Derek Bailey,Evan Parker, & Han Bennink — Topographie Parisienne
Topographie Parisienne is four CD box collection featuring some truly stealler improv/ avant jazz from three masters of the genre- guitarist Derek Bailey, saxophonist Evan Parker, and percussionist/ other instruments Han Bennink. The set takes in three nights worth of live recordings captured in April 1981 at in Paris.
The boxset appears French label Fou Records. Each of the four discs come in their own mini card gatefolds, which feature stills of the live performances. These are all presented in a flipside box, with basic red, black, and white design/ colourings. Also featured is a fourteen-page inlay booklet- with texts in French and English, poster art, and artist pictures. There’s also a separate double page fold- on one side we get reproductions on handwritten notes, and on the other linear notes- once again in French and English.
The first disc takes in two tracks. First out we have a tenorsolo from Parker (10.15) this features a urgent, knotty, and tight flow of horn notes- which seeming flow & flow in all their angular and often lightly seared manner. And the first thing that hits you is the clarity of the recording- it literally feels like Mr Parker is sat next you. The other track is is the trio playing together (41.53) it opens with a series of flowing into each other guitar strums, gently forking horn tones, and steadily smashing/ tick-tocking percussion. As the track moves on we shift between fuller and more layered moments- with the former going from more steady drum propelled dwells. And latter more detail interplays- as we shift between densely manic & more subtle picking, honk, and tip-tap.
The second CD takes in three duets. First is with Bennink & Parker( 17.18) here we move from a mix of vocal like growls and searing horn honks, onto doubling bays/ angular flirts, and searing interplays/ manic bashers. With Bennink utilizing horn, percussion, and his voice. Next it’s between Bailey and Parker( 27.45) it opens with a mix of stretched strums & waving bays. Before moving onto more jagged horn and darting guitar interplays. And back to more tolling and wavering moments, which are alive with sour unease. Finally we’re back with Bennink & Parker( 12.10) which mixes of compact/ rapid/ jigging honks, random mouth whistling, and sparse textural churnings.
Moving onto the third disc, and we have two more duets. The first is between Bailey and Bennink( 39.34) were we move from a blend of rough strum and honk, onto mixes of snap sweeps, bays, and yells. Through to tolling swipes and bashes. Onto rushes of (possibly) harmonic, racing percussions, and beyond. The second is between Bailey & Parker( 12.10) here we find a mix of darting strums and baying honks, jagged plucks and darting flutters, and sudden manic jiggs.
The fourth and final discs features two track. First up with the lion share of the disc is the trio playing together( 46.01) here we move from more tolling/ full guitar work joined by flirt horn touches, and more formal percussion runs. Onto more manically darting blends of guitar chops, fired up bays, and crashing/ rushing percussion. Though to descending drum runs, jagged guitar hits, and wild wails. Finally we come full circle to a solo performance from Parker- this time on Soprano(11.50) here we find a mix of rolling ‘n’ reeling honks, moments of jigging, more seared highs ‘n’ swoops, and compressed bays.
As a box set, Topographie Parisienne certainly takes in some world class/ most engaging improv/ avant jazz. With a nice simple, but classy presentation/ packing.