Due to illness, the Joseph Holbrooke reunion was cancelled. In September 1998
for Tony Oxley's 60th Birthday, produced by German Radio the trio reformed after
32 years. The event was selected as one of the 10 high-points of the year by Diedrich Diederichsen
in ARTFORUM best of issue December 1998
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By it's own legend, what's called improvised music in Europe -- somewhere between "new music" and
"free jazz" -- was founded in the early '60s in London by the group Joseph Holbrooke.
Unfortunately its members -- composer Gavin Bryars, guitarist and improv-philosopher Derek Bailey,
and percussionist Tony Oxley, who was later involved in such diverse pursuits as John McLaughlin's
first solo album and innumerable collective improvisation projects -- never recorded together.
Their reunion on Oxley's 60th birthday in the Stadtgarten in Cologne seduced old comrades
and caught youngsters off guard with one of the sweetest glowing weaves the acoustic permits."
-- Diedrich Diederichsen, ARTFORUM
December 1998, page 114.
In December 1998, Cortical Foundation recorded Joseph Holbrooke in a London Studio.
For further information contact European Free Improvisation site.
In addition, Incus Records a label founded by Derek Bailey, Tony Oxley, and Evan Parker in 1971.
