''Iskra 1903'' is an album by trombonist Paul Rutherford, guitarist Derek Bailey and bassist

Barry Guy Barry John Guy (born 22 April 1947, in London) is an English composer and double bass player. His range of interests encompasses early music, contemporary composition, jazz and improvisation, and he has worked with a wide variety of orchestras ...

which was recorded at the

Institute of Contemporary Arts The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA) is an artistic and cultural centre on The Mall in London, just off Trafalgar Square. Located within Nash House, part of Carlton House Terrace, near the Duke of York Steps and Admiralty Arch, the ICA c ...

in 1970 and in a studio in 1972 and first released as a

double album A double album (or double record) is an audio album that spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically either records or compact disc. A double album is usually, though not always, released as such because the recording i ...

on the

Incus The ''incus'' (plural incudes) or anvil is a bone in the middle ear. The anvil-shaped small bone is one of three ossicles in the middle ear. The ''incus'' receives vibrations from the ''malleus'', to which it is connected laterally, and transmit ...

label then as a triple CD

box set A box set or (its original name) boxed set is a set of items (for example, a compilation of books, musical recordings, films or television programs) traditionally packaged in a box and offered for sale as a single unit. Music Artists and bands ...

entitled ''Chapter One 1970-1972'' on Emanem in 2000 with additional material.

Reception

The

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

review by Steve Loewy called it "some of the best free music ever recorded" and states "What makes this so special is the opportunity to see the music unfold. No two tracks are the same, as Rutherford, Bailey, and Guy play each piece with the revolutionary fervor of a new discovery. Nearly every minute sounds fresh and exciting". The authors of the ''

Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled by ...

'' awarded ''Chapter One: 1970-1972'' 4 stars, and commented: "''Iskra 1903'' represent a wonderfully challenging auditory experience. So densely interwoven are the lines and so convincingly vocalized is Rutherford's tone that one almost feels one is listening to a passionate discourse." Raul Da Gama stated: "Here, even in the trio's most savage and turbulent pages is playing of an awesome clarity and poise... as you listen to the music unfold, you also hear an astonishingly deft and assured dismissal of every difficulty on the prose and the poetry of this music. Such is the majesty of the intertwining of trombone, guitar and bass that the trio appears to set wild seas in uproar with unfaltering command and daunting versatility."

Track listing

All compositions by Paul Rutherford, Derek Bailey and Barry Guy.

Double LP

Side one # "Improvisation 1" - 20:15 Side two # "Improvisation 2" - 5:40 # "Improvisation 3" - 11:47 # "Improvisation 4" - 5:12 Side three # "Improvisation 5" - 5:57 # "Improvisation 6" - 10:37 # "Improvisation 7" - 4:29 Side four # "Improvisation 8" - 6:22 # "Improvisation 9" - 3:38 # "Improvisation 10" - 3:10 # "Improvisation 11" - 7:35 Note *Recorded on 2 September 1970 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Sides 1 & 2) and on 3 May 1972 at Colourtone Studios, London, England (Sides 3 & 4)

Triple CD

Disc one # "Improvisation 1" - 21:03 # "Improvisation 2" - 5:37 # "Improvisation 3" - 11:36 # "Improvisation 4" - 5:04 # "Improvisation 0" - 25:20 Previously unreleased Disc two # "Offcut 1" - 1:40 Previously unreleased # "Offcut 2" - 4:25 Previously unreleased # "Offcut 3" - 11:17 Previously unreleased # "Improvisation 5" - 5:54 # "Improvisation 6" - 10:48 # "Improvisation 7" - 4:29 # "Improvisation 8" - 6:21 # "Improvisation 9" - 3:39 # "Improvisation 10" - 3:09 # "Improvisation 11" - 7:34 Disc three # "Extra 1" - 7:47 # "Extra 2" - 11:31 # "Extra 3" - 6:42 # "On Tour 1" - 13:37 # "On Tour 3" - 12:44 # "On Tour 2" - 12:34 Notes *Recorded on 2 September 1970 at the Institute of Contemporary Arts (CD 1 & CD2: 1-3), unidentified location in 1971 (CD3: 1-3) on 3 May 1972 at Colourtone Studios, London, England (CD 2: 4-10), in Donaueshingen on 21 October 1972 (CD3: 4), in Bremen on 23 or 24 October 1972 (CD3: 6) and in Berlin on 1 November 1972 (CD3: 5).

Personnel

* Paul Rutherford -

trombone The trombone (german: Posaune, Italian, French: ''trombone'') is a musical instrument in the Brass instrument, brass family. As with all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player's vibrating lips cause the Standing wave, air column ...

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

* Derek Bailey -

guitar The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...

- bass, amplified bass

References

{{Authority control Free improvisation albums Incus Records albums Emanem Records albums Paul Rutherford (trombonist) albums Derek Bailey (guitarist) albums Barry Guy albums 1972 albums