Sheffield native Derek Bailey, who continually pushed the limits of the acoustic and electric guitar through a recorded career spanning some 40+ years, has passed away at the age of 75.
A co-director of the Incus label, author of the book ‘Improvisation : It’s Nature And Practice’, and a collaborator with Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton, Lol Coxhill, Steve Beresford, Thurston Moore, Steve Lacy and the Ruins amongst many others, Bailey has left behind a gargantuan body of work that will continue to amaze and inspire for generations to come.
Ol’ Dirty, Charlie Rich, Fahey, Bailey, the list goes on, and Mike Patton continues to put out 5 collaborative LPs a year. There is no God.
Bailey’s last album on Tzadik is worth pursuing, it came out just a couple of months ago, I believe. It documents his struggle with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and how he found new ways to continue to make beautiful sounds. Highly recommended. An artist who works solely in the moment, whether by himself or with others, is rare these days.