The Artwork for Solo Piano, released in 1977 by Paul Bley's Improvising Artists Inc. label is a good example of the video work you will see in the IAI video below. This program was videotaped in live performance. All camera work, mixing and colorizing were done in real time and displayed on video monitors for the audience and the musicians. The images were then mixed and processed on the David Jones Colorizer by Walter Wright. The video images are improvised in real time with the musical performance! Though it may be difficult at times, don't let the video effects distract you from the fine musical performances, however. Sun Ra and Friends is your chance to watch the master at work in a small group setting. This rare treat is made possible by our friend, Marc E. of Philadelphia who allowed me to borrow his precious video tape. We're very lucky to share in the bounty of so many generous Adventure-Equation readers. Thanks Marc!
249. [205] Sun Ra and Friends (video)
Sun Ra (p, perc, voc); Ahmed Abdullah (tp, voc); John Gilmore (ts, voc); Danny Davis (as, fl); June Tyson (voc); Eddie Thomas (voc).
The Axis-in-SoHo, NYC, early July 1977
IAI V004 (video)
unidentified title [p only]
unidentified outside title [ts, p only]
When There Is No Sun (Ra) [p, fl; SR, JG, ET voc]
Gone with the Wind (Magidson-Wrubel) [tp, p onlly]
The Mystery of Two (Ra) [tp, ts, as, p]
A Different Kind of Blues (Ra) [tp, ts, p; ET voc]
Greetings from the 21st Century (Ra) /
Do the Thang (Ra) /
Space Is the Place (Ra) [JT, ens voc]
IAI V004 is a 40-minute video, briefly distributed commercially by Improvising Artists Inc. in 1981 and restored to circulation in the 1990s. Personnel listing and location from credits; tunes identified by rlc. According to Tom Buck, another solo piano piece by Sun Ra appeared on a various-artists video from IAI -- further details unknown.
from The Earthly Recordings 2nd ed.If you are interested in hearing the two Sun Ra solo piano releases on IAI, you can find them here.
wow-wee!!! super-THANKS, yotte and Marc E.!!!
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I wonder if this is the video that IAI was said to have. I thought it was something with just John Gilmore in the period he recorded with Bley(1964), but rumors were not very precise. Anyway a great find, thank you!
ReplyDeletewow, Marc & Yotte
ReplyDeletesharing such major music. didn't know this existed. thx.
red cloud
IAI had a series of videos available but for some reason they didn't get much distribution. From what I read in Paul's book Changing the Time, I get the impression he was pretty much through with running a label by this point. It's a shame since there were some good performances on them and Carol's real time video work was very cutting edge at the time. I'll always be grateful to him for suggesting Sonny record those solo albums. I haven't watched this in years. So nice to have it in this form. Thank you so much Marc & Yotte. It was certainly fate in a pleasant mood when I stumbled across this site.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you guys are enjoying these posts. I couldn't believe my eyes when Marc E. offered to let me borrow his tape. Sharing is definitely a wonderful thing. EVERYBODY WINS!!!
ReplyDeleteNow if we can only find the Solo Piano video...
Roberto, here is a link to Bley's blog where the IAI videos are listed. Sadly, it appears that none are are currently available.
http://www.improvart.com/video/vidcat.htm
Thanks for yet another gem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Yotte, for the link to IAI. This definetely clears everything and this video is more than enough. Thank you again.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for this video!
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