Jacques Bisceglia, 1940-2013

Black & White Fantasy

French photographer Jacques Bisceglia passed away on March 1st, 2013. Even if his tool was not a musical instrument, his work is an integral part of the history of the music we love and we feel it is important to pay tribute to him. From the 60's onward, Jacques Bisceglia photographed many moments of jazz making: iconic episodes such as the Pan-African Festival in Algiers or Albert Ayler at the Fondation Maeght, but also many more mundane moments, daily life episodes or concerts now forgotten, moments he captured masterfully.

At the end of Jacques Bisceglia's Black & White Fantasy book, published in 1984 and now out-of-print, Abbey Lincoln wrote "Bisceglia's work speaks for itself, of course." Very much so, this is why we would like to share a few pictures, taken from Black & White Fantasy.

alan silva & françois tusques - paris, 1969

don cherry - paris, 1968

anthony braxton & barbara bisceglia - paris, 1971

 

beb guérin - paris, 1970

june tyson, richard wilkinson, marshall royal, eloe omoe, sun ra - between paris and donaueschingen, 1970

sonny simmons, barbara donald & son - san francisco, 1971

For more information on Jacques Bisceglia's life and his often astute views on the history of the music, see William Parker's essential Conversations book (Rogue Art, 2011). The book features an interview with Bisceglia (the only non-musician) and is illustrated with his work. Rogue Art also published a collaboration between Bisceglia and poet Steve Dalachinsky, titled Reaching Into the Unknown (2009). French speaking readers might want to look for the "Memories of You" series of articles Bisceglia wrote for the Improjazz magazine.

peter gannushkin - peter brötzmann & jacques bisceglia - new york, 2009

 

Barbara Donald and Unity- The past and tommorows 1982(lp CJR1017)

Here's a further contribution from anonymous who brought us 'presenting Burton Greene '..many thanks .
There is unfortunately a lack of information about this online, and since it is unfamiliar I'm loathe to review it in any way.
What i can say though is that Barbara Donald was one of the the most original trumpet voices of her generation, her individual tone to my ears had much more in common with say a Fats Navarro than any of the more renown 'new thing trumpeter's'..

Donald sadly made only 2(to my knowledge) lp's under her own name..i have heard neither ,so thanks anon for the opportunity.
Most of us know her work largely through a sequence of Sonny Simmons lp's(whom she married in the mid 60's)beginning with 1966's 'staying on the watch'.
They remained friends after separating and continued their association performing together frequently in the late 80's and early nineties.
any one interested in more biographical info ,regarding Donald... can find a page devoted to her on Sonny Simmons website..here

http://www.sonnysimmons.org/donald.html

BARBARA DONALD & UNITY - THE PAST AND TOMORROWS
Cadence LP, CJR 1017, 1983

side 1
1. THE PAST AND TOMORROWS 3.45
2. LOVE FOR ERIC 5.45
3. PANNONICA 3.37
4. LET IT RIDE 4.57

side 2
5. BOP-A-LOT 8.43
6. CHILDREN OF THE NILE 9.58
7. CHARLES TOO 4.16

Barbara Donald - tpt
Carter Jefferson - ts
Gary Hammon - ts
Peggy Stern - p
Mike Bissio - b
Irvin Lovilette - d

april 16 & 17, 1982, Northwest Recordings, Seattle