I thought I didn't like Bill Dixon

[Pete C]

But WKCR is playing Papyrus Vol. 1 (w/Tony Oxley) this afternoon. Stunningly beautiful.

[Vince Kargatis]

Since I don't find the Papyrus sessions to be much (qualitatively) different than lots of other Dixon, I'm wondering on which recordings was your previous impression based?

[Brian Olewnick]

Pete--funny, I've had KCR on this afternoon also, but at a necessarily very low, office-friendly volume. I could tell that what I was barely able to pick out was Dixon, but didn't know from what. Unfortunately, I assumed they were playing one of his endless tape/lecture thingies, so I sorta tuned it out.....

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

Since I don't find the Papyrus sessions to be much (qualitatively) different than lots of other Dixon, I'm wondering on which recordings was your previous impression based?

I can't remember in particular, but I found the music more severe, and Papyrus very lyrical.

I really hadn't heard much from the last 10 years.

[Rob C]

Under Dixon's own leadership, I only have Berlin Abbozzi, which does not do much for me at all. Part of that is the echo effect he uses for much of it, which I find really annoying.

I'm not sure, but the only other thing I've even heard by him might be Cecil's Conquistador, which is fantastic.

Anything with Oxley is probably worth a listen or two.

[Brian Olewnick]

Before Abbey chimes in, "Vade Mecum" is real, real good.

[bostontricky]

I'm with Abbey on Vade Mecum and Berlin Abbozzi, and will testify for November 1981 as well. I think these are all in Dixon's preferred format - two basses and percussion. Enjoyed Papyrus as well, but not nearly as much as the aforementioned.

After all that, Thoughts and Son of Sisyphus seem to be lacking something for me.

[stonemonkts]

Originally Posted by Pete C

But WKCR is playing Papyrus Vol. 1 (w/Tony Oxley) this afternoon. Stunningly beautiful.

When I first heard that CD, I thought pretty much the same thing. I never knew I liked Bill Dixon so much. That is indeed a beautiful recording. A real head turner.

[Jon Abbey]

Originally Posted by Brian Olewnick

Before Abbey chimes in, "Vade Mecum" is real, real good.

and Vade Mecum II is even a little better, both are a notch above those Papyrus discs, which are also nice.

if Soul Note hadn't done those Papyrus records, I might have tried to get Dixon/Oxley to do an Erst early on, I was thinking about it until I found out that SN already had it in the works.

[Vince Kargatis]

I love Son of Sisyphus, has a sonic and compositional focus that isn't typical of most Dixon records. Strikes me as a good Dixon starter record myself.

I dislike the excessive echo on Berlin Abozzi too, and am sorta surprised so many people didn't mind it (when reviewing it positively).

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

I dislike the excessive echo on Berlin Abozzi too, and am sorta surprised so many people didn't mind it (when reviewing it positively).

I was relistening a couple nights ago. I think it's fucking cool. Kinda like a schizophrenic electric Miles.

[Vince Kargatis]

Originally Posted by Sergio Zamora

Kinda like a schizophrenic electric Miles.

Hm, I wish it sounded schizo to me - instead it just sounds dorky.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Vince Kargatis

Hm, I wish it sounded schizo to me - instead it just sounds dorky.

Maybe he was in his 20th-Century Dorky Man phase.

[crawjo]

See my post in the beautifully titled "Music Thread." Just had Odyssey arrive in the mail. Six cds of solo Bill Dixon. I've heard from at least one Dixon fan (Abbey, I believe) that it isn't so great, but I figured, what the hell. I need at least one six cd box set of solo trumpet music, and this one seems to be the leading contender in that category.

[Erik Lund]

I've yet to read Oz say anything negatve about any piece of music.

Come on man!

[LeMo]

Originally Posted by Pete C

But WKCR is playing Papyrus Vol. 1 (w/Tony Oxley) this afternoon. Stunningly beautiful.

It's about 8 years than some of us know that (sust teasing Pete "I Though I Didn't Like Bill Dixon" for a little "end of the year" pleasure- A small one by the way).

Another vote for "Vade Mecum 1 & 2", here.

And for "November, 1984", " (even if the sound of this one is, alas, not that good), "Papyrus vol.1 & 2" (both equally), of course, and also for the two "Bill Dixon In Italy" (more the first than the second, by the way).

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Erik Lund

I've yet to read Oz say anything negatve about any piece of music.

Come on man!

Fuck you, bitch

[Erik Lund]

Now apply that scorn to some shitty new release!
(do I have to spoon feed you?)

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by Erik Lund

Now apply that scorn to some shitty new release!
(do I have to spoon feed you?)

Hey, here's a negative review. You know what band really sucks? Bite me.

