It is often forgotten that Tony Oxley was once the house drummer at Ronnie Scott’s, backing a whole host of distinguished American visitors, before branching out into the limitless expanses of free improvisation, a world where he formed associations with the likes of Cecil Taylor. His commitment to the sharper end of the music should always be admired, if not necessarily appreciated by many.
The kind of presentations we are faced with here are typical of so much of his output from the 1970s onwards, abandoning accepted form and structure, asking questions of the listener and taking no prisoners in the process. This is his music – take it or leave it.
These recordings were taken from Tony’s personal collection. The first three tracks were edited many years after the event, leading to their release this year. The emphasis is not on the leader’s skills as a drummer; rather the music illustrates how important the collective effort has been in so much of his creative work.
All the compositions are Oxley originals but given the nature of the performances the formality of conventional writing is not in evidence. There is, however, an element of control on the 1974 recordings despite the emphasis being on extreme sounds from the horns. Riley explores both the inside and outside of the piano and there are a number of effects from the leader’s electronics.
Frame (recorded in 1981, not 1974 as listed on the sleeve) is more cacophonous. Duelling violins in the higher register open a piece that’s close to 15 minutes long and also features the bleating, imploring tenor and soprano of Larry Stabbins. Combination, the following item, is a contrasting duet, punctuated by silences, with the percussion duties left to Hoelker as the leader concentrates on things electric.
Discography
(1) The Embrace; Ensemble 1; Ensemble 2; (2) Frame; (3) Combination (48.02)
(1) Oxley (d, elec, sounds); Barry Guy (b, elb); Dave Holdsworth (t, sounds); Howard Riley (p); Paul Rutherford (tb). 1974.
(2) Oxley (vn, d, elec, sounds); Hugh Metcalfe (g, cymbals); Howard Riley (p); Larry Stabbins (reeds); Phil Wachsmann (vn, elec). 1981.
(3) Oxley (elec); Stefan Hoelker (pc). 2016.
Discus 129CD
