The Squid's Ear Magazine


Locals, The (Thomas, Ward / Thomas / Lash / Hasson-Davis): The Locals Play The Music Of Anthony Brax (Discus)

An upbeat and energetic performance at the Konfrontation Festival, Ulrichsberg in 2006, featuring six early compositions by Anthony Braxton, arranged by pianist Pat Thomas and performed by the quintet of superb improvisers and interpreters Alex Ward on clarinet, Evan Thomas on electric guitar, Dominic Lash on electric bass, and Darren Hasson-Davis on drums.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Pat Thomas-piano, melodica

Alex Ward-clarinet

Evan Thomas-electric guitar

Dominic Lash-electric bass

Darren Hasson-Davis-drums


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UPC: 5051078984421

Label: Discus
Catalog ID: 103CD
Squidco Product Code: 30010

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: UK
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded live at the Konfrontation Festival, in Ulrichsberg, Austria, in 2006,

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"An exciting live performance recorded at the Konfrontation Festival, Ulrichsberg in 2006, featuring six early compositions by Anthony Braxton arranged for the band by Pat Thomas. When Discus Music asked Pat what recording he had in his personal archive that he would most like to see released, this one was the first choice. Pat's arrangements of these angular melodies allow Alex Ward's stratospheric clarinet to fly over the band's churning grooves, and much excitement was generated in the process - as can be heard from the wild audience response!"-Discus



"Sometimes the best "covers" are reinterpretations of original works that don't resemble said originals at first blush. But on further listens, a resemblance emerges in structures if not melodies. Pat Thomas' newly-released archival recording of Anthony Braxton pieces fits nicely into that category. Thomas is a prolific and well-versed, pianist, composer and improviser based in the UK. On this effort, which was recorded live at the Konfrontation Festival, Ulrichsberg in 2006, he is joined by Alex Ward on clarinet, Evan Thomas on electronic guitar, Dominic Lash on bass, and Darren Hasson-Davis on drums.

There is no shortage of Braxton reinterpretations, including notable 2020 releases from Thumbscrew and Tropos. But where the source material was apparent in these more recent recordings, this 15-year-old offering does not scream "Braxton". Instead, Thomas arranged a number of early Braxton pieces (Compositions 40b, 6c, 115, 23b, 6i, and 23g) into 6-9 minute bursts of guided improv. The signature Braxton angularity is present, notably so on Composition 115 as one example. But the group also adds elements of groove and a pseudo-funkiness that one does not often associate with the composer. Indeed, the duels between piano, guitar, and clarinet are worth of attention alone. Thomas, of course, throws in his percussive keyboard pounding here and there, which is always welcome.

If anything, Thomas and company take a loose approach to Braxton that is refreshing and unexpected. Highly recommended whether or not you are an established friendly experiencer."-Mike Borella, Avant Music News


Get additional information at Avant Music News

Artist Biographies

"Born 27 July 1960; Piano, electronics. Pat Thomas started playing at the age of 8 and studied classical music and played reggae. He began playing jazz at sixteen after seeing Oscar Peterson on television then listened to snatches of jazz on the radio before, in 1979, playing his first serious improvised gigs. From 1986 he played with Ghosts which was Pete McPhail and Matt Lewis.

In addition to programming his keyboards, Pat Thomas also utilises prerecorded tapes. He told Chris Blackford (1991), 'As far as the tapes are concerned I'll probably just sit in front of the TV and tape whatever's going on and so some editing afterward to decide what might be useful. ...But I don't actually put a label on each tape saying what's on there, so when I come to use them I don't know what I'm going to be playing. That obviously prevents me from setting things up. I pick them at random and see what happens. So I'm just as surprised as anybody else at what comes out'.

In 1988 he was awarded an Arts Council Jazz Bursary to write three new electroacoustic compositions for his ten-piece ensemble, Monads: Roger Turner and Matt Lewis, percussion; Pete McPhail, WX7 wind synthesizer; Neil Palmer, turntables; Phil Minton, voice; Phil Durrant, violin; Marcio Mattos, bass; Jon Corbett, trumpet; Geoff Searle, drum machines. The intention was to feature different aspects of electronics using improvisation so, for example, one piece - Dialogue - featured Pete McPhail and Neil Palmer, another concentrated on the interaction of percussionists and drum machines, and a third piece had Phil Minton and Jon Corbett improvising with a computer. The pieces were performed at the Crawley Outside-In Festival of new music in 1989.

