Beaming (album)

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Beaming is a studio album by Tony Oxley, released in 2020 by Confront Recordings. It was recorded on November 25, 2019, in Viersen, Germany, and lasts 49 minutes and 45 seconds. The duo features Tony Oxley on electronics and percussionist Stefan Hölker. The project combines Oxley and Hölker’s improvised playing with percussion music Oxley originally recorded in 1972. Derek Bailey described Oxley’s percussion setup as an amplified frame filled with cymbals, wires, kitchen items, motor generators, springs, and a range of effect devices—details reflected in the track titles.

Critical reception was positive. All About Jazz praised the pair for maintaining a subtle pulse while focusing on texture, producing deep, richly detailed soundscapes. Jazz Journal called the performance remarkable, noting how the electronic component is so tightly integrated that the two voices often feel like one. Point of Departure highlighted the enveloping, propulsive sound world and regarded the release as a unique entry in Oxley’s career. The New York City Jazz Record suggested the work emphasizes the interplay between the musicians over conventional drumming, offering a bracing, rough-hewn sonic experience for listeners who enjoy that approach.