Kaoru Abe

[krakow]

I've only ever really known of him as a mythical figure, but just borrowed Volume 9 of the "Solo Live At Gaya" series on DIW from a friend and would really like to explore and think and hear more of Abe.

Any thoughts, recommendations, stories, links?

Thanks.

[Coquille]

The dearly departed Opprobrium magazine!  But someone saved some stuff here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/spin17/kaoru.html

As far as i understood, the fag-end of his career (and the close of the decade) he lost (new?) direction, starts mucking about with other instruments, etc. Which i think you'll hear on the 10xCD set.

Alas, i haven't even heard the last two paltry recordings (and release, likewise paltry).
Apparently, the label responsible is noted for this - i do have one half

[Coquille]

Here's a summary of his best, 1972...

http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/abe.kaoru.html

The  one which i have is "Thursday Evening". One of the improvisations seems to be based
on "Fly Me to The Moon" - the Sinatra standard! 

i found out about Abe after hearing some of Albert Ayler's stuff.

So mythical and pure!

[janitorfrommars]

i'm partial to the series of discs that tokuma put out awhile back, if i recall correctly it was various recordings from a university tour he did in 1971.  the psf discs are all pretty worthwhile (as are everything they did in that "selfportrait" series).

i wouldn't recommending starting with the gaya material, although the idea that they serve as some sort of memorial to the fall of sodom is a bit far-fetched.