[gonzo]

i hear alot of good things about bill dixon from fans and musicians alike(wadada smith, dave douglas). what is a good recording to start off with from his releases? i'd really be interested to hear this great icon.
thanx

[Gary Sisco]

Erik -- Send him one of your recordings.

[Captain Hate]

Originally Posted by gonzo

i hear alot of good things about bill dixon from fans and musicians alike(wadada smith, dave douglas). what is a good recording to start off with from his releases? i'd really be interested to hear this great icon.
thanx

My favorite is still one of his earliest: Consequences on Savoy, with a septet; side two on the lp featured Archie Shepp's totally different group (ie. no Dixon). It is *very* different from the works that are being discussed here, particularly in terms of being accessible to a wider range of listeners, imo.

[Dick Bowman]

Originally Posted by gonzo

i hear alot of good things about bill dixon from fans and musicians alike(wadada smith, dave douglas). what is a good recording to start off with from his releases? i'd really be interested to hear this great icon.
thanx

For my ears...

Intents and Purposes (which offers Dixon's take on group organisation in the mid-60s)
Collection (although he's had a spat with Cadence and doesn't want people buying it) - various formats including solo stuff
In Italy (a working group)
November 1981 (another working group - this time in the two basses plus drums format)
Considerations (various formats over the years).

Some of these may be hard to come by - and I think there's a degree of overlap with his self-produced 6-CD set (which I don't have and can't comment on per se, because of this overlap).

Personally I'm less taken with the later recordings (especially with Guy/Oxley because, for me, the music doesn't move organaically in the same way as the earlier sets).

Possibly if I was pushed to a single offering it'd probably be "November 1981".

[Gary Sisco]

I love those Vade Mecum volumes, too. I normally play them back to back.

[ericdevin]

Originally Posted by bostontricky

I'm with Abbey on Vade Mecum and Berlin Abbozzi, and will testify for November 1981 as well. I think these are all in Dixon's preferred format - two basses and percussion. Enjoyed Papyrus as well, but not nearly as much as the aforementioned.

After all that, Thoughts and Son of Sisyphus seem to be lacking something for me.

Interesting. I first saw/heard of Dixon at this year's Vision Fest (I'm only 21, cut me some slack). I've had Cecil Taylor's Conquistador for four or five years, but hadn't really absorbed who was on the lineup. Anyway, I was very impressed with his set, and have subsequently purchased a great deal of his material (both Vade Mecums, Papyrus II, Considerations, In Italy vol. 1 and Thoughts) Thoughts was the one recording that I have that I consider to be the most accessible. Considerations is killer, too. Just wanting to know why you feel that Thoughts is lacking. I respect opinions here, and plan to get Berlin Abbozzi ASAP.

[crawjo]

Well, over the past few weeks I've been going through his six-cd box of solo trumpet recordings (well five cds, plus one cd of spoken word) and I was consistently impressed. It was much better than I thought it would be, actually. As I wrote somewhere else on this site, there's something about the solo trumpet that I find very enchanting as a listener...there's a warmth, an intimacy to it, as you hear each breath pushing the music out into the echoes and emptiness of space.

Anyway, I'm on a bit of a Dixon kick right now. I just grabbed the much-heralded Vade Mecum off EBay yesterday, can't wait to hear that.

[Stephen Haynes]

It's worth understanding that Bill's work represents the primary technical innovation on the instrument post-Dizzy Gillespie. Start with his use of multiphonics, a technique that has inflenced younger, thoughtful players like Nate Wooley (check out his solo work).

Pedagoically, Bill has been singular as well. Pre-Institutionalization Period Jazz/Black Music did not have a wealth of teacher practioners who were willing to, never mind having the skillfullness to, teach their art in a manner that could be received directly and applied. I should know, Bill is my mentor.

Understand too, that what is being discussed here are recordings, emphemeral items that captute only a fraction of the live sound and energy of any performer. Best not to become to attached to them as a primary source of knowledge in a music such as this.

[MRS]

Originally Posted by Stephen Haynes

Start with his use of multiphonics, a technique that has inflenced younger, thoughtful players like Nate Wooley (check out his solo work).

Yes. . .this disc is great:

[Jon Abbey]

Originally Posted by Stephen Haynes

Understand too, that what is being discussed here are recordings, ephemeral items that captute only a fraction of the live sound and energy of any performer. Best not to become to attached to them as a primary source of knowledge in a music such as this.

that's certainly true, but unfortunately Dixon has performed very rarely in the last couple of decades, at least outside of Vermont, so the recordings are all most of us have.

[justinruins]

I can't believe that no one (or at least, I think no one) mentioned the solo improvised piano pieces he has on 'Papyrus.' They're my favorite part of that cd. I could take or leave Oxley, though.