''Digger's Harvest'' is a live album by pianist

Alexander von Schlippenbach Alexander von Schlippenbach (born 7 April 1938) is a German jazz pianist and composer. He came to prominence in the 1960s playing free jazz in a trio with saxophonist Evan Parker and drummer Paul Lovens, and as a member of the Globe Unity Orch ...

and drummer

Tony Oxley Tony Oxley (15 June 1938 – 26 December 2023) was an English free improvisation, free improvising drummer and electronic musician. Born in Sheffield, Oxley moved to London in 1966 and became house drummer at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club where he ...

. It was recorded on November 5 and 7, 1998, at the Podewil in Berlin, and was released in 1999 by

FMP/Free Music Production Free Music Production (FMP) is a German record label that specialises in free jazz. Origins FMP originated from the New Artists Guild, which was an informal cooperative of musicians in the mid-1960s. In 1968, The New Artists Guild sponsored the T ...

Reception

In a review for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

, Steve Loewy stated that the album "find both of these marvelous musicians in fine form, the energy level rarely abating," and wrote: "Unobtrusive, yet continuously creative, Oxley is the Max Roach of free jazz. When paired with von Schlippenbach, the results can be -- as they are here -- a successful integration of continuous invention and refined sensibility." The authors of ''

The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings ''The Penguin Guide to Jazz'' is a reference work containing an encyclopedic directory of jazz recordings on CD which were (at the time of publication) currently available in Europe or the United States. The first nine editions were compiled b ...

'' awarded the album a full 4 stars, calling it "a fine record," and commenting: "The titles are drawn from the names of poisonous plants, and there is a sharp and sometimes toxic edge to these improvisations... Oxley is the dominant presence almost throughout... simply because what he plays is more immediately compelling. Yet Schlippenbach is worth listening to with some care as well." Bill Shoemaker of ''

JazzTimes ''JazzTimes'' was an American print magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C., in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store. Coverage After a decade ...

'' described the album as "a timely reminder of Schlippenbach's many achievements and how... econtinues to create compelling music." He remarked: "Given Schlippenbach and Oxley's respective histories... it's odd that they hadn't previously worked as a duo. It proves to be an excellent match, though." Author Todd S. Jenkins noted: "The more European seasoning of Oxley's percussing, moderated by an abstruse understanding of the jazz continuum, pays off in pulling deeper jazziness out of the pianist. The long opening track, 'Grains and Roots', almost exhausts the listener with its endless flow of sonic activity. The series of shorter improvs in various tints of blue and red grants us the second wind to endure the equally long and stimulating title track."

Track listing

All music by Alexander von Schlippenbach and Tony Oxley. # "Grains And Roots" - 27:39 # "Deadly Nightshade" - 6:41 # "Thorn Apple" - 4:05 # "Toad Stool" - 3:24 # "Henbane" - 5:54 # "Flyagaric" - 4:18 # "Digger's Harvest" - 26:27

Personnel

– piano *

– drums

References

{{Authority control 1999 live albums 1999 collaborative albums Alexander von Schlippenbach live albums Tony Oxley live albums FMP Records live albums