The late Derek Bailey was one of the most important and influential free-jazz guitarists. However, he ventured far from jazz traditions — his influences are more like Cage or Cowell than Coleman or Coltrane. He uses the guitar more as a sound source and a percussive instrument than the traditional strumming or picking techniques most guitar players employ. If Einstein said “imagination is more important than knowledge,” then Derek Bailey may well have added, “Creativity is more important than technique.”
On Carpal Tunnel, Bailey faced his ultimate challenge: performing with carpal tunnel syndrome. A lot was at stake here; if creativity is truly more important than technique, then human ingenuity should overcome any obstacles. In this album, Bailey attempts to overcome his physical condition with creativity and improvisation.
However, Carpal Tunnel is surprisingly similar to his previous works. Shards of dissonance, scrapes and clangs fill the atmosphere of the record. His efforts are certainly genuine and creative, but the end result is not as coherent as his other albums. While a sympathetic listener may go easy on Bailey, the cold-hearted critic cannot. Still, it is a worthy listen and an inspiration for creativity. Perhaps Bailey’s last influence will be to remind us the potential of our own innovation.
