This is the thread where we talk about what a genius masayuki Takayanagi was!

its got only like, 7/8 replies and half of those are mine.

heh, null. even though we have our differences on the some free jazz stuff its nice that we can agree to this.

I really like that yes. You know its good improvising when they can pull off different things so you get 'taking no prisoners' stuff like 'mass' and fairly quiet-ish things like 'gradually'.

I also have the 'Live at Moers' disc but the band doesn't get going really though I like the Lee Konitz cover at the end.

Thanx for the linkage to da threadage. Comparison to the likes of Hendrix, Baily, Kaiser, and Borbetomagus?!!? Hey, I'm all over that! Sounds as though it probably sounds a bit like Blue Humans when Arthur Doyle was with them...? or the Arthur Doyle stuff with Rudolph Grey on guitar maybe...?

Thanks for the tip, Julio.

We cross paths a lot here......... :-)

when i heard it the band never really picked up really. I might re-listen soon.

What I've got:

"Three Improvisations on a theme: Qadaffi" — this is a real title! Sort of like the sekigun angle of early Rallizes

"Axis: Another Revolable [sic] Thing vol 1"
"Axis: Another Revolable [sic] Thing vol 2" — if you're not desperate for the 17 min drum solo on vol 1 I think this fits on one disc

850113 excellent, noisy trio improv from 1985

"Independence: Tread on Sure Ground"— 1970 masterpiece with Yoshizawa, Sabu-chan and a guy on "time conduct"

I have a few other things as well so if you're interested in trading, let me know.

No 1980s Rallizes please - LA

Thanks, mik

Action direct has just been being reissued. Alan licht is at it again on the liner notes (his 'bitches brew' comment doesn't exactly fill me with any confidence) (and its pricey grr).

Lots and lots of reissues - not gotten much so far, however Complete "La Gamba" looks yummy

anyone else?

https://blankformseditions.bandcamp.com/album/axis-another-revolvable-thing

wow didn't think there would be a thread, this guy is incredible.

yes !!!

didn’t realize there was a thread either, i usually post about him in the “japanese jazz” thread

god bless some of the older degenerates that posted on old ilm!

"Play forte at all times. Don't repeat any phrases. Listening to what the others are playing and trying to play along is strictly forbidden. No collaboration — run dun your own path"

—mt

run down*

d'oh !!

teruto soejima, who wrote the linter notes to the two "axis" discs, wrote a book on the japanese free jazz scene that was translated last year. recommended if you want to read the only book on the subject !!

https://www.thewire.co.uk/shop/books/free-jazz-in-japan-a-personal-history-by-soejima-teruto

(you can still order it directly from public bath press i think)

it's mad as fuck listening to the noise fest Mass Hysterism and following up with Free Form Suite, it's not doing my insomnia any good but what a trip!

That book looks good

I hadn't heard anything of his until the April is the cruelest month reissue from last year, but I was sold. Unfortunately I have to wait until October for my CD copy of Axis/Another Revolvable Thing to get here, but fortunately I got downloads with my order - it's tremendous. I love how it all builds to that epic climax.

shout out to public bath pressings, they have some other cool stuff besides the free jazz book, like a collection of seiichi yamamoto essays:
https://www.publicbathpress.com/

and besides the reissue, blank forms also recently put out this book of translated takayanagi interviews:
https://blankforms.org/publication/blank-forms-aspirations-of-madness/

also, vinyl pressing for the new direction unit repress sounds very high quality to me. def worth picking up imo.

anyone ever hear his early laid back bossa nova bop jazz record flower girl? pretty hilarious in comparison to pretty much everything else he ever did (that I've heard, anyway) but also quite nice on its own terms

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd7D5rsy1CE

that record is fine ? i guess i'd just rather listen to grant green or kenny burrell or whatever if i'm in the mood for that.

the "axis" records are interesting in that they have a bit more warmth to my ears, some hesitancy, a willingness to express and explore a greater variety of timbres and textures — which contrast with the anarchic, nihilistic power of the "eclipse" LP and "april is the cruelest month". the two duo discs w/ abe from 1970 that DIW released in '01 seem to split the difference, in that they're not exactly a barrage of fortissimo, but abe seems to eschew all tenderness in his playing and the feel is sort of sharp and anxious.

and then there's "解体的交感" AKA deconstructive empathy:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zPjFQQpbu4

love this calzino-esque exchange in the comments:

Pippin Covington
3 years ago
wow you really cant find this anywhere

6

Buss Laden
Buss Laden
2 years ago
well you can actually.. walk past my apartment at about 3:30 AM, you'll hear it alright, so can the fucking neighbors, the cunts, i hate em!