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Barbican film series recalls the 1970s, when free improvisation was on British TV

A panel discussion with free-improvisation veteran Maggie Nicols and 1970s TV appearances by Derek Bailey, Charles Fox, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker and Paul Lytton are among the more unusual elements of Jazz On Screen, this year’s jazz-film series at the Barbican in London.

As part of So Watt: Jazz and Improvisation on British TV (16 November, 2.30pm) Nicols will talk with comedian and jazz fan Stewart Lee and writer Ian Greaves of “the groundbreaking moments when jazz innovators boldly redefined the genre’s boundaries on screen”.

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The afternoon will include showings from those far-off progressive days of Open Door: Musicians’ Action Group, a 1974 TV programme introduced by Spike Milligan and Charles Fox and featuring rare footage of British avant-garde drummer Tony Oxley with Stan Tracey, Norma Winstone and Maggie Nicols.

Also on the 16 November bill is Aquarius: Sounds Amazing, a 1975 ITV programme showing Evan Parker and Paul Lytton at London’s Unity Theatre. The film also profiles Max Eastley, David Toop, Hugh Davies. The Barbican says the film “stands as a testament to their fearless exploration of sonic possibilities”.

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The So Watt afternoon will also include the earliest known footage of Derek Bailey, performing with Iskra 1903 for Omnibus (1973) and Richard Williams speaking to Ornette Coleman on an early edition of The Old Grey Whistle Test (1972).

Perhaps less surprising is the series’ recognition of drummer Max Roach’s centenary with two films he scoredNoi insistiamo. Suite per la libertà subito (Italy, 1964, dir. Gianni Amico) and Black Sun (Japan 1964, dir. Koreyoshi Kurahara) both on Sunday 17 Nov, 3.30pm, and Symphonies in Black: Duke Ellington Shorts (Sat 23 November, 2pm) including showings of Symphony In Black: A Rhapsody Of Negro Life (with Billie Holiday), Black And Tan, A Bundle of Blues and Daybreak Express.

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