Derek Bailey (guitarist) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derek Bailey
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Bailey at the Vortex Club, Stoke Newington, 1991
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| Background information | |
| Born | 29 January 1930 Sheffield, England |
| Died | 25 December 2005 (aged 75) London, England |
| Genres | Free improvisation, avant-garde, European free jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, record label owner |
| Instruments | Guitar |
| Years active | 1950s–2005 |
| Labels | Incus |
| Associated acts | Joseph Holbrooke, Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Tony Oxley, Evan Parker, Iskra, Company, Jazz Composer's Orchestra, Han Bennink |
Derek Bailey (born January 29, 1930 – died December 25, 2005) was an English guitarist known for his very experimental music. He was a key figure in the free improvisation movement, where musicians make up everything on the spot.
Bailey didn't play guitar in the usual way. He explored sounds that weren't always melodic, like noises, and whatever strange sounds he could make with his guitar. Much of his music was released on his own record label, Incus Records. Besides playing solo, Bailey often played with other musicians and recorded with groups like the Spontaneous Music Ensemble and Company.
Contents
Derek Bailey's Musical Journey
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Derek Bailey was born in Sheffield, England. His family had been musicians for a long time, and he started playing guitar when he was ten years old. He learned from different teachers, including his uncle.
As an adult, he worked as a guitarist, playing for many different artists and on TV shows like Opportunity Knocks. He played with famous entertainers such as Morecambe and Wise and Gracie Fields.
Exploring New Sounds
In 1953, Bailey first tried making music up on the spot with two other guitarists in Glasgow. In 1963, he formed a trio called Joseph Holbrooke with Tony Oxley and Gavin Bryars. They started by playing regular jazz but soon moved towards free jazz, which is a more experimental style.
In 1966, Bailey moved to London. There, he met other musicians who liked to improvise, like saxophonist Evan Parker. Together, they formed the Spontaneous Music Ensemble. In 1968, they recorded an album called Karyobin.
Bailey also formed the Music Improvisation Company and was part of the Jazz Composer's Orchestra. He created the trio Iskra 1903, named after a newspaper published by the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin.
Starting Incus Records
In 1970, Bailey started his own record label, Incus, with Tony Oxley, Evan Parker, and Michael Walters. This was the first independent record label in the UK owned by musicians. Bailey continued to run the label with his partner Karen Brookman until he passed away.
In 1975, Bailey also helped start Musics magazine, which was all about experimental music and art.
The Company Project and Later Years
In 1976, Bailey began a special project called Company. This was a group where many different musicians would come together to improvise. Famous musicians like Anthony Braxton and John Zorn were part of Company at different times. Bailey also organized an annual music festival called Company Week until 1994.
In 1980, he wrote a book called Improvisation: Its Nature and Practice. Later, in 1992, this book was turned into a four-part TV series in the UK called On the Edge: Improvisation in Music, which Bailey himself narrated.
Derek Bailey passed away in London on Christmas Day in 2005. He had been suffering from a serious illness called motor neurone disease.
Derek Bailey's Unique Music Style
His Guitar and Techniques
Derek Bailey mostly used a 1963 Gibson ES 175 guitar throughout his career. Sometimes, in the 1970s, he would change his guitar by putting things on the strings, like paper clips or chains, to make different sounds. He did this for fun or to be artistic.
However, he later stopped using these "prepared guitar" methods. Bailey believed that he could create all the sounds he needed just by using different playing techniques. He focused on how he played the guitar rather than changing the instrument itself.
"Non-Idiomatic" Music
Bailey didn't like to call his music "jazz" or "free jazz." He described it as "non-idiomatic," meaning it didn't fit into any usual musical style. He felt that free improvisation eventually became its own recognizable style.
He always looked for new and exciting ways to play music. This led him to work with many different musicians, including Pat Metheny, John Zorn, and even a tap dancer named Will Gaines. He loved playing with others, especially those who had different musical ideas than his own.
Derek Bailey was also known for his dry sense of humor. Once, when asked about how musicians experience time during improvisation, he famously replied, "The ticks turn into tocks and the tocks turn into ticks."
Later Challenges and Legacy
In 1999, he released an album called Mirakle, where he explored a style called free funk. His last album released during his lifetime was Carpal Tunnel. This album showed his struggle with carpal tunnel syndrome in his right hand, which made it hard for him to hold a guitar pick. This problem was an early sign of his motor neurone disease.
Instead of having surgery, he chose to find new ways to play. He learned to use his right thumb and index fingers to pluck the strings, showing his dedication to music even when facing challenges.
Images for kids
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Derek Bailey performing at the ICA Company Week, 1978
See also
In Spanish: Derek Bailey (guitarrista) para niños
