Company (free improvisation group)


Company was a collection of free improvising musicians. The concept was devised by guitarist Derek Bailey, in order to create challenging and artistically stimulating combinations of players, who might not otherwise have had an opportunity to work together. As a way of formalising his interest in collaborations, rather than committing to playing with specific groups, Bailey started calling any groupings he played with 'Company'.
Company included a wide variety of jazz, avant-garde and modern classical musicians during its existence, including Evan Parker, Anthony Braxton, Tristan Honsinger, Misha Mengelberg, Lol Coxhill, Fred Frith, Steve Beresford, Steve Lacy, Lee Konitz, Jamie Muir, Johnny Dyani, Wadada Leo Smith, Han Bennink, Eugene Chadbourne, Henry Kaiser, John Zorn, Buckethead, and Georgie Born. "Company Weeks", annual week-long free improvisational festivals organised by Bailey, ran from 1977 until 1994.

Discography