SLAMCD405 Various Artists – Slamfest

In July 1999 George Haslam’s SLAM label celebrated its 10th anniversary with “Slamfest” at The Premises in London, organised by trumpeter Jim Dvorak. The two-day festival featured SLAM associated acts such as Dvorak’s Dreamtime band (which included Keith Tippett, Nick Evans and Gary Curson), Lol Coxhill, George Haslam and Paul Rutherford performing as a trio, Elton Dean and Howard Riley as a duo and another duo made up of Phil Minton and Jim Dvorak. Plus the Harrison Smith Quartet.

Nick Evans: trombone
Jim Dvorak: trumpet
Gary Curson: alto saxophone
Keith Tippett: piano
Roberto Bellatalla: double bass
Jim Le Baigue: drums
Lol Coxhill: soprano saxophone
George Haslam: baritone saxophone & tarogato
Paul Rutherford: trombone
Harrison Smith: bass clarinet
Liam Noble: piano
Jeremy Brown: double bass
Brian Abrahams: drums
Elton Dean: alto saxophone
Howard Riley: piano
Jim Dvorak: trumpet & voice
Phil Minton: voice

“Among the delights on the twofer CD are three tracks by CHAR (Coxhill, Haslam and Rutherford) where the musical comradeship of the three veteran hornmen reaches a true communal apex. CHAR 1 is almost 20 minutes long and is full of breath, fire and astonishing notes. Coxhill’s shuddering soprano spikes its cry over the two deeper, rumbling horns and the rhythmless surge of the dynamic counter-sounds create a mystery and musical oneness which is wondrous to hear – voices within instruments, speaking and singing their own lives and the lives of the world. CHAR 2 has Haslam playing his Hungarian tarogato and the threesome in a more sprightly mood, and Coxhill is warbling, inventing and laughing through his horn all through the conversations of CHAR 3.” – Chris Searle, Morning Star

“Oxford-based George Haslam is an entire jazz scene on his own. Not only is he a fine baritone saxophonist with a distinct signature, he has a unique line to the Argentinian jazz world and he runs SLAM, a record label documenting the continuing work of that neglected school of influential and productive British free-jazzers including Elton Dean, Nick Evans and Keith Tippett…Some of the music is quiet, meticulous, pulseless improv, like the slowly unfolding 20-minute conversation between Coxhill’s squirmy soprano, Haslam’s grainy baritone and the mobile, rubbery trombone of Rutherford. Elsewhere, it is powerfully offbeat and insistent free jazz – listen to Keith Tippett’s absolutely blistering piano solo on Dreamtime’s Careful Driver, driven by the furious drum undercurrents of Jim LaBaigue, for a reminder of how substantial a figure that West Country keyboard star is. Harrison Smith’s dark, liquid bass clarinet stealthily treads an undergrowth sown by the fine pianist Liam Noble among others; Elton Dean and Howard Riley confirm the virtues of a long and sympathetic dialogue; and the remarkable vocalist Phil Minton puts in a typically arresting appearance. Three appearances by the sextet Dreamtime, featuring Tippett, anchor the collection…a powerful blast from a pungent and characterful corner of contemporary music.” – John Fordham, The Guardian

Recorded at The Premises, London, England. July 10 and 11, 1999.
Recorded and mastered by Dill Katz.
Produced by George Haslam.

SLAM CATALOGUE