Three Score and Counting
....6 musical propositions from Tony Buck at 60

When it was suggested to me to put together 3 nights of music at London’s prestigious Cafe Oto in celebration of 60 years on earth and my more than 40-year career in contemporary music, it offered me an opportunity to present a varied line- up of musicians and bands — including many of my dearest friends and esteemed colleagues, closest collaborators and some the music worlds most respected and adventurous improvisers.

It represents a chance to recognise and celebrate work - past, present and future, and share some of my musical obsessions from over the years, as well as new pursuits and inspirations. Performing in various groups and combinations, the 3 day residency will display a range of approaches and styles that have been a feature of my music making over 4 decades, with a focus on improvisation, abstract timbral experimentation and time based, multidirectional groove.

These invited guests include bands and musical partners from decades of collaboration as well as some newer friends and colleagues.

Magda Mayas, with whom I share a long and fruitful musical relationship in the duo Spill as well as in other situations, going back at least two decades.

John Butcher, someone I have played with for many years, unfortunately not regularly enough. He represents to me the very highest of aesthetic and inventive standards of European improvising practice.

Together they join me in our group Vellum in a rare London appearance.

Frank Gratkowski, world renown jazz saxophonist, with whom I have worked extensively in recent years to develop a very specific approach to free-jazz- improvisational dialogue. We will present our duo for the first time outside of Berlin.

Bex Burch, a relatively new musical partner — Together we have been developing a music of rhythmic poly-metric composition, drawing on her vast experience in the realm of West-African traditional musics and a shared love of minimalism, post punk, and improvisation.

Fresh from some European dates, I will perform alongside Anja Lauvdal and Andy Moor, a guitarist I have had a close working relationship with for over 20 years in many groups, including the group Kledka Red and Dutch improv-rock band The Ex.

The group GLACIAL has existed for many a year and plays irregularly across the globe. The group features renown guitar wielder Lee Ranaldo, from indie-rock group Sonic Youth and the bagpipes and guitar of David Watson, a collaborator and colleague living in New York with whom I have worked in various contexts, from duo to larger groups, over the last 30 years.

March 21st
- Frank Gratkowski & Tony Buck
- Andy Moor, Anja Lauvdal, Tony Buck (trio)

March 22nd
- Bex Burch & Tony Buck
- Vellum (John Butcher, Magda Mayas,Tony Buck)

March 23rd
- Tony Buck - solo
- Glacial (Lee Ranaldo, David Watson, Tony Buck)

With financial support from: