Bassist - Komponist - Produzent etc. Pt. 2

Material is a musical group formed in 1979 and led by bass guitarist Bill Laswell.

...The band then took the name Material, from the Laswell/Cultreri composed instrumental "Materialism" on the About Time album. Their debut recording was 1979's instrumental post-punk industrial funk Temporary Music 1 EP for Gomelsky's Zu Records. The band then signed to Celluloid Records, and the single "Discourse" was issued in 1980.

They were reduced back to the trio of Beinhorn, Laswell and Maher for the 1981 EP Temporary Music 2. Their first full album, Memory Serves, which featured strong jazz leanings, had contributions from guitarists Sonny Sharrock and Henry Cow's Fred Frith, cornetist Olu Dara, saxophonist Henry Threadgill and violinist Billy Bang.

They started working with singers and their music became more melodic and funkier. Their next single "Ciquiri" (included on the American Songs EP) which featured guitarist Robert Quine, became popular in New York City dance clubs. The 1981 "Bustin' Out" single was released as an extended club mix, and they were fronted by singer Nona Hendryx with support from guitarist Ronnie Drayton. This line-up also recorded "It's a Holiday" for a split single with Cristina.

By 1982's One Down, drummer Maher had left the band, and they embraced a multitude of singers including Hendryx, B.J. Nelson, R. Bernard Fowler and Whitney Houston in one of her first lead singer recordings. Houston's vocal was on a cover version of Hugh Hopper's "Memories", which also featured a lead break by saxophonist Archie Shepp. Critic Robert Christgau of the The Village Voice called her contribution "one of the most gorgeous ballads you've ever heard". As an indication of the direction the band headed for, Chic's guitarist Nile Rodgers was involved alongside Frith and Drayton, but perhaps more significantly, was one of the first appearances of longtime Laswell collaborator Nicky Skopelitis...(wiki)



Temporary Music 1980 (256)

Temporary Music


Memory Serves 1981 (192)

Memory Serves


One Down 1982 (256)

One Down


Seven Souls 1989 (320)

Seven Souls


The Third Power 1991 (256)

The Third Power


Live from Soundscape 1991 (256)

Live from Soundscape


Hallucination Engine 1993 (192)

Hallucination Engine


Secret Life **** (201VBR)

Secret Life


The Best Of 2001 (216VBR)

The Best Of Material


Bill Laswell's Material 3CD 2005 (243VBR)

Part 1:
Bill Laswell's Material 3CD
Part 2:
Bill Laswell's Material 3CD
Part 3:
Bill Laswell's Material 3CD