The Squid's Ear Magazine


Cooper-Moore / Stephen Gauci: Conversations Vol. 1 [VINYL] (577 Records)

The first of two volumes from legendary Downtown NY pianist Cooper-Moore and saxophonist Stephen Gauci, recorded after a seven-month residency at Happylucky No. 1 Gallery in Brooklyn, allowing the two players to develop a natural dialog of unique and idiosyncratic approaches to their instruments, resulting in these 6 commanding recordings freely improvised in the studio.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Cooper-Moore-piano

Stephen Gauci-tenor saxophone


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UPC: 736952027238

Label: 577 Records
Catalog ID: 5838-1
Squidco Product Code: 29508

Format: LP
Condition: New
Released: 2020
Country: USA
Packaging: LP
Recorded at Sear Sound, in New York City, New York, on October 31st, 2019, by Jeremy Loucas.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"Conversations Vol. 1 is the eagerly awaited first installment of a two part release by pianist Cooper-Moore and saxophonist Stephen Gauci. This project, with volume two scheduled for release in the near future, was recorded at legendary Sear Sound studio and showcases these two deeply idiosyncratic players as they reach a unique dimension in which separate parts unify to create a breathtakingly astringent whole. The artists combined experience, spanning three generations, presents avant jazz in it's most bracing, current, iteration on this exciting recording.

Cooper-Moore and Stephen Gauci developed their extraordinary duo while performing weekly during a seven-month residency at Happylucky No.1 Gallery in Brooklyn. These two veteran musicians have experienced over 40 years of avant jazz history: Cooper-Moore's performance roots in the realm of avant jazz music date to the NYC Loft Jazz era of the early/mid-70s where he started out playing with William Parker, David S. Ware & Bill Cole. Stephen Gauci arrived in NYC in 2000, with the likes of Kris Davis and Nels Cline.

"A New York City afternoon; Subway ride from Brooklyn, coffee to go, a slice of $1 pizza, and a 2 pm recording session with one of the world's greatest living pianist/improvisers. At the studio pleasantries are exchanged; "nice weather", "damned subways" ... But how much beyond the obvious can be expressed with mere words? And so we take our respective places, Cooper-Moore at the piano, I with saxophone at ready, and begin the only conversation that matters. No need for compositions, no need for discussion. Each note laden with the entire history of music contained within. But there's something else too... and if we are completely still, completely quiet.. she will sing her song as well. Can you hear it?" - Stephen Gauci


Artist Biographies

"As a composer, performer, instrument builder/designer, storyteller, teacher, mentor, and organizer, Cooper-Moore [b. August 31, 1946] has been a major, if somewhat behind-the-scenes, catalyst in the world of creative music for over 40 years. As a child prodigy Cooper-Moore played piano in churches near his birthplace in the Piedmont region of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. His performance roots in the realm of avant jazz music date to the NYC Loft Jazz era in the early/mid-70s. His first fully committed jazz group was formed in 1970 - the collective trio Apogee with David S. Ware and drummer Marc Edwards. Sonny Rollins asked them to open for him at the Village Vanguard in 1973, and they did so with aplomb. A studio recording of this group was made in 1977, and issued as Birth of a Being on hatHut under Ware's name in 1979 (re-mixed and re-issued in expanded form on AUM Fidelity in 2015!). Following an evidently rather trying European tour with Ware, Beaver Harris, and Brian Smith in 1981, Cooper-Moore returned home and completely destroyed his piano, with sledgehammer and fire, in his backyard. He didn't play piano again until some years after, instead focusing his energies from 1981-1985 on developing and implementing curriculum to teach children through music via the Head Start program. Returning to New York in 1985, he spent a great part of his creative time working and performing with theatre and dance productions, largely utilizing his hand-crafted instruments. It was not until the early 90s, when William Parker asked him to join his group In Order To Survive, that Cooper-Moore's pianistic gifts were again regularly featured in the jazz context. In the early 'aughts the group Triptych Myth was his own first regular working jazz group in decades and together they blazed some trails and released two albums: one rich formative, and one exquisite. A destined creative re-union with David S. Ware in the Planetary Unknown quartet, the Digital Primitives trio with Assif Tsahar & Chad Taylor, and continued work with William Parker followed. Cooper-Moore's creative life continues well-strong and unabated into the present day. He will be/was the Lifetime Achievement Honoree at the 22nd iteration of Vision Festval, NYC on May 29, 2017."

-Aum Fidelity (http://www.aumfidelity.com/cooper-moore.html)
3/13/2024

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

"Stephen Gauci is recognized as one of the most strikingly original saxophonists on the New York City improvised music scene.

Stricken by a childhood illness that has left him with a profound hearing loss, Gauci was drawn to the clear, deep, tone of the tenor saxophone. This was the first step in a lifelong relationship with, and investigation of tone, timbre, and especially.. voice. The nature of Gauci's hearing loss are that outer sounds require of him the utmost level of concentration and focus. The flip side, however, is that inner sounds, and the inner voice, are magnified... crystal clear and singing. The intense outward focus developed as a result of Gauci's hearing impairment has been turned inward like a laser to illuminate, and manifest, the inner voice.

Gauci has performed and recorded with many of the leading improvisers of our time, including Cooper Moore, Joe Morris, Nels Cline, Karl Berger, Kenny Wessel, Kris Davis, Tyshawn Sorey, Daniel Carter, George Garzone, Nate Wooley, William Parker, Steve Swell, Mike Bisio, Adam Lane, Kevin Shea, William Hooker, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten, Dave Rempis.

Gauci runs the popular Bushwick Improvised Music Series, where he has presented over 600 concerts featuring many of New York's greatest improvisers, as well as many international touring musicians. At two years and counting, the Bushwick Series is the longest running weekly avant jazz series in Brooklyn. Gauci also performs at the Bushwick Series every Monday with his working quartet featuring guitarist Sandy Ewen, bassist Adam Lane, and drummer Kevin Shea. Having performed every Monday for over two years, this is arguably one of the longest running avant jazz sets in New York City history.

Gauci has released twenty five records as a leader or co-leader. He currently runs Gaucimusic Recordings, releasing both live and studio recordings featuring many of the leading lights of Brooklyn's improvised music community. His mission as a presenter/record producer is to nurture, document, and present to the world, Brooklyn's incredibly diverse, multi-generational, ground breaking improvised music scene.

In addition to regular NYC performances, Gauci has performed in France, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Portugal, and throughout the United States."

-Stephen Gauci Website (https://gaucimusic.com/biography)
3/13/2024

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


Track Listing:



SIDE A



1. Improvisation One 5:41

2. Improvisation Two 6:19

3. Improvisation Three 5:28

4. Improvisation Four 3:31

SIDE B



1. Improvisation Five 11:51

2. Improvisation Six 8:57

Related Categories of Interest:


Vinyl Recordings
Improvised Music
Free Improvisation
Jazz
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Duo Recordings

Search for other titles on the label:
577 Records.


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The Squid's Ear Magazine

The Squid's Ear Magazine

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