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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZPEACOCK, Annette(b 8 Jan. '41, New York) Vocalist and composer who moved from jazz to jazz/rock fusion to free form, always from a position of feminist integrity. Eloped with bassist Gary Peacock at 19 to NYC; JCOA first performed her compositions; she met Paul Bley, succeeded Carla Bley as his chief composer: his trio album Ballads '67 on ECM used her themes entirely and helped set the style of the new label. He has recorded about 35 of her songs, and they were among the first to use the synthesizer, in concert with Han Bennink and others (Bley LPs Improvise on America, Dual Unity on Freedom '71); she also invented a way to sing through the synth. Her own first LP Revenge '72 on Polydor incl. Bley, Gary, Barry Altschul; I'm The One '72 on RCA was reissued '86; X Dreams '78 on Aura has jazz-rock jams incl. Bill Bruford (she sessioned on Bruford's Feels Good To Me same year); funky The Perfect Release '79 was made with members of a Jeff Beck band; her '78- -9 albums incl. socio-sexual rap, both style and content again ahead of their time (the last two reissued '97 on See For Miles in the UK). Live In Paris '81 and The Collection '82 were also on Aura. Sky-skating '82 was the first LP for her own Ironic label, live concert recordings on which she played all the instruments (acoustic, electric, synth, percussion) in material about sensuality, exploring the danger but not the anger, her free-form accessible and sympathetic. Studio set I Have No Feelings '86 was musically similar; Abstract Contract came out '88; Been In The Streets Too Long '83 compiled improvisations from '74--83 in a variety of settings. She once turned down a contract with United Artists, later chances to tour and/or record with David Bowie, Brian Eno; insists on control over her own work. Her band called I Belong to a World that's Destroying Itself '87 toured Europe incl. 18-year-old daughter Solo; Annette performed with Karlheinz Stockhausen. Nothing Ever Was, Anyway (ECM '97) featured Marilyn Crispell, Gary Peacock and Paul Motian playing her music. |