Matthew Shipp Trio in Basel 1998

Correction (12/22/2011): The date of this concert has been established as march 26th (Thanks, Hubi!).

Since 1984 the Taktlos Festival has been presenting “improvised and contemporary music” in several swiss cities, mostly offering formations from the european impro-music scene.  And from time to time they have groups in the program that could be defined as representatives of the Great Black Music continuum. One of the most impressive performances that I saw in this regard was the apperance of the Matthew Shipp Trio  featuring William Parker and Susie Ibarra in March 1998, a performance that kept me sitting on the edge of my chair. Luckily my friend Otto as always had a camera with him …

Horace Tapscott / Roberto Miranda: If You Could See Me Now

In Otto Flückiger’s archives I found footage that contains parts of a duo concert by Los Angeles pianist and communal organizer Horace Tapscott and bassist Roberto Miranda. Here we have them playing Tadd Dameron’s “If You Could See Me Now”. It was filmed at the Konzertsaal of the Altes Rathaus in Weil am Rhein (southwestern germany, Basle is just across the border to switzerland) on march 21, 1998. Tapscott passed almost a year later, on february 27, 1999. I was also at that concert and remember it very well. The clip starts about 80 seconds into the tune, and in the middle I edited out a part where I am making funny faces at the camera. Enjoy!