Martin Archer - Wild Pathway Favourites (December 2021 Discus Music)

The first Martin Archer album - dubbed from unplayed vinyl and remastered for DL by Dean Honer. Recorded in 1988 and originally released on Ladder, the forerunner label to Discus Music. Recorded with financial assistance from the Arts Council.

"A balance of compositional strength and clarity of execution ..... a labyrinth filled with jewels at every turn"

- Mike King, Coda.

"A document of unbridled imagination and optimism"

- David Ilic, Wire.

"Strong and raw"

- Mark Sinker, NME.

1. Showers 10:13

2. Light Year 10:13

3. Coldest Day Comes Down 02:53

4. Wild Pathway Favourites 05:19

5. New Scientists 14:24

6. Jynjy 01:40

Martin Archer - soprano saxophone, metallophone

Charlie Collins - woodwind

Nick Evans - trombone

John Russell - acoustic guitar

Mary Schwarz - viola

Michael Szpakowski - piano

Tim Cole - cello

Paul Shaft - double bass

Pete Infanti - drums, percussion

PRE ORDER

Mats Gustafsson / John Russell / Raymond Strid - Birds (2018)

Recorded and mixed on August/06/2011 at Hagen Festen 2011, Dala Floda

Mastered April/01/2012 at Norlings Rör, Heby

Released by Den, 2012

1. The Earth as the Sun and the Ravens are Watching 43:18

2. The Birds. They Fly as They Want, Don't They? 04:34

Mats Gustafsson - soprano, baritone saxophone

John Russell - guitar

Raymond Strid - drums

Evan Parker / John Edwards / John Russell - Walthamstow Moon (ByrdOut 2017)

By Paul Acquaro / freejazzblog.org

An homage of sorts ... in November 1961, John Coltrane played at the Granada Theatre in Walthamstow, North East London, on A Jazz at the Philharmonic tour. A young Evan Parker was in the audience that night, and the event obviously left an indelible impression. 55 years later, Parker returned to the scene of the 'crime' (a cinema located at 186 Hoe Street E17) with guitarist John Russell and bassist John Edwards and commenced on a recording inspired by the memory.

And how could this show not have impressed? It was after all John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, McCoy Tuner, Reggie Workman, and Elvin Jones belting out the now classics 'My Favorite Things', 'Naima', 'Impressions' ... 

However, what Parker and company do in the same physical space inhabits a much different musical one. This is certainly not a note-for-note remake, rather it's a deep dive into the musical vocabulary that grew from the musical experimentations that took hold in London in the mid-1960s with groups like Spontaneous Music Ensemble. A direct link, of course, Parker, whose melodic bursts and expressive inflections guide this music. Russell, on acoustic guitar, channels the influence of Derek Bailey in his use of jarring chord tones and rhythmically abstract slashing. Edwards' contribution on bass is endlessly fascinating in how he connects everyone at key moments with a well placed pluck or bowed passage, propelling the songs in unexpected ways.

This is a rich treat. For example, on just one track, like 'Mirth', there is so much to unpack that it really can serve as an abstract for the whole recording. The syncopated phrases from Russell's guitar feels natural but there is no easily discernible pattern, Edwards' bass work provides depth and texture that thrusts the group forward with no obvious pulse. Most of all what you feel is the dedication to the musical whole emanating from Parker's saxophone. From each squiggle of sound to rapid runs through scales and other elliptical patterns, it is utterly mesmerizing.

1. Mirth 6:18

2. Leonine Aspect 4:32

3. Marvel 6:45

4. Saturnine Aspect 6:39

5. Maud 7:09

6. Walthamstow Moon 4:49

Evan Parker saxophones

John Russell guitar

John Edwards double bass

Evan Parker / John Russell / Ian Brighton / Philipp Wachsmann / Marcio Mattos / Trevor Taylor - Reunion (Live from Cafe Oto) FMR RECORDS 2017

On August 14th 2016 Cafe Oto staged a reunion of a group of old friends , the group Stringthing featuring Ian Brighton Electric Guitar, Philip Wachsmann Violin, Trevor Taylor Percussion and electronics and Marcio Matttos cello , with Evan Parker saxophone and john Russell acoustic guitar String thing had not recorded through circumstances since 1988 when they recorded 'Eleven years from Yesterday (FMR02) Coincidently only the second cd in the FMR catalogue

1 Here, And Hear 6:35 

2 Why Did We Leave It So Long ? 31:36 

3 Walthamstow Cheesecutter 15:53 

4 What Else Did You Expect ? 15:43 

Evan Parker soprano saxophone (3,4)

John Russell guitar (3,4) 

Ian Brighton guitar (1,2,4)

Philipp Wachsmann violin (2,4)

Marcio Mattos double bass (2,4)

Trevor Taylor percussion, electronics (2,4)