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Throughout January, I’d wake up, light a fire, and play a yellow sleeved record I found in a charity shop. As a compilation it confuses a little in terms of who wrote what, after researching the tracks, it’s mostly the collaborations between Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. I’m making new paintings at the moment, and some jazz music really keeps the paint loose. I was almost studying ‘Moose the Mooche’ and ‘A Night in Tunisia’ before walking to the studio. Another musician who I’m close with is Heather Leigh. She is an amazing improviser and she inspires me. Check the albums ‘I Abused Animal’, ‘Throne’, the song ‘Prelude to Goddess’ is about me. Heather also played extensively with Peter Brötzmann, and she creates beautiful gardens too @theglamgardener
Apr 1, 2025
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Karen Brookman Bailey, who was an amazing artist and friend of mine, handed me her husband's book one afternoon after I’d picked her up some cigarettes. I used to spend large amounts of time hanging out with her at the couples' house in London. Another object she gave to me was the DVD for this, Derek Bailey & Min Tanaka - Mountain Stage (1993). Karen and I met, not through the music world, but rather randomly. One day I was taking these discarded beautiful sash windows off the street in Clapton, to use as a paint palette in my studio, and Karen’s brother was doing something similar, so we started chatting and he invited me to meet his sister, as she was having a yard sale that day, and that’s how our friendship began. I love free jazz, it’s good for you. I like the anti-consumerist attitude...however complex, it’s worth experiencing.
Apr 1, 2025
Do you know what it takes to be so free that you can improvise instrumental music with other musicians for hours? Will you let that conversation vibrate with every cell of your being, rattle your consciousness and alert you to the possibility of the present moment? Have you ever listened so hard that you could hear yourself smile? Could you open up your heart to a room, and then make that room the world?
Sep 23, 2024
probably her most jazzy album. She recorded this with Mingus a little bit before his death and finished it after. Makes for really great listening on a quiet morning or a rainy day
Feb 20, 2024
Top Recs from @joanne-robertson
I often work alone, however, friendship and hanging out with friends who make you laugh is very good for you, and sometimes that turns into art, I guess. I’m not totally sure how, but it often happens with my friends. Sidsel Meineche Hansen and I recently made the record ‘Alien Baby’. We also made some ‘Globe’ paintings, and I wrote a short soundtrack piece for a video she made with Reba Maybury, called ‘Day of Wrath’. ’Fingerblades’ is a recent duo exhibition of solo paintings, made with Rachal Bradley. I’ve known Rachal since we were kids at school, and I love her very much. Rachal is currently working on a film about Japanese fashion and the north-west of England, where we both grew up.
Apr 1, 2025
Rosie Healey cooks dream food. Fresh yum amazing, she teaches me to make things I love too, like the magic dressings and green sauce. I am not as good as her and she sometimes laughs when I make gravy.
Apr 1, 2025
A lovely noise musician showed me this when I was 22 in NY, and it blew my mind. I love it as a film, and as a recording of sound. I often watch/listen/dance to this with my son, just to introduce him to real music as I call it. I love all kinds of music, but I tend to come back to certain musicians and bands again and again. It makes me think of the Fluxus movement.
Apr 1, 2025