Pat Thomas was invited by Derek Bailey to play in Company Week in 1990 and 1991 and he also took part in the Ist International Symposium for Free Improvisation in Bremen with the guitarist. He has been a member of the Tony Oxley Quartet (documented on Incus CD 15) and played in Oxley's Angular Apron along with Larry Stabbins, Manfred Schoof and Sirone at the 8th Ruhr Jazz Meeting and in the percussionist's Celebration Orchestra. He plays with Lol Coxhill in a range of combinations from duo to being a member of 'Before my time', is a member of Mike Cooper's Continental Drift, and he has a well established duo with percussionist Mark Sanders and a trio with Steve Beresford and Francine Luce. In 1992 Pat Thomas formed the quartet Scatter with Phil Minton, Roger Turner and Dave Tucker; funded by the Arts Council they toured the UK in 1993 and again at the beginning of 1997.

On the 'Festival circuit', Pat Thomas has appeared at: the Young Improvisors Festival at the Korzo Theatre, Den Haag (with Jim O'Rourke, Mats Gustafsson and Alexander Frangenheim); Angelica 95 in Bologna, Italy; the Stuttgart 5th Festival of Improvised Music 96 (with Fred Frith, Shelly Hirsch, Carlos Zingaro and others); and the 3rd International Festival 96 in Budapest (with Evan Parker, Phil Minton, John Russell and Roger Turner).

-EFI (http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/mthomas.html)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Alex Ward was born in 1974. He is a composer, improviser, and performing musician. His primary instruments are clarinet and guitar, and he has also performed in public and on recordings on alto sax, piano/keyboards, bass guitar, and as a vocalist. He was based in Oxford from 1992-2000, and since then has lived in London.

His involvement in freely improvised music dates back to 1986, when he met the guitarist Derek Bailey. As an improviser, he was initially principally a clarinettist (sometimes also playing alto sax), but since 2000 he has also been active as an improvising guitarist. On both instruments, hIs longest-standing collaborations in this field have been with the drummer Steve Noble.

From 1993 to 2001, most of his activity as a composer took place in collaboration with Benjamin Hervé, mainly in the context of the rock band Camp Blackfoot. From 2002-2005, his writing was mostly done solo, and was primarily focused on songs. Since 2006, he has been heavily involved in both solo and collaborative composition, predominantly (though not exclusively) of instrumental music. Much of his writing and performing during this time has been done with Dead Days Beyond Help, a duo with drummer Jem Doulton. He also currently leads a number of bands including Predicate, Forebrace, The Alex Ward Quintet/Sextet, and Alex Ward & The Dead Ends.

He has been a member of many other groups including ensembles led by Eugene Chadbourne, Simon H. Fell and Duck Baker, and has also done various work as a session musician and in collaboration with other media. Since 2005, he has co-run the label Copepod Records with composer/performer Luke Barlow. He does the recording, mixing and/or mastering of most of his own music, and for many of the groups he plays in."

-Sites.Google.com (https://sites.google.com/site/alexwardmusician/biography)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Evan Thomas is a UK guitarist, known for the bands Oxford Improvisers Orchestra, The Locals, and work with pianist Pat Thomas, Eric Bachmann, and The XIII Ghosts.

-Discogs (https://www.discogs.com/artist/616985-Evan-Thomas)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"Born Cambridge, England, in January 1980; played bass guitar since 1994; studied with Hugh Boyd and Pascha Milner and at Basstech (London) with Rob Burns, Terry Gregory and others. Played double bass since 2001; basically self taught, with grateful thanks to Simon H. Fell. First class BA in English Literature from Oxford University (2002). Received MA Composition from Oxford Brookes University in 2003, having studied with Paul Whitty, Ray Lee and others. Received PhD from Brunel University in 2010, having studied the work of Derek Bailey, Helmut Lachenmann and JH Prynne and been supervised by Richard Barrett and John Croft."

-Dominic Lash Website (http://dominiclash.blogspot.com/p/dominic-lash_5.html)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

Darren Hasson-Davis: "I've been studying drumming and percussion since childhood and teaching drums full-time to individuals and small groups for over 10 years, and performing for 18 years in various settings. For me, and for many of my students, the experience of drumming has been very stabilising and enriching in all aspects of life, through creativity and practice.

[...]

I'm a graduate of the Drumtech Academy in London, and have a B.A. in music from Brunel University. I had lessons with one of the most technically advanced and creative players on the planet, Pete Zeldman. I had individual lessons with Pete consistently over three years. From him I learnt the most advanced concepts going around today, which I believe allows me to offer insight and knowledge of ancient and modern drumming to any learner. I also perform regularly in schools, local music venues, festivals and in recording studios."

-Music Teachers Co. UK (https://www.musicteachers.co.uk/teacher/563bcbcc5760753133c0/biography)
11/8/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. Composition 40b 6:58

2. Composition 6c 5:57

3. Composition 115 5:51

4. Composition 23b 8:40

5. Composition 6i 8:24

6. Composition 23g 8:24

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
London & UK Improv & Related Scenes
Quintet Recordings
Anthony Braxton
Staff Picks & Recommended Items
Jazz & Improvisation Based on Compositions

Search for other titles on the label:
Discus.


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