What are you listening to?

[mats]

Hey aj, have you heard the new Charles Tolliver big band record?

[isaacs]

Chick Corea "Time Warp"

Remarkable 1995 quartet album with Chick, Bob Berg, John Pattituci (acoustic) and Gary Novak.

Playing is brilliant but Chick's compositions are absolutely fascinating. Remarkable degree of through-composition in a way that follows on from his earlier "Three Quartets" album with Brecker, Gomez and Gadd (both Berg and Brecker now dead). Most extended writing in jazz seems to take place in large ensemble projects; "Time Warp' and "Three Quartets" to me are outstanding and quite singular examples of an approach that involves actually scoring much of the music for a quartet.

I immerse myself in the imagination and creativity involved in all this when brought together by a master like Chick, although I know of certain musicians and commentators for whom the kind of virtuosic fusion-esque approach of drummers like Gadd and Novak qualifies the music for instant dismissal. I find this a kind of musical equivalent of racism, in that the music is judged on the basis of its superficial complexion rather than its inherent content.

Just for the hell of it I spent much of the last couple of days transcribing and writing a short analytic paper on the complex polyrhythms used in one of Time Warp's melodies (which involve - among other things - superimposing 15-beat cycles on 9-beat cycles). If anyone is interested I'll email it.

[aj]

mats said:

Hey aj, have you heard the new Charles Tolliver big band record?

Not yet ; but I'm expecting it to be good !

[alimcg]

I immerse myself in the imagination and creativity involved in all this when brought together by a master like Chick, although I know of certain musicians and commentators for whom the kind of virtuosic fusion-esque approach of drummers like Gadd and Novak qualifies the music for instant dismissal. I find this a kind of musical equivalent of racism, in that the music is judged on the basis of its superficial complexion rather than its inherent content.

I know what you mean Mark, but I'd like to quickly take umbrage at you lumping Gadd and Novak together before I get over it.

Generally I think Gadd has an imaginative and "melodic" approach, even when it does appear fusion-esque, but this is something the guys further down the line like Novak, Weckl, etc, never really get across. I haven't heard the album in question, but take for example Gadd's playing on some earlier Corea albums like Friends or My Spanish Heart, and you can really hear Gadd playing the tune, and playing with (dare I say it) subtlety. This is something I don't hear in say, Novak's playing in the Elektric band or Weckl's playing in the Akoustic band. I hear their playing too often says "look at me", even when they're trying subtlety. Gadd always sounds like he's on the same wave-length as Chick - take for example their "duet" on Lenore (from The Leprechaun).

I have no problem with "fusion" (what a dreadful term), but like everything else it's got to be done well. I do however have a problem with excessive splash cymbals.

[isaacs]

alimcg said:

I know what you mean Mark, but I'd like to quickly take umbrage at you lumping Gadd and Novak together before I get over it.

Thanks for responding.

Mentioning Gadd and Novak in the same breath doesn't mean I was implying that they have made directly comparable contributions to the music or have the same artistic abilities. What remains true is that I have heard them dismissed for the same broad brush kinds of reasons, and that's the only sense in which I was lumping them together.

Having said that, I do think Novak is remarkable and since you cite his playing in the Elektric Band less than favourably I'd say that that particular project is maybe not the ideal vehicle to display the most inventive, subtle side of his playing. Apart from "Time Warp" I'd cite his work on Alan Holdsworth's album "The Sixteen Men of Tain", especially the amazing free improv guitar/drums duet "The Drums Were Yellow", dedicated to Tony Williams. If you checked those two albums out, it is possible Novak would go up in your estimation. On the other hand, maybe not

[bodgey]

Hey Mark and AliMcG,

Interesting thread - I must say I've never really checked Chick out as I have been thoroughly turned off by most of his recent (last ten years) work. 'Tap Step', 'Return To Forever' and some other older albums have caught my attention though and I would appreciate hearing what you guys recommend CD-wise.

