Stuart Dempster
In the Great Abbey of Clement VI
New Albion (US) 1987
NA 013 (LP)
sleeve : NM-
media : EX-/EX-(some slightly noise. the middle part on side A has some click noise caused by very small scratch.)
An album released in 1979 by American trombonist and improviser Stuart Dempster, known for his extensive collaborations with composer Pauline Oliveros, including his involvement in Deep Listening. This is the 1987 reissue from New Albion, a label renowned for releasing many contemporary music masterpieces. The recording took place in the Palace of the Popes in Avignon, France—a 12th-century stone structure. Side A features a solo trombone performance, while Side B consists of a piece played using PVC pipes, commonly used in sound sculptures and handmade instruments. Both sides are long-form improvisations (over 20 minutes on Side A and over 17 minutes on Side B), utilizing the resonant acoustics of the stone architecture to create a meditative sonic space. The development and overtone generation in the second half of Side A, in particular, are astounding. Highly recommended.