• New York Is Now! The New Wave of Free Jazz    by Phil Freeman    Photos by Susan O'Connor New York Is Now investigates the current state of free jazz music in New York City. For nearly twenty years, a group of musicians has been making music in the tradition of pioneers such as Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor and John Coltrane, but which is uniquely their own. And though their musical genius is undeniable, they are virtually frozen out by the critical jazz establishment. During the 1990s, these musicians created an entirely new market for their music by "crossing over" and reaching an audience of alternative-rock listeners. New York Is Now is intended to serve as an introduction to, and analysis of, these performers and their music. The book also places the players into a larger context, discussing the scene that has sprung up around them-the venues in which they perform, the independent record labels which release their music, and the rock magazines which have covered them when jazz magazines have not. Each of the major musicians on the scene is profiled, and their work is analyzed, in a separate chapter. Many of them work together, in both ad hoc and established groups, and an atmosphere of familiarity and collective effort permeates the scene-this, too, is discussed, and placed in a larger social and political context. The book is not written with the jazz connoisseur in mind. It is presented from the perspective of a death-metal fan who became obsessed with avant-garde jazz, and decided to learn everything he could about it. It is as much a story of the author's discovery of a whole new world of music as it is the story of the musicians. Phil hopes to attract new listeners to free jazz; to show them that the music, far from being inaccessible, is as powerful and innovative as anything else out there. Table of Contents Chapter 1: What Happened To Me Chapter 2. History, Like Most Things, Is Subjective Chapter 3. David S. Ware: Soul Sonic Force Chapter 4. Matthew Shipp: Systems Within Systems Chapter 5. William Parker: Building From The Bottom Chapter 6. Roy Campbell: Atop The Pyramid Chapter 7. Charles Gayle: Trembling Before God Chapter 8. Joe Morris: Keeping It Clean Chapter 9. Daniel Carter: This Is A Test Chapter 10. Putting On A Show For The People Chapter 11. Lies Jazz Critics Told Me Chapter 12. Getting It On Tape Chapter 13. Creating The Future Appendix 1: Recommended Listening Appendix 2: Contacts Reviews: "Freeman's interest in the edginess of jazz scenes makes for some lively writing-in fact this reader enjoyed the author's profiles without previously having heard a note from any of the featured artists…If you have an interest in the New York scene, Freeman's book is a fine bird's-eye view." —Billboard "The book is one of the few accessible introductions to a music which can be difficult…if he can persuade a few more suburban Death Metal freaks that Charles Gayle can annoy their parents even more than Slayer, then all the power to him." —The Wire "Phil Freeman has written "the anti-Marsalis" tome…Book is a good starting point for anyone attempting to see where "out" jazz is residing." —Variety The book is equally congenial to those with limited knowledge of this powerful jazz style in that it provides solid opportunities to explore the New York avant-garde and free jazz scene at the height of its renaissance and to get to know more about the artists that are keeping the scene happening before venturing out there on your own! This book is for those with open-minds and equally open ears." —Sounds of Timeless Jazz "Phil Freeman takes an explicitly outsider perspective on the NYC insider scene, offering insights that reflect his background in the "other" kind of energy music: punk and metal. At the same time, he keeps in touch with the deepest roots of free jazz, making the kind of connections among styles and ideas that clearly reflect careful study." —allaboutjazz.com "New York is Now! The New Wave of Free Jazz is an exiting, well-written look at the free jazz movement in New York. This book will shock some readers with its revelations about free jazz and please many others. It is a perceptive look at what is called, free jazz." —Jazzreview.com "Phil Freeman is about to set off a small but potent stink bomb at the genteel cocktail party where the jazz establishment conducts its typically decorous discussions." —San Francisco Bay Guardian "The majority of New York is Now! is a series of comprehensive looks at the chronological career spans of several working artists: David S. Ware, Matthew Shipp, double bassist and spiritual impresario William Parker, trumpet player Roy Campbell, mystery man Charles Gayle, "clean" guitarist Joe Morris, and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Carter….By far, the most compelling read is the final chapter, detailing the trials involving a recording session fraught with frustration from the beginning. Here Freeman reveals his crystalline story-telling ability and deep respect for the difficult work the artists pursue daily. More of this would be appreciated, as will be volume two from Freeman. The incredible music called free jazz deserves it." —Flagpole "In interviews with avant-garde jazz musicians, reviews of salient works, discussions of the scene's important clubs and record labels, and analysis of the genre's relationship to indie rock, Freeman catalogues a much-overlooked musical and cultural phenomenon. Jazz fans and indie-rockers alike should welcome this thorough and opinionated work." —Publisher's Weekly   ISBN: 1-930606-00-1 List Price: $16.95 Pub Date: Sept. 2001