Kaoru Abe

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I'm wondering if there are any videos out there of Kaoru Abe besides what's on youtube? He's my favourite saxophonist of all time.
Also would like to know what you guys think of his style.

Thanks
Paddy

Abe nice day

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Yes, Mr. Abe is a force to be reckoned with, shame he left us so early or we might have heard more from him. Can't help with videos I'm afraid. But it would be interesting to hear some others' thoughts on his style. Personally I always wonder what he would have sounded like on tenor, as it often sounds to me that he's reaching for that kind of power that a tenor can give you, but isn't finding it in his alto, giving him that kind of 'bottomed-out' alto tone you sometimes hear in quite a few free alto players. But what do I know, he was probably perfectly happy doing what he was doing. After all the alto probably gave him the speed which he so famously declared he wanted.

Kaoru Abe

He sure played (and lived) hard. I love his bass clarinet playing just as much as his alto if not more.
Even if there's no more videos out there, I'd love to know more about his playing. If slowed down would those notes be comparable to jazz scales/licks? How does his choice of notes compare to other free jazz players?

There are no videos

There are no videos available, if that's what you mean. With the recent slew of releases from Takayanagi, it'd be nice to see Abe get a DVD or two released as well.

I've found some videos

there is something on youtube.
For instance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFvVKhcyBdQ
Just type Kaoru Abe and a few videos will appear...

Anyway - thank you for posting about this musician, I'd never heard him before.

Regards
marco

Otomo Yoshihide mentioned on

Otomo Yoshihide mentioned on a website that he saw a video (full length by the sounds of it) of Abe playing live in Tokyo.
I wonder if this or anything similar will ever be released. Hopefully Improvised Music From Japan will sort something out in the future.
The sooner the better.

For anyone interested there

For anyone interested there are some new Kaoru Abe videos (sopranino and alto) on youtube. Also some great Bass Clarinet tune with a photo as video. Maybe its just me who's obsessed!