"Edgar Varèse and the Jazzmen" (MP3s)

Today's post is something I stumbled upon in the dark and dusty corners of the Internet, a tape recording of composer Edgar Varèse conducting a workshop of Jazz musicians in the year 1957. Here is the original announcement of the MP3 release of these tapes.

Edgard Varèse conducts a workshop with jazzmen Art Farmer (trumpet), Hal McKusik (clarinet, alto sax), Teo Macero (tenor sax), Eddie Bert (trombone), Frank Rehak (trombone), Don Butterfield (tuba), Hall Overton (piano), Charlie Mingus (bass), Ed Shaughnessy (drums), probably John La Porta (alto sax)... We don't know who is on vibes...

It might be the first free jazz recording (totally unissued) of History of Music. Varèse might have influenced jazzmen or was he only aware of what was happening on the jazz scene? No matter of the answer, it's a bomb, as this music is 3 years earlier than Free Jazz by Ornette Coleman! We also know Charlie Parker wanted to study with Varèse in autumn 1954 but the composer flew to Europe to conduct Déserts. When he came back to New York in May 1955, Parker had already died. We also know that Varèse used to listen to John Coltrane at the Village.

Between March and August 1957, these Sunday jam-sessions were followed by arranger George Handy, journalist Robert Reisner, composers James Tenney, Earle Brown and John Cage, choreographer Merce Cunningham. The organizers were Earle Brown and Teo Macero who will become Miles Davis' producer among others. Varèse used certain extracts of the workshop for his Poème électronique.

The original of this tape is at Fondation Paul Sacher.

Please excuse the crappy audio quality, it is the best we have.

MP3s: 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19

Comments

[bartlebyvqf]

Whoa, at any quality, thanks!

[Louisville Dan]

WOW! A real find. Thanks for posting.

[RSTVMO]

I am so there like.

[norelpref]

truly extraordinary. thank you!

[andy]

Great tunes! Thanks.

For the record, by 1957 Cecil taylor was already well into it (on record) never mind Lennie Tristano. Mingus was also poking at the free jazz thing by this time.

[dividend]

...and stories going back to '40s bebop players' private sessions as well... i'm starting to think this music pretty much goes back to the beginning.
nevertheless, what a great entry point to a larger field of music-- wonderful sounding stuff.

any references out there to this being the real deal? i'm pretty convinced myself.

[weasel walter]

i was going to cite taylor and tristano, but andy beat me to it. regardless, this is pretty interesting info.

ww

[Noal Cohen]

The vibist is Teddy Charles.

[PaulB]

Frank Zappa 1971:

I waited some more. The letter came. I couldn't believe it. A real handwritten letter from Edgard Varese! I still have it in a little frame. In very tiny scientific-looking script it says:

VII 12th/57

Dear Mr. Zappa

I am sorry not to be able to grant your request. I am leaving
for Europe next week and will be gone until next spring. I am
hoping however to see you on my return. With best wishes.

Sincerely

Edgard Varese

I never got to meet Mr. Varese. But I kept looking for records of his music. When he got to be about eighty I guess a few companies gave in and recorded some of his stuff. Sort of a gesture, I imagine. I always wondered who bought them besides me. It was about seven years from the time I first heard his music till I met someone else who even knew he existed. That person was a film student at USC. He had the Columbia LP with Poeme Electronique on it. He thought it would make groovy sound effects.

I can't give you any structural insights or academic suppositions about how his music works or why I think it sounds so good. His music is completely unique. If you haven't heard it yet, go hear it. If you've already heard it and think it might make groovy sound effects, listen again. I would recommend the Chicago Symphony recording of Arcana on RCA (at full volume) or the Utah Symphony recording of Ameriques on Vanguard. Also, there is a biography by Fernand Oulette, and miniature scores are available for most of his works, published by G. Ricordi.

[Andy]

Where did you get these?

I think you're goofing.

Dark and Dusty corners, my ass.

[Allen Lowe]

probably eddie costa on vibes - Allen Lowe

[labradog]

This is absolutely the shit!
This should all be compiled on one CD, like a jazz rave album.
It's like flying with and through mobiles.

[Steve P.]

There's a definite progression through the tracks...Doesn't sound like Art Farmer to me; actually sounds like a classical player.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=608707217]

I think it's Edgard Varese (with a d)

[Peter EVans]

Awesome---I've heard of this but never thought in my wildest dreams that I'd actually hear it!!!
BTW what is the source on the "used to listen to John Coltrane at the Village"?

[William M]

Actually sounds a bit like mid-60s Sun Ra.

[Nike Shox TL]

Life is just a series of trying to make up your mind. If you've decided to do something, you will get something what you want. Just do it, you are the unique one.

[Ryan]

Wow, this is mind blowing. I had no idea that he did this! This just made my night. Thanks for the post!

[Herb Deutsch]

I wrote an article on Edgard Varese for New Arts Journal (or some name like that( They never published. Interviewed him twice at his house in the village. He told me the Charlie Parker story, that Bird wanted to study with him, but it never happened. The date timimg is correct and these sound like legit attempts. Really cool stuff and he probably did sketch them. Got to know him pretty well over the years since my Moog days.