Si celebra domani presso il Cafe Oto a Londra un ricordo collettivo del compianto Martin Davidson (1942-2023), fondatore a inizio anni Settanta dell'etichetta discografica Emanem e - anche tramite essa - elemento propulsore di primissimo rilievo sulla scena delle musiche di improvvisazione in Gran Bretagna e non solo. L'appuntamento si tiene in orario pomeridiano, con inizio alle 13.30, e vede il sostegno di numerosi musicisti e amici: intervengono Richard Williams, Evan Parker con Matt Wright, Pat Thomas, Hannah Marshall e Mark Sanders riuniti nel progetto Trance Map+, Trevor Watts in duo con Veryan Weston e l'intera London Improvisers Orchestra. Partecipa anche la famiglia di Martin, che desidera informare della cessazione, forse solo momentanea, della distribuzione sul web del catalogo dell'etichetta: "The Emanem web site is no longer accepting new orders. We are doing our best to contact anyone with outstanding orders and either post or refund them. We hope to transfer the CD stock so it is available again, but this will take time to organise. If you knew Martin, or the records and CDs he helped put out, please celebrate his life and love of music. He will be missed greatly."
Ha scritto Martin Schray, accostando la perdita di Davidson a quella di Jost Gebers, di poco precedente: "2023 was a year of great loss for the world of free jazz and free improvised music. Not only have great musicians passed away, but also label operators such as Fmp's Jost Gebers. Martin Davidson also died at the beginning of the month, a man without whom the British improv scene in particular would have been unthinkable. Davidson was responsible for Emanem, one of the most influential labels of the last five decades, which was also the parent label of Evan Parker’s Psi label. Many musicians appreciated Davidson not only for his technical expertise in mastering, but above all for his passion for this music and for his sharp humour. His releases were not only professional, they were a testament to his dedication to the craft and the artists he worked with. The careers of Derek Bailey, Anthony Braxton, the Spontaneous Music Ensemble, Evan Parker or John Russell - especially their reception in Europe - would certainly have been different without him."