Rabble Without a Cause, August 7: new releases from Discus Music

Discus Music was established in 1994 by Martin Archer and Mick Beck, and was initially the CD imprint for releases by their various projects. In more recent years, they’ve added new artists. The label features free jazz, improvised music, electronic rock music, extended songform, and other releases that defy categorization.

In this show, we are going to hear selections from five of the label’s latest releases.

This recording is the fifth by AXIS. Practical Dreamers is a suite of seven pre-recorded electroacoustic structures composed by Martin Archer, with real time laptop responses created and performed by Hervé Perez – which together provide a live improvising environment for the other instrumentalists. Drum and double bass parts were created through discussion with the players, and some drum parts were modified electronically by Hervé later. Melodies and improvisations were added spontaneously by Ron Caines, responding to the finished soundscapes. We will hear two tracks from the suite.

We will also hear a track from Biyartabiyu by Martin Archer & Walt Shaw. This album was totally improvised with no second takes. Martin Archer plays alto, sopranino, tenor, and baritone saxophones, as well as the saxello. Walt Shaw is on drums and percussion. This what a saxello looks like.

We will also hear two tracks from Organza Ray’s latest release, Circle of Kiona.

Organza Ray is:

Hilary Jeffery – trombone, trumpet, melodica
Eleni Poulou – synthesizer, melodica
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Hayden Chisholm – alto sax, pūtōrino, harmonica, penny whistle
Simon Rose – baritone sax

We will also hear a selection from Espial’s release, The Act of Noticing. Espial is:

Josephine Davies – tenor and soprano saxophones
David Beebee – electric piano / effects
Martin Pyne – vibraphone / balafon / percussion

The last artist we will feature is the pianist Stephen Grew. He has explained Now We Are Here:

These pieces in many ways, notwithstanding live performances on other pianos and many hours on a weighted electronic keyboard, are the culmination of ten years’ work on one particular piano, a Kawai model 2A, this piano resides at Lancaster Baptist Church, Lancaster, in the north of England.

I have found this instrument a real challenge to play, its action is particularly unyielding, so my efforts to work with this beautiful instrument have brought out a broad and joyful range of inventions; incorporating many different patterns, timbres, rapid fire techniques and mysterious changes in dynamic mood, which I have invented and have soaked into my muscle memory. It’s this attempt to discover something new coupled with decades of tactile exploration that plays a large role in shaping the music. I learn more and more about playing the piano and how far I can develop my individual techniques, compositional skills, and how to bring about something worthwhile and exciting!

You can listen live on Wednesday, August 7 at 93.1 on the FM dial in Ottawa or live online streaming at CKCUFM.com. The show will also be available for on demand streaming.