Spontaneous Music Ensemble - A New Distance

[Steve Reynolds]

there was an old thread - and I know the recording is hard to find - and I think it is one of the lesser known SME groups - only one recording with the trio - I think I must have put the old thread to the top quite a few times urging for people to hear this great music

the crowd at the first show goes a bit bonkers for the performance - pretty rare from what I have heard on record or live for this kind of intimate, intricate improvisation

and if one could pick a recording that might define "kitchen sink" or "insect" music, this might be it - and that is not meant in a bad way - this is a prime example of how smaller sounds and intense listening by the improvisors can result in something very special.

John Stevens - drum kit, pocket trumpet
Roger Smith - spanish guitar
Jon Butcher - tenor or soprano saxophone

recorded 5/28/94 & 9/1/94

Stevens died on 9/13/94

first track 26 minute Stig recorded at the first concert - the other 4 shorter pieces at a small personal concert

while listening can't help thinking how much I like Butcher's playing here - more than on the couple of more recent recordings with him - where he almost buries the saxophone sound - here it is crisp and true - while still very very abstract in nature

and when I am buying CD's again, I will fill all the SME holes - I also think that Roger Smith is just marvelous here - and Stevens' occasional sharp accents on the snare and cymbal work are sublime.

the 26 minute opener, "Stig" with the spoken instroduction by the leader is the highlight although the other four tracks are also very good

and the sometimes extreme dynamics of this intimate trio are very unique, indeed

hope this one is still available - it is on a label called Acta

[walto]

Definitely a "shaking the silverware drawer" recording!

[Pete C]

They're so spontaneous they left off the final "s".

[Uli]

Originally Posted by Pete C

They're so spontaneous they left off the final "s".

I was only reading this because I was checking what Pete is up to. Before I just thought Reynolds has discovered the *Rumanians*.

[Steve Reynolds]

another from the old pile

John Stevens - drum kit & pocket trumpet
Roger Smith - spanish guitar
John Butcher - tenor or soprano saxophone

recorded 5/28/94 & 9/1/94

Stevens died 12 days after the final performance documented on the second half of this recording

if I was buying, I'd be buying the older SME recordings quickly

the trumpet blasts rattle the silverware, the snapping snare drum rocks the chandeliers that arn't here - and Butcher recreates the sound of the tenor right between my ears - the screaming moan from the little horn with the seeming illusion of the tenor saxophone sounds like an ueasy otion - and maybe that's why they named it such - that's the third of four shorter tracks from the later little concert - stunning intricate stuff - but maybe the end of the long 26+ minute improvised epic known forever as named by the leader in his priceless intro - "Stig" takes this sort of music (what sort?) to what could be called a pinnacle in more ways than one - pocket trumpet like this?

I asked my wife what she thought this type of music might be called - thinking she might know that I had referenced it warmly as 'insect music'

she answered garbage - I laugh - and love it all the more - and although I have only heard Roger Smith on this one and only record - and I initially had no idea what or if or how or why or who cares

I think he's the one to replace Sharrok on the Doctor's list as a wunderkind of supposed nothingness that is something more than evermore forever....

I'm stunned more than I was the last time - and I am very sorry it was the last time for the *great* John Stevens playing the last very bit of the music that he created with a little help from some friends


RIP, Mr. Stevens

[walto]

Bravo, o preacher, my preacher!

[s**lakari]

A stupid question, I could and should look it up myself, but still:

Is that one still around? I mean has it been sold out?

I've been re-activating my long love for Stevens lately. He was such a magician.

Presently I'm waiting for the mail to deliver the CD Playing, which he made with Derek Bailey. I'm expecting some pretty damn good things from that.

I haven't listened to too many of the SME records. Karyobin, Face to Face and some others I have, and they're all great, but I must say I don't care too much for the versions with Julie Tippetts or other vocalists. Their approach sort of spoils it for me, I mean, the long wails and uuhs and aahs don't really seem as focused as the instrumental work. I have the 1,2,3 Alber Ayler album, which IMO indeed is not at all as good as the other ones.

[Jon Abbey]

this is about to be reissued by Emanem. all Butcher related news can be found here:

http://www.johnbutcher.org.uk/

[Nate Dorward]

Originally Posted by s**lakari

Presently I'm waiting for the mail to deliver the CD Playing, which he made with Derek Bailey. I'm expecting some pretty damn good things from that.

Get hold of One Time too with Bailey, Stevens & Kent Carter. Poorly balanced recording but it's I think a notch better than Playing (which is itself a pretty good disc).

[s**lakari]

Originally Posted by Nate Dorward

Get hold of One Time too with Bailey, Stevens & Kent Carter. Poorly balanced recording but it's I think a notch better than Playing (which is itself a pretty good disc).

That's nice, since I when I ordered Playing I had to choose between those two albums.

Oh well, I'll get it later.

s*

[Other Steve]

Originally Posted by Jon Abbey

all Butcher related news can be found here:

http://www.johnbutcher.org.uk/

Ooooooh, not to derail an SME thread, but that new Polwechsel lineup Butcher mentions with Beins and Brandlmayr sounds promising...

Back on topic, I also enjoy One Time more than Playing; in fact, the trio record was my personal Stevens breakthrough, before which I'd been somewhat resistant (having previously heard only One Time, 1.2. Albert Ayler and some other random, reasonably undistinguished SME date).

After One Time, it all made sense. I also enjoy Gig, the low-fi, high-entertainment-value VHS tape of a Stevens and Bailey pub date, available from Incus.