitable and a true improvisational innovator, so this double-CD release is very welcome indeed.
Track Listing
CD 1: Intro; DB/SF/MW1; DB/SF/MW2; An Announcement; DB/WG1; DB/WG2; You Should See Me When I’m Making Money; DB/WG3; SF/MW; DB/SF/WG/MW1. CD 2: WG/MW; DB/SF1; DB/SF2; DB/SF/WG/MW2; Outro.
Personnel
Derek Bailey
guitarDerek Bailey: guitar; Simon H. Fell: double bass; Will Gaines: tap dance; Mark Wastell: cello.
Album information
Title: Klinker | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Confront Recordings
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