Derek Bailey
 

He was an Avant-Garde guitarist and a leader in the free improv movement. I think he's influenced people like David Grubbs (can't honestly think of another example) but, comparing David Grubbs' experimental stuff on the acoustic it's rather obvious he was. I've only been able to find "Improvisation", so if anyone has any of his albums... then would you please?

I discovered Derek Bailey a month or two back.
Be warned though. Very Avant Garde.

Symbols and Sounds: Derek Bailey - Solo Guitar Volume 1

I discovered this guy a while ago and I failed to really "get" his music. I knew I would come to like it if I really tried and gave his music a good listen, but I never had the patience. I think I'm going to try again though. When I found out about this guy, I wasn't into stuff like John Zorn and Sun Ra.

Gastr Del Sol was my bridge to Bailey's music, tough stuff to digest when you are new to avant-garde I guess.

if you like Bailey, check out one of his discliples: Joke? Harmonica and the Avant Garde of sussex County.. search either... myspace.com/jokeharmonica

Mr. Bailey is quite the interesting chap.

I think maybe he is sort of a gateway drug to europian free improvized music, like Coleman is to free jazz. Very interesting artist, he also has some really good books written about improv itself. For me it's interresting comparing his usual stuff with his last album Carpal tunnel (since he has Carpal tunnel syndrome in his late years..) Still sounds amasing

I'm a fan of some of his work with Evan Parker.

Some days, Derek Bailey is just what I need to listen to... but those days are few and far between.