Born: June 15, 1938, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Active: '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, 2000s
Genres: Jazz
Instrument: Drums
Representative Albums: "Celebrated Blazons," "Tomorrow Is Here," "Live in Berlin (1985)"
Biography
One of the founders of jazz-based free improvisation in the U.K., from 1963-1966 Oxley was one-third of Joseph Holbrooke, a pioneering group based in Sheffield that also included guitarist Derek Bailey and (then) bassist (later composer) Gavin Bryars. The group started out as a relatively conventional jazz outfit, but by 1965 it had begun playing totally improvised pieces. The group's relative isolation from other currents in British free music -- drummer John Stevens' London-based Spontaneous Music Ensemble was a contemporary -- purportedly helped the band develop a unique approach. After the members of the band moved to London in 1967, Oxley became house drummer at Ronnie Scott's, a famous mainstream jazz club. He also continued working in experimental contexts. After winning a reader's poll in the magazine Melody Maker, Oxley was given the chance to record as a leader. His first album was The Baptised Traveler (1969); the record reflected Oxley's steadfast interest in free improv. In 1971, with Bailey and saxophonist Evan Parker, Oxley established Incus Records, which became England's premier free jazz/improv label. Oxley also worked with the London Jazz Composer's Orchestra. In the mid-'70s, he formed SOH, a trio with the saxophonist Alan Skidmore and bassist Ali Haurand; the group lasted until 1984. Over the last quarter century, Oxley has performed with many, if not most, of free jazz's leading figures. Of particular note is his work with the Feel Trio, a venture with pianist Cecil Taylor and bassist William Parker, lasting intermittently from 1988-1991. In the '90s, Oxley led and recorded with the Celebration Orchestra. He continued to play and record with a number of European new music stalwarts, including saxophonist John Surman and trumpeter Tomasz Stanko for the ECM label. In the late '90s, Oxley began playing in duo again with Bailey, renewing a partnership that exerted so much influence on the course of British experimental music. The live Triangular Screen, drawn from two different concerts, appeared from Sofa Records in 2000. Floating Phantoms arrived in 2002. Advocate, which paired Oxley with guitarist Derek Bailey, came out on John Zorn's Tzadik Records in 2007. Oxley is also an accomplished painter working in an abstract-figurative vein. ~ Chris Kelsey, All Music Guide
In 1969 Oxley appeared on the recording of the later released John McLaughlin album Extrapolation and also formed his own quintet consisting of Derek Bailey, Jeff Clyne, Evan Parker and Kenny Wheeler, releasing the album Baptized Traveller. Following this album the group was joined by Paul Rutherford on trombone and became a sextet, releasing the 1970 album 4 Compositions for Sextet.[1] That same year Oxley helped found Incus Records along with Derek Bailey and others and also the Musicians Cooperative. He also received a three month "artist-in-residence" at the Sydney Conservatorium in Australia in 1970.[3] Around this time he joined the London Jazz Composers Orchestra and also got involved with collaborations with Howard Riley. In 1973 he became an instructor in jazz at the Barry Summer School located in Wales, and in 1974 he formed another group of his own known as Angular Apron. Through the 1980s he worked with various musicians, including Tony Coe and Didier Levallet, also forming his own Celebration Orchestra during the latter half of that decade. Oxley also did extensive touring with Anthony Braxton in 1989, and also began a long lasting working relationship with Cecil Taylor during this period.[1]
