The Blackbird's Whistle

Eddie Prévost Trio

1 Twirls Of Modulation 16:10
2 A Bridge Thrown Over An Abyss 11:04
3 Gripped By Anguish 14:31
4 A Conversation Without Head Or Tail 13:46
5 The Blackbird's Whistle 11:21

"After having listened carefully to the whistle of the blackbird, he tries to repeat it as faithfully as he can. A puzzled silence follows, as if his message required careful examination; then an identical whistles re-echoes. Mr Palomar does not know if this is a reply to his, or the proof that his whistle is so different that the blackbirds are not the least disturbed by it and resume their dialogue as if nothing had happened. They go on whistling, questioning in their puzzlement, he and the blackbirds.” - Mr Palomar (Italo Calvino)

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Tom Chant / tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

John Edwards / double bass

Eddie Prévost / drums

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Tracklisting:

1. twirls of modulation - 16:10

2. a bridge thrown over the abyss - 11:04

3. gripped by anguish - 14:31

4. a converation without head or tail? - 13:46

5. the blackbird's whistle - 11:21

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Recorded at Gateway Studios, Kingston-upon-Thames, London by Steve Lowe on October 17th 2003. 

Eddie Prévost

A founder-member of AMM (1965-2022)

[Eddie Prévost’s] is one of the greatest metallurgists that music has produced. […] sparks delicately arcing through the air, of slow lava ingesting its surroundings, of the shifting grind of tectonic plates across each other, of the rustle and glint of a firebird darting between shadows, and of ore smashing into the surface of the earth; but perhaps this language is overwrought: all that needs to be remarked upon is Prévost's industry, his diligence.”
Nathan Moore — liner note to AMM’s ‘Indúsria’
Matchless Recordings mrcd105.

But beyond this work Prévost has also maintained a relationship with the jazz drum-kit.

“His free drumming flows superbly making perfect use of his formidable technique, but his most startling feature is his stylelessness. It’s as though there has never been an Elvin Jones or a Max Roach.” - review of a set with saxophonist Lou Gare, Melody Maker (27.03.1975)

“Prévost, meanwhile, was simply miraculous; it was fascinating to watch him and to compare his approach with that of a Kern or a Nilssen-Love. I can only say that he was possessed of an uncanny, burning intentness that navigated the ensemble through passages of stark, sculpted beauty, grave concentration and full-on, bristling energy.”
Blue Tomato, Vienna 2012. In concert with Marilyn Crispell and Harrison Smith. Richard Rees-Jones

“An excellent release from one of the finest percussionists around, jazz or otherwise.” review of Prévost’s solo CD ‘Collider’
Matchless Recordings mrcd106 – Brian Olewnic, Squidsear (2022).

“Relentlessly innovative yet full of swing and fire.” – Morning Star

John Edwards

John Edwards grew up in London and started experimenting with the bass guitar before he switched in his twenties to play double bass. He is deeply rooted in the creative free jazz and improvisation genre. Since the 80ties he is as soloist and in many groups and ensembles in Europe active and became one of the most renowned bass players. He played/plays regular for example with Peter Brötzmann, Joe Mc Phee, Phil Minton, Maggie Nichols, Evan Parker, Roscoe Michtell, Louis Moholo-Moholo, Mark Sanders, Caroline Kraabel, John Butcher, Pat Thomas, Irène Schweizer, Hans Koch, Florian Stoffner, Gabriele Mitelli,  John Dikeman.

"I think John Edwards is absolutely remarkable: there’s never been anything like him before, anywhere in jazz." - Richard Williams, The Blue Moment

Tom Chant

Tom Chant, born 1975, Dublin, is an improvising saxophonist, living in Barcelona. Active in Barcelona and in London where he grew up, Tom has been playing improvised music for over thirty years. He started his adventures playing with Maggie Nicols, Eddie Prévost and John Edwards, and was soon playing with many luminaries of the English and international scene. He has played and recorded with Steve Beresford, Otomo Yoshihide, Ferran Fages, Rhodri Davies and the London Improvisors Orchestra amongst many others. Tom’s current playing explores the entropy of technique and the spaces this opens up for new forms of expression.