Browse by Artist: SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Face To Face
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4003CD

A minimal version of the SME here, just John Stevens (percussion, cornet, voice) and Trevor Watts (ss). A reissue of Emanem LP 303, with 3 previously unreleased tracks (recorded in 1973). "The two had become extremely close musically, and the music had become very austere -- stripped down to the bare essentials. The end result was at times akin to one person playing two instruments, unlike so many duos which sound like two people playing solo simultaneously."

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Summer 1967
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4005CD

Repressed. All previously unissued recordings, mainly made up of the duo of John Stevens (percussion) and Evan Parker (ss, ts), with Peter Kowald (b) on about a third of it. This marks the earliest to date recordings of Parker and is a tremendous snapshot of some ancient history. "Parker and Stevens seemed to break through to a deeper level of hearing, where a sound was not set against other sounds but rather against the silence around it, so that one gained heightened awareness of its growth and decay, its special colour, and of the vibrant stillness in which it took place." --Victor Schonfield/Downbeat/1968.

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Quintessence 1
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4015CD

"The whole of the sensational 85 minute concert featuring the quintet of John Stevens, Derek Bailey, Kent Carter, Evan Parker & Trevor Watts (split over volumes 1 & 2) -- a classic of free improvisation (recorded 1974 -- the only recordings every made by this quintet). Plus previously unissued and unexpected improvisations by the trio of Stevens, Carter & Watts (from '73, on 4015) and the duo of Stevens & Watts (also from '73, on 4016)." Limited stock, deleted item.

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Challenge
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4053CD

"The long overdue reissue -- the first since 1966 -- of the first SME LP reveals their free jazz roots with only hints of what was to come. Kenny Wheeler (flugelhorn), Paul Rutherford (trombone), Trevor Watts (alto sax), Bruce Cale (double bass) and John Stevens (drums) improvise on pieces by Rutherford, Stevens & Watts. (Jeff Clyne replaces Cale on a couple of tracks.) In addition there is a previously unissued performance from 1967 by Trevor Watts (piccolo & alto sax), Evan Parker (soprano sax), Chris Cambridge (double bass) and John Stevens (drums). Reissue of Eyemark EMPL 1002 with extra material."

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	A New Distance
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4115CD

"Two of the last performances by the SME which then comprised John Stevens (percussion & pocket trumpet), Roger Smith (guitar) and John Butcher (soprano & tenor saxophones). A new direction for the music that was sadly terminated later that year (1994) by Stevens' untimely death. Added to this reissue are two short pieces from the previous year, when Neil Metcalfe (flute) was also in the group, and some perceptive comments by Stevens. Reissue of Acta CD 8 with extra material."

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Frameworks (1968-73)
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$19.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4134CD

"Three different groups in performances utilizing frameworks devised by John Stevens sending the music into unexpected areas. From mid-1968 there is the unusual line-up of John Stevens (percussion), Norma Winstone (voice), Kenny Wheeler (fluegelhorn), Paul Rutherford (trombone) and Trevor Watts (bass clarinet) in a wide-ranging half-hour sequence. Another half-hour sequence features the superb 1971 quartet of Stevens (percussion & voice), Julie Tippett (voice & guitar), Watts (soprano sax) and Ron Herman (double bass) reintroducing some emotional elements of free jazz into the group improvising. Finally, there is a short performance of the hyper-minimalist piece 'Flower' by the 1973 duo of Stevens and Watts. 71:49 minutes -- all previously unissued."

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Quintessence
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$27.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4217CD

"Whole of the sensational 85 minute concert featuring the quintet of John Stevens (percussion & cornet), Derek Bailey (guitars), Kent Carter (cello & double bass), Evan Parker (soprano sax) and Trevor Watts (soprano sax) -- a classic of free improvisation, about which the following has been written: 'This 1974 concert is one of the best examples of the SME on record.'; 'I think that this 1974 performance is just about the finest single performance of free-improvised music that I know of. For me there is more music and improvisation here per second than just about any other recording that I've ever heard.'; 'A masterpiece of collective improvisation -- belongs in every music collection.'; 'One of the most beautiful improv sets I've heard.' Also included are some slightly earlier improvisations by the trio of Stevens, Carter & Watts and the duo of Stevens & Watts. Reissue of Emanem CDs 4015 & 4016 -- the quintet concert was originally issued on Emanem LPs 3401 & 3402." 135 minutes.

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Bare Essentials 1972-3
Label:	EMANEM (UK)
Format:	2CD
Price:	$27.00
Catalog #:	EMANEM 4218CD

"John Stevens (percussion & cornet) and Trevor Watts (soprano sax). Duo recordings selected from the Trevor Watts cassette archive that have cleaned up very nicely. The music is very conversational, and ranges from free jazz ferocity to quiet stillness. Until this release, there were no published SME recordings from between mid-1971 and late 1973, and none of Stevens playing cornet before late 1973 -- so a considerable gap has been breeched by some vital playing, mostly at London's Little Theatre Club. 150 minutes. (All previously unissued)."

Artist:	SPONTANEOUS MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Title:	Biosystem
Label:	PSI (UK)
Format:	CD
Price:	$18.00
Catalog #:	PSI 06.07CD

"John Stevens (percussion & cornet), Nigel Coombes (violin), Roger Smith (guitar), Colin Wood (cello). The first recording of the 'string' version of the SME, that lasted (minus Wood) until 1992." "We had a willow tree in the back garden and I used to look at the willow tree and the grass and think, well we could be like this. We could be very close to nature if we learned how to just purely interact..." John Stevens. Reissue plus 35 minutes of extra material from the same session. Originally recorded on 6/28/77.

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