Jeremy Webster "Fred" Frith (born 17 February 1949) is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.
Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew. He has collaborated with a number of prominent musicians, including Robert Wyatt, Derek Bailey, the Residents, Lol Coxhill, John Zorn, Brian Eno, Mike Patton, Lars Hollmer, Bill Laswell, Iva Bittová, Jad Fair, Kramer, the ARTE Quartett and Bob Ostertag. He has also composed several long works, including Traffic Continues (1996, performed 1998 by Frith and Ensemble Modern) and Freedom in Fragments (1993, performed 1999 by Rova Saxophone Quartet). Frith produces most of his own music, and has also produced many albums by other musicians, including Curlew, the Muffins, Etron Fou Leloublan and Orthotonics.
Frith is the subject of Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzel's award-winning 1990 documentary film Step Across the Border. He also appears in the Canadian documentary Act of God, which is about the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning. Frith has contributed to a number of music publications, including New Musical Express and Trouser Press, and has conducted improvising workshops across the world. Frith's career spans over four decades and he appears on over 400 albums. He still performs actively throughout the world.
Gravity is a 1980 solo album by English guitarist, composer and improviser Fred Frith from Henry Cow and Art Bears. It was Frith's second solo album and his first since the demise of Henry Cow in 1978. It was originally released in the United States on LP record on The Residents's Ralph record label and was the first of three solo albums Frith made for the label.
Gravity was recorded in Sweden, the United States and Switzerland and featured Frith with Swedish Rock in Opposition group Samla Mammas Manna on one side of the LP, and Frith with United States progressive rock group The Muffins on the other side. Additional musicians included Marc Hollander from Aksak Maboul and Chris Cutler from Henry Cow.
Gravity has been described as an avant-garde "dance" record that draws on rhythm and dance from folk music across the world. AllMusic called it one of the most important experimental guitar titles from Fred Frith.
Background
Fred Frith was a classically-trained violinist who turned to playing blues guitar while at school. In 1967 he went to Cambridge University where he and fellow student, Tim Hodgkinson formed the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith and Hodgkinson remained with the band until its demise in 1978. After the release of Henry Cow's second album in May 1974, Frith recorded his debut solo album, Guitar Solos (1974), which featured unaccompanied and improvised experimental rock music played on prepared guitars by Frith without any overdubbing. Guitar Solos was well received by music critics, and was voted one of the best albums of 1974 by NME.
Podcasts:
Fred Frith
ALBUMS
- Late Works released: 2010
- Nowhere, Sideshow, Thin Air (Music for Dance Volume 6) released: 2009
- The Technology Of Tears released: 2008
- To Sail, To Sail released: 2008
- Back to Life released: 2008
- The Stone: Issue Two released: 2007
- The Sugar Factory released: 2007
- The Happy End Problem released: 2006
- The Compass, Log and Lead released: 2006
- Eleventh Hour (Arditti Quartet / Uwe Dierksen / William Winant) released: 2005
- Allies: Music for Dance, Volume 2 released: 2005
- Eye To Ear II released: 2004
- 50th Birthday Celebration, Volume 5 released: 2004
- Dalaba, Frith, Glick Rieman, Kihlstedt released: 2003
- Tempted to Smile released: 2003
- Soshin released: 2003
- Rivers and Tides { working with time released: 2003
- Accidental: Music for Dance, Volume 3 released: 2003
- Prints released: 2002
- Digital Wildlife released: 2002
- Keep the Dog: That House We Lived In released: 2001
- Clearing released: 2001
- Later ... released: 2000
- Traffic Continues released: 2000
- Friends & Enemies released: 1999
- Meridiem released: 1998
- Pacifica released: 1998
- The Previous Evening released: 1997
- Eye to Ear released: 1997
- Guitar Organism released: 1996
- Middle of the Moment released: 1996
- Nil released: 1995
- Sounds of a Distant Episode released: 1995
- The Art of Memory released: 1994
- Quartets released: 1994
- Guitar Solos released: 1993
- Improvised Music New York 1981 released: 1992
- Nous Autres released: 1992
- Cheap at Half the Price released: 1992
- Step Across the Border released: 1990
- The Top of His Head released: 1989
- The Technology of Tears (and Other Music for Dance and Theatre) released: 1988
- With Enemies Like These, Who Needs Friends? released: 1987
- Voice of America released: 1982
- Speechless released: 1981
- Gravity released: 1980
