‘Bazmatronics’ Musician - Composer - Improviser.
All titles, some given, some chosen.
I like to think the order I present my subheading ‘musician, composer & improviser’ is the order of my focus in which my efforts are made. This is not true. When one dives into the meaning or definition and practices of each, there is a symbiotic nature that combines all three. Yet, there is a clear difference when one presents the title alone with the name. Bach the improviser and Bach the composer are two topics of interest that would result in a different conversation.
But this blog post is not about my professional titles, it’s about my name or names, some given, some chosen.
As you have probably gathered already, Bazmatronics was not my birth given name. Yes, my parents were a bit a far out when it come to the norms of society in 80’s, but they managed to hold a little bit of tradition when it comes to naming their only child. No awards were given in the fields of creative thinking when the decision was made to name me after my father. If you don’t know already, my name and fathers name is Barry. Although there are some big-wigs out there in the creative industry; Barry Guy, Barry White, Barry Manilow, Barry Gibb, the name Barry has that slight ring of someone from the building industry. The industry I promised myself I would never make any efforts to follow. To add to the rather mundane forename, I have the surname Edwards. Again, it kind of feels a bit bland and lacking that stage name feel.
This might all seem a bit vain, especially when I’m reading it back to myself, but as I mentioned, names, titles, subheadings and professions can lead to varying conversions and understandings when combined and presented for topic.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Can you please welcome to the stage, for one night only…Barry the builder!"
I think I have a point here!
Anyway, this brings me to a name given. One I have held onto for some time now. A name that definitely has more of a creative ring to it, if not something that can be a good conversational starter. I can’t take credit for it, I would also feel a bit embarrassed explaining that my name is boring so I decided to call myself…
Bazmatroncis…an endearing title that my touter at the Birmingham Conservatoire, Fred Thelonious Baker decided to call me on a daily basis. He also gave many of the other students a unique name of their own. Some very entertaining and some that probably wouldn’t work in today’s culture. I’ll leave it at that rather than have this post taken down!
I never really thought where the name might have come from until much later when Ian Mann, a U.K Jazz Reviewer wrote the following…
His solo guitar performances incorporate the extensive use of electronics, which Edwards dubs ‘Bazmatronics’, presumably as a homage to King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp and his ‘Frippertronics’. - The Jazz Mann Review (Read the full review HERE)
My god! That would make absolute sense, except I didn’t name myself, Fred did that! And considering some of Fred’s influences and musical style, the pieces slot together!
I can’t say I am massively influenced by Robert Fripp although I do like his music. For me the name Bazmatronics has a sole use here. When I play music, compose or improvise, I am separated from all other activities in my life. The process can be slightly abstract and hard to pin down. It feels like Bazmatronics, at least to me, is not name but THAT process.
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