Reports are coming in that percussionist Tony Oxley has died.
News of the free music figure’s passing has been reported by several musicians close to him. Improvisatory musician Mark Wastell was amongst the first to pay his respects this morning – December 26th – with numerous collaborators and friends of Tony Oxley following suit.
A giant in the British free music tradition, Tony Oxley developed a singular vocabulary, eagerly deconstructing expected tropes and motifs to build his own distinctive lexicon. Emerging in the late 60s – the primordial soup of fusion and progressive musics more generally – he recorded alongside John McLaughlin, before embarking on a number of projects with fellow innovator Derek Bailey.
Forming the band Angular Apron in 1974, his lengthy catalogue cover numerous collaborations, including some memorable work alongside American pianist Cecil Taylor.
Devoted to free expression, Tony Oxley co-founded Incus Records in 1970, a label that has become a key platform for improvisatory musics across the country and beyond.
The news has sparked a number of tributes online:
RIP the incredible Tony Oxley. I was at this show at the Festival Hall in 2004 which opened with a dramatic 15 minute drum solo from Oxley, replete with his idiosyncratic cowbell scraping. Bill Dixon and Cecil Taylor joined him for some wild improvisations https://t.co/E7B8WMrvIV pic.twitter.com/Rdob45BOoc
— wrongtom (@TheWrongtom) December 26, 2023
RIP Tony Oxley, one of the alltime greats. pic.twitter.com/JitY2GatfX
mdash; jon abbey (@erstrecs) December 26, 2023
Rest in peace to Tony Oxley 馃枻
— Kehinde 馃嚦馃嚞 (@kalonge93) December 26, 2023
Here he is with Derek Bailey at the Knitting Factory (1995)https://t.co/8gbZVcXfvs pic.twitter.com/ykYlRvg9Dc
waking up to the news that Tony Oxley has passed. one of the greatest masters of percussion to ever live. I was lucky enough to see two nights of duos of Oxley with Cecil Taylor many years ago, formative music experiences for me. the rarest mix of creativity and virtuosity. RIP馃枻 pic.twitter.com/MeDH3mM7AC
— Geoff Wilt (@geoffwilt) December 26, 2023
Photo via Wiki