- Guitar Solos 2 released: 1976
- Stone, Brick, Glass, Wood, Wire (Graphic Scores 1986-96) (Disc 2) released:
- I Dream of You Jumping - With JP Drouet & L Sclavis released:
- Live Improvisations released:
- 2 Gentlemen In Verona released:
Nowhere, Sideshow, Thin Air (Music for Dance Volume 6)
Released 2009- Nowhere to Run
- Nowhere Near
- Nowhere to be Seen
- Nowhere Else
- Nowhere Can Compare
- Getting Nowhere
- Going Nowhere
- Nowhere to Hide
- Sideshow: Clearing the Throat
- Sideshow: Show Time
- Sideshow: On Or in the Wing
- Sideshow: Act Two
- Sideshow: Angels with Thirty Faces
- Sideshow: In Which All May Have Been Resolved
- Sideshow: Ghost of BB
- Sideshow: Ms. Mac Drinks and Goes Home
- Thin Air: Ladders
- Thin Air: Screened
- Thin Air: Plastic
- Thin Air: Running
- Thin Air: Falling
- Thin Air: Fast Feet
Traffic Continues
Released 2000- Inadevertent Introduction
- First Riddle
- Traffic II
- Third Riddle
- Lourdement Gai
- Traffic III / Traffic I
- Freeway / Shadow of a Tree on Sand
- Fragile Finale
- Introduction: Limbo
- Adage A / At Your Earliest Hesitation
- Gyrate / Adage B
- Not If I See You First
- Any Other World
- A Good Top Tongue
- Nose at Nose
- Will Cast Some Light On
- Adage D / Neither Fire Nor Place
- Monkey Lens Diphtong String
- Howdywhoola
- No Convenient Time
- One Never Knows Do One? / Adage Code / Long Fade
Quartets
Released 1994- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 1
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 2
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 3
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 4
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 5
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 6
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 7
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 8
- Lelekovice (for Iva Bittová) String Quartet / 9
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / D
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / B
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / C
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / G
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / H
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / F
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / A
- The as Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not - Electric Guitar Quartet / E
Guitar Solos
Released 1993- Hello Music
- Glass c/w Steel
- Ghosts
- Out of Their Heads (On Locoweed)
- Not Forgotten
- Hollow Music
- Heat c/w Moment
- No Birds
- Only Reflect
- Water / Struggle / The North
- Alienated Industrial Seagulls
- Song of River Nights
- Should Old Arthur
- Dependable Phantoms (for Hans)
- Daria's Regard
- Throw the Bolt
- New Shoes (for A.R.)
- Insomnia
Step Across the Border
Released 1990- Sparrow Song
- Voice of America, Part 3 / Legs
- Selluloid Restaurant / The Old Man Puts Out the Fire
- After Dinner
- Houston Street
- Drum Factory
- Regardless of Rain
- Candy Machine
- Romanisches Café
- The Border
- Nirvana Again
- Scottish Roppongi
- Norrgarden Nyvla
- Birds
- The As Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not, Part 3
- Williamsburg Bridge
- Same Old Me / Williamsburg Bridge (reprise)
- The As Usual Dance Towards the Other Flight to What Is Not, Part 5
- Lost and Found
- Nine by Nine
- Evolution
- Union Square
- Morning Song
- Voice of America, Part 4
- Too Much Too Little
- Too Late
The Top of His Head
Released 1989- Title Theme
- Driving to the Train
- Wheels Within
- Hold on Hold
- Lucy Leaves a Note
- Gus Escapes
- Gravity's a Rule
- Channel Change
- Orbit
- Fall to Call
- Underwater Dream
- This Old Earth
- Donuts
- The Long Drive
- Lucy
- The Premonition
- Questions and Answers
- The Performance
- The Way You Look Tonight-Title Theme (Conclusion)
The Technology of Tears (and Other Music for Dance and Theatre)
Released 1988- Sadness, Its Bones Bleached Behind Us
- You Are What You Eat
- You Are What You Eat (continued)
- The Palace of Laugher, the Technology of Tears
- Jigsaw
- Jigsaw Coda
- Shelter for Them All
- A Deeper Understanding of Conflict
- The Turning of an Hourglass
- Birth of a Rebel
- Your Beautiful Corpse
- The Excellent Hyena
- The Old Man Moves a Mountain
- The Wolf Demon, Part 1
- Meditation Upon Propaganda
- Liberty
- The Relentless Landscape
- The Gaze That Sings
- The Wolf Demon, Part 2
- Rashomon
With Enemies Like These, Who Needs Friends?
Released 1987- The Trace
- Three Languages
- Love in Hell
- Twisted Memories Give Way to the Angry Pheasant
- One of Nature's Mistakes
- Roy Rogers
- It Sings
- Drowsy Maggie
- The Kirghiz Light
- The Golden Eighties
- Objects Everyday
- The Changing of Names
- It Moves...
- One Eyed Theater
- Dog Puppet Born Out of a Sock
- Hard Time Killin' Floor Blues