Pianist Steve Beresford pays tribute to Tony Oxley, who died on 26 December 2023 on the age of 85.

All of the sensible drummers I’ve labored with have a particular method of speaking in relation to Tony Oxley. I feel it’s a kind of reverence: to his method, his creativity and his observe file. Perhaps additionally it was his skill to maneuver so adroitly between the worlds of Time and No Time and play with such depth and originality in each. 

There’s been lots of on-line chat occurring since he handed. I ventured a nerdy suggestion that Oxley was the one drummer to have performed with each Invoice Evans and Cecil Taylor. (Predictably, I used to be flawed. There was additionally Elvin Jones). Two pianists enjoying such totally different music. However Oxley was solely with Evans for a short time, and little or no was recorded. While his relationship with Taylor lasted for years, and was properly documented. 

Even on a comparatively odd equipment, Oxley had an immediately recognisable sound . The best way he divided the beat left me thrilled however misplaced.  His prolonged equipment – for his work in free improvisation – included an infinite cowbell, which drew jokes concerning the dimension of the cow.  It was recurrently hit &/or scraped. He actually did sound like no-one else. The electronics a part of the equipment remained after the equipment was put apart and have become central in his late recordings. A few of them had been issued on Mark Wastell’s Confront label. 

I heard three consecutive evenings of him with Cecil Taylor and bassist William Parker on the Jazz Cafe. Going to each night time appeared like an appropriately intense factor to do. On day three they had been joined by guitarist Derek Bailey. It was overwhelming. The physicality of the music, the limitless inventiveness and the density all gripped me. And everybody appeared fully sure of what they had been doing. 

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John McLaughlin’s  ‘Extrapolation’, from 1969, on Marmalade, was with Oxley, John Surman and Brian Odgers. At the moment I had heard no European drummer who obtained close to to what was occurring within the USA with gamers like Tony Williams and Milford Graves. Oxley appeared like he knew all that stuff and much more. The tunes had been usually in uncommon time signatures, and McLaughlin appeared to have reconstructed the best way a guitar was performed, while nonetheless enjoying time and chord sequences.  

One other is the duo of Oxley and Cecil Taylor from 2002, issued fairly not too long ago on Discus as ‘….convey astral and all registers – energy of two…’ with a number of of Oxley’s vibrant and vibrant work on the sleeve. The interaction is each transferring and endlessly absorbing. Two individuals who know what they’re doing, however at all times discover new issues to do. 

I additionally beloved ‘The Baptised Traveller Traveller’ on a CBS in 1969, in that tiny second when a giant file firm confirmed some curiosity in new music. Kenny Wheeler, Evan Parker, Derek Bailey and Jeff Clyne. Truly it was written items adopted by free improvisations. 

There’s a sluggish, gripping modal piece on that LP by Charlie Mariano referred to as  ‘Stone Backyard’. It’s is an ideal tune to hearken to and ponder the work of Tony Oxley. 

Tony Oxley, born Sheffield, 15 June 1938. Died Viersen, Northern Germany, 26 December 2023.