As for Gadd - when I was in China last year playing a residency, the club owner played this one DVD over and over each night - it was a dreadful Japanese diva singing standards that somehow had acquired the cashola to hire Gadd to play the show. It was worth enduring her catawauling to hear how Gadd turned an awful situation into something interesting. His groove and melodicisim is first class....AND he wore a brown vest. 10 points.

AliMcG - am currently in Vienna and will be back in Slowbart tues night - looking forward to a blow very soon.

[isaacs]

bodgey said:

I must say I've never really checked Chick out as I have been thoroughly turned off by most of his recent (last ten years) work. 'Tap Step', 'Return To Forever' and some other older albums have caught my attention though and I would appreciate hearing what you guys recommend CD-wise

Now He Sings, Now He Sobs (w/ Miroslav Vitous & Roy Haynes)
Any/most of the Return to Forever stuff (esp. Mad Hatter, The Leprechaun, My Spanish Heart)
Three Quartets (w/Brecker, Gadd, Gomez)
Time Warp
Trio Music (on ECM, revamping of Now He Sings trio to do Monk tunes and free improv)
Trio Music Live in Europe (ECM)
Expressions (solo piano standards)
Origin - Live at the Blue Note (sextet)
Play (w/ Bobby McFerrin)
Rendezvous in New York
Remembering Bud Powell
Akoustic Band
Septet (ECM, Music for String Quartet, Piano, Flute & French Horn)
Solo Piano - Standards
Solo Piano - Originals
Childrens Songs (ECM)

see www.chickcorea.com/discography.php

[alimcg]

I went through my Chick Corea albums a few weeks ago in my quest, and one thing that struck me was that his earlier stuff seemed to be a lot more fun and, by his standards, reckless. I don't know how much of that was to do with him and how much was to do with the rest of the band. I guess it would be pretty hard to play overly serious or melancholy music with Airto in the band. Generally I prefer his rhodes playing to his piano - I find his piano sound is a little too... I don't know... precise maybe. It's like he takes himself more seriously when he's playing piano. I can't stand his later (80s mainly) records that use a lot of synth, so I won't comment on that.

[alimcg]

Still going. Finished Art Blakey yesterday, then had some Louis Bellson. Now having some Beethoven. Coming up - Count Basie.

One of my Louis Bellson albums is a slightly dodgy CD I bought for $2 at a clearance sale. It was recorded in 1978, and has some 70's influences, but the best thing (other than excessive ago-go playing by the percussionist) is that every time Louis solos, no matter the context, he solos like it's still the swing era.

[Kenny]

Dizzy Gillespie - The Complete RCA Victor Recordings

Various artists - Griddle Greasin' Daddies And Dirty Cowboys. Kenny lurves country smut! Yes!

Various artists - Mountain Music Of Kentucky

Grateful Dead - Dick's Picks 3

Charles Tolliver Big band - With Love

[vickibonet]

Soundtrack to Spongebob Squarepants. Some interesting stuff there.

[punter]

ish ish in vickib's driveway live...
what a fucking beautiful band

[vickibonet]

Hey! Who are you Punter? Were you here today?

The performance was a total surprise and a gift! I have no idea how that was pulled off, you clever, clever people. Thank you all so much!

An overwhelming experience to have those amazing musicians just turn up and play some of my favourite tunes under my balcony. Thank you Universe a very special day for me.

[captain]

I've got a DVD of Bellson with Duke, great shit. I love how virtuosic those swing era drummers were, there seems to be a real respect for traditional drumming fundamentals - like marching band and snare work, y'know. He's also just so strong and positive, that bouncy fast big chops playing like Krupa, Rich et al. I think 'bombastic' is the word I'm looking for.

[vickibonet]

Peter Knight's CD All the Gravitation of Silence.

I'm really enjoying this recording on Jazzhead. Some of my favourite musicians on it helps I suppose. Peter is sounding stronger than ever on this recording. Some of the compositions are particularly beautiful. It's wonderful to watch our home grown artists grow stronger and Peter has certainly done that! Another special recording; well done to the team who made it happen.

A trillion stars! (They're in the sky above our heads.)