Unconventional English guitarist Derek Bailey specialized in free jazz and
improvisational work, often relying less on the guitar in the traditional sense
as an instrument than as a device capable of producing an infinite array of
sounds. Born in Sheffield, England, on January 29, 1930, Bailey worked his way
through the jazz club circuit before embracing the endless opportunities of free
jazz, even if much of his later avant-garde work would be hard to place under
that already-wide umbrella.
In 1963, Bailey joined the trio Joseph Holbrooke, which featured bassist Gavin
Bryar...