The Blackbird's Whistle

Eddie Prévost Trio

1 Twirls Of Modulation 16:10
2 A Bridge Thrown Over An Abyss 11:04
3 Gripped By Anguish 14:31
4 A Conversation Without Head Or Tail 13:46
5 The Blackbird's Whistle 11:21

"After having listened carefully to the whistle of the blackbird, he tries to repeat it as faithfully as he can. A puzzled silence follows, as if his message required careful examination; then an identical whistles re-echoes. Mr Palomar does not know if this is a reply to his, or the proof that his whistle is so different that the blackbirds are not the least disturbed by it and resume their dialogue as if nothing had happened. They go on whistling, questioning in their puzzlement, he and the blackbirds.” - Mr Palomar (Italo Calvino)

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Tom Chant / tenor saxophone, bass clarinet

John Edwards / double bass

Eddie Prévost / drums

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Tracklisting:

1. twirls of modulation - 16:10

2. a bridge thrown over the abyss - 11:04

3. gripped by anguish - 14:31

4. a converation without head or tail? - 13:46

5. the blackbird's whistle - 11:21

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Recorded at Gateway Studios, Kingston-upon-Thames, London by Steve Lowe on October 17th 2003. 

Eddie Prévost

A founder-member of AMM (1965-2022)

[Eddie Prévost’s] is one of the greatest metallurgists that music has produced. […] sparks delicately arcing through the air, of slow lava ingesting its surroundings, of the shifting grind of tectonic plates across each other, of the rustle and glint of a firebird darting between shadows, and of ore smashing into the surface of the earth; but perhaps this language is overwrought: all that needs to be remarked upon is Prévost's industry, his diligence.”
Nathan Moore — liner note to AMM’s ‘Indúsria’
Matchless Recordings mrcd105.

But beyond this work Prévost has also maintained a relationship with the jazz drum-kit.

“His free drumming flows superbly making perfect use of his formidable technique, but his most startling feature is his stylelessness. It’s as though there has never been an Elvin Jones or a Max Roach.” - review of a set with saxophonist Lou Gare, Melody Maker (27.03.1975)

“Prévost, meanwhile, was simply miraculous; it was fascinating to watch him and to compare his approach with that of a Kern or a Nilssen-Love. I can only say that he was possessed of an uncanny, burning intentness that navigated the ensemble through passages of stark, sculpted beauty, grave concentration and full-on, bristling energy.”
Blue Tomato, Vienna 2012. In concert with Marilyn Crispell and Harrison Smith. Richard Rees-Jones

“An excellent release from one of the finest percussionists around, jazz or otherwise.” review of Prévost’s solo CD ‘Collider’
Matchless Recordings mrcd106 – Brian Olewnic, Squidsear (2022).

“Relentlessly innovative yet full of swing and fire.” – Morning Star

John Edwards

John Edwards is a true virtuoso whose staggering range of techniques and boundless musical imagination have redefined the possibility of the double bass and dramatically expanded its role, whether playing solo or with others. Perpetually in demand, he has played with Evan Parker, Sunny Murray, Derek Bailey, Joe McPhee, Lol Coxhill, Peter Brötzmann, Mulatu Astatke and many others.

"I think John Edwards is absolutely remarkable: there’s never been anything like him before, anywhere in jazz." - Richard Williams, The Blue Moment

Tom Chant

Currently active groups include the Cinematic Orchestra, the Eddie Prévost Trio, Sucette - a computer music duo with Ben Drew, Marseille Figs - a country, pop, free-jazz racket and the London Improvisers Orchestra of which he appears on four albums - "Proceedings," "The Hearing Continues," "freedom of the city 2002" and “Responses, Reproduction & Reality.”

Throughout his career Tom has also promoted various clubs. The first was the Lobster Club run with artist and designer friends, which ran intermittently for many years from the early 1990's in South London and also produced a magazine called Half-Baked. The second was Loop - a film and music event, run with Jason Swinscoe from the Cinematic Orchestra and Ben Drew, and lastly, Audit - an electronic and improvised music club run with Ben Drew.

Tom has been a director of the London Musicians Collective, a piano and saxophone teacher, and sometimes writes music.