Portrait by BARRY GUY with Evan Parker, Paul Lytton, Agustí Fernández et al.

Intakt CD 123 (Compilation)

For over thirty years, the British double bassist, composer and band leader Barry Guy has been one of the leading personalities in today’s music situated between Jazz, Improvisation and New Music. The Evan Parker – Barry Guy – Paul Lytton Trio counts among the pioneer formations of modern improvised music. In addition to his free improvisations on the bass, the traveller between Baroque music and free improvisation composes for small formations and large orchestras in which notated structures and improvisational freedom search for a balance. For the London Jazz Composers Orchestra, Barry Guy has composed sixteen works, specifically written for the orchestra’s soloists. These compositions belong to the most impressive of today’s orchestral music. -– The works published on Intakt Records and Maya Recordings document an immense spectrum of his music: from the bass solo recordings, to duos, trios, from the Barry Guy New Orchestra all the way to the London Jazz Composers Orchestra. Central to these activities are – next to numerous experiments – the continuation and deepening of artistic friendships with a handful of musicians such as Evan Parker, Paul Lytton, Marilyn Crispell, Mats Gustafsson, Raymond Strid and others. -– The booklet included collects Barry Guy’s CD production of the last 20 years on Intakt Records and Maya Recordings, citations from press reviews, and it reprints texts on music: put together as an introduction to the works of Barry Guy, as an orientation and overview. -– We are happy that a growing public has been able to find access to this music through our work together.

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