Derek Bailey
Ballads

Release Date: 2002 | Tracklist

Even as Bailey gently introduces the melody to "Laura", there is an apparent frailty holding together the piece's tonality. There is palpable irony in a legendary free improviser opening his album with a standard that's been recorded over four-hundred times, but it is Bailey's idiosyncratic approach to the guitar that not only allows these aged classics, but welcomes them, like an old friend. The way he effortlessly flows between passages riddled with obscure harmonics and caterwauling picked attacks into traditionally gorgeous jazz harmony is something to behold. The spontaneity of his technique coupled with his absolute mastery of the instrument allows these tender standards to travel into uncharted territory, the way he positively dissects "Stella By Starlight" is more breath-taking upon each listen. The sentimentality he coaxes out of these simple melodies is heartrending, although it is not what makes up the majority of this album. Bailey occupies a wide vocabulary on his acoustic guitar and elects to remain in his non-idiomatic territory more often than not, although fans of avant-garde or atonal music will find his remarkable improvisations easy to digest.

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3.8 excellent

Rank: #0 for 2002