RIP Derek Bailey

i can't say i've ever engaged properly with the man's music, i get the sense it's not really my cup of tea, but the interviews definitely gave the impression that he was a bit of a diamond geezer. and i cherish the mental image of him in his flat jamming along to the raggamentalist frenzy of the East London jungle pirates circa 94/95. a pity the improv-meets-D&B cd he ended up releasing wasn't more rhythmically jagged and bass-thunderous. He should have gone straight to Hype or Marvellous Cain, one of those guys. Or just put out a cd of him improvising over his favourite pirate tape. But as I say, a lovely image, and testament to his free spirit and open mind.