Can you tell us about your new album?
David: I was trying to rekindle my early interest in free jazz. Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Pharoah Sanders, Elton Dean, Gary Windo and Evan Parker were seminal influences. I had recently enjoyed playing at Orphy Robinson’s and Cleveland Watkiss’ improvising events at London’s Vortex and I met Ollie on a local jazz gig and he invited me to his occasional improvising get togethers. We subsequently decided to explore an improvised duo and met weekly at my studio.
The approach was to find the seed of an idea, thought, mood, groove in an instant and go with it and just see where it went. Jon Griffiths did a great job compiling and programming what resulted.
What other projects are you currently involved with?
David: I enjoy playing with the musicians based around The Tabernacle on Powis Square, in Notting Hill. It’s a privilege to be involved with Trinidad’s musical heritage right here in London.
I also have a local project, a quartet exploring repertoire and various grooves from the 1920s to the 2020s, The Harlesden Jazz Serenaders. Maurice Brown is on guitar; he deserves wider recognition.
It’s been great playing again recently with Bosco de Oliveira as he has been visiting the UK. We share a lot of ‘music miles’, that golden era of Brazilian Jazz, with Andy Lafone on bass and Babo Moreno on kit.
Ollie: I’ve recently recorded with guitarist Ross Lardner for a new record he’s working on, with a funky edge. The tracks are currently being mixed so we hope to release this music very soon.
I’m also in a Jeff Beck tribute band with guitarist Guy D’Angelo and bassist Rob Statham.
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
David: ‘Music from Ethiopia’, a compilation of field recordings from all over the region made by Jean Jenkins in the 1970s, originally released on Tangent.
And a vinyl compilation on a Saga Records (remember them? Kensal Rd W10) sub-label Society, of bootleg recordings of jam sessions at Monroe’s in 1941, titled ‘The Great Dizzy Gillespie’. A mixture of late swing and early bop players (e.g. Dizzy, Charlie Christian). It’s great to be ‘in the room’ with these artists, the musical thought is wonderful. I especially love Don Byas on “Stardust”.
Ollie: ‘Miles in Europe’ with the great Tony Williams on drums and a live quartet record by John Scofield that has Bill Stewart on drums.
What is your all-time favourite album and why?
David: I don’t have one!
Ollie: I love John Scofield’s earlier record ‘Time on My Hands’, with Jack DeJohnette and Michael Brecker’s ‘Tales from the Hudson’.
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
David: I recently enjoyed a performance by Ensemble Resonanz, a collective of classical musicians based, l think, in Berlin. Their sense of cohesion, trust, freedom, reactivity and energy, in a recent Mozart program was a joy.
Ollie: A guitarist based in New York called OZ Noy, who has a unique sound and always has great players working with him. Can’t wait to hear his new straight ahead record on Criss Cross.
Harlesden Session by David Bitelli & Ollie Usiskin is available from Bandcamp
Click here to read our review of the album
For more information visit myonlydesirerecords.com/slam/
