Joseph Holbrooke Trio

Derek Bailey

A combo active in northern England from 1963 to 1966, the Joseph Holbrooke Trio thrived on ambitious goals and conflicting impulses. Percussionist Tony Oxley, who came from the jazz world, sought to free himself from standard timekeeping chores. Bassist Gavin Bryars was more energized by the freedoms afforded by postmodern composers John Cage and Cornelius Cardew. Rounded out by Derek Bailey—whose thorough deconstruction of guitar playing would make him a singularly influential figure—the trio blazed a trail for an explosive new performance practice. Sadly, almost none of its work was documented.

Bailey and Oxley continued along this path with distinction, while Bryars packed up his bass and pursued a successful career in composition. Nearly three decades later, California producer Gary Todd booked a reunion concert; although this fell through, a 1998 date (documented on Bailey’s Incus label) proved that the old chemistry remained potent. Energized, the trio recorded two discs’ worth of material at London’s Moat Studios for Todd’s Organ of Corti label. Before they could be released, however, Todd fell victim to a tragic accident that left him permanently hospitalized.

Issued at last on John Zorn’s Tzadik label, The Moat Recordings arrives as a timely memorial to Bailey, who passed away in December. The guitarist and percussionist, longtime collaborators, naturally bring out the best in one another; more surprising is the way Bryars’s calm, patient playing picks up a conversational thread abandoned so long ago.—Steve Smith

The Stone celebrates Derek Bailey throughout May.