Medienspiegel
8
The State of the Art
Posted on
July 29, 2014
I have been in Langnau, Switzerland this past week. A dreamy little village in the
mountains that makes one think of “The Sound Of Music.” (Yes, I know that was
Austria!)
My trio played earlier in the week and it was beautiful. I’m so proud to present
this trio with Ari Hoenig and Johannes Weidenmueller. We have been together a
long time and have our own sound, our own language. More than any of my
other groups, this one is my voice.
They left the day after our concert and I’ve stayed on to teach. I go home on
tomorrow. (Ju;ly 27th)
But this is also a marvelous jazz festival besides a masterclass week. I have heard
some amazing music.
A lot if it!
And amazing, inspiring pianists. Aaron Goldberg with Josh Redman, Gary
Versace with Ralph Alessi, Craig Taborn with Dave Holland, and Danny Grissett
with Tom Harrel’s band. And Jason Lindner’s trio.
First, just dealing with the pianists, it’s really a golden time for great jazz pianists
roaming the earth. There is a lot who are simply on a new level. It took perhaps
60 years but the music has moved on. And I have to say, a lot of it has moved
towards the light. I find the wisdom is matching the virtuosity. Every one of these
pianists displayed such control, such restraint, and when the music was ready,
such fire. But only because the music called for it at that moment.
And the bands I mentioned were all developed to such an incredibly high level.
The music was so clear that I could hear the same music as precisely written
modern orchestra pieces. Many jazz musicians are now evolving to that level.
They, we, just have to learn orchestration on the same level.
I have to add Danilo Perez in this group, although I saw his group in La Spezia,
Italy. Same feeling, they played together and the written material could have
been ground breaking orchestra pieces.
The evolution of these artist’s improvisation has now risen, en mass, to the
epiphany I had back in the 90’s while on spiritual retreat in my beloved Shree
Muktananda Ashram. “Scrolls of music paper unfurling from the sky.
Composition as yet unwritten.” Perfect composition from beginning to end
although most of it is improvised.
Dave Hollands group carried me into an altered state. And Dave is a musician
and person of exemplarily inner and outer consciousness and discipline. He’s
become the present and future once again with his wonderful band. Eric Harland
on drums besides Craig and Kevin Eubanks on guitar. Kevin…all I can say is what
inspiration he embodies.
This was the first time I’ve really heard Ralph Alessi. Just beyond words. His
compositions are amazing and the rendering by his band was just brilliant. More
of this new level, or this level of the past 20 years or so.
Jason Lindner has now developed a consciousness and language of his own. He
is also creating another altered state and his commitment to the group vibe
versus the urge to solo his the most committed since Joe Zawinaul. He is truly
hearing his inner voice and expressing it in a variety of electronic, acoustic and
analogue ways.
In short, the state of the art of jazz is in fine shape. Never been better in fact, in
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von 7
16.09.14 14:07
The State of the Art
Posted o n
July 29, 2014
I have been in Langnau, Switzerland this past week. A dreamy little village in the ountains that makes one think of
“The Sound Of Music.” (Yes, I know that was Austria!)
My trio played earli r in the week and it was beautiful. I’m so proud to present this trio with Ari Hoenig and
Johannes Wei enmueller. We h ve b en together a long time and have our own sound, our own language. More than
any of my other groups, this one is my voice.
They left the day after our concert and I’ve stayed on to teach. I go home on tomorrow. (Ju;ly 27th)
But this is also a marvelous jazz festival besides a masterclass week. I have heard some amazing music. A lot if it!
And amazing, inspiring pianists. Aaron Goldberg with Josh Redman, Gary Versace with Ralph Alessi, Craig Taborn
with Dave Holland, and Danny Griss tt with Tom Harrel’s band. And Jason Lindner’s trio.
First, just deali ith the pianist , it’s real y a golden time for great jazz pianists roaming the earth. There is a lot
who are simply on a new level. It took perhaps 60 years but the music has moved on. And I have to say, a lot of it
has moved towards the light. I find the wisdom is matching the virtuosity. Every one of these pianists displayed
such control, such restraint, and when the music was ready, such fire. But only because the music called for it at that
moment.
And the bands I
tioned w re all dev loped to such an incredibly high level. The music was so clear that I could
hear the same music s precisely writt n odern orch stra piec s. Many jazz musicians are now evolving to that
level. They, we, just have to learn orchestration on the same level.
I have to add Danilo Perez in this group, although I saw his group in La Spezia, Italy. Same feeling, they played
together and the written material could have been ground breaking orchestra pieces.
The evolution of these artist’s improvisation has now risen, en mass, to the epiphany I had back in the 90’s while
on spiritual retreat in my beloved Shree Muktana da Ashram. “Scrolls of music paper unfurling from the sky.
Com osition s yet u written.” Perfect composition from b ginning to end although most of it is improvised.
Dave Hollands group carried me into an altered state. And Dave is a musician and person of exemplarily inner and
outer consciousness and discipline. He’s become the present and future once again with his wonderful band. Eric
Harland on drums besides Craig and Kevin Eubanks on guitar. Kevin…all I can say is what inspiration he embodies.
This was the first time I’ve really heard Ralph Alessi. Just beyond words. His compositions are amazing and the
rend ring by his band was just brillia t. More f this new level, or this level of the past 20 years or so.
Jaso Lindner has now developed consciousness and language of his own. He is also creating another
altered state and his commitment to the group vibe versus the urge to solo his the most committed since Joe
Zawinaul. He is truly hearing his inner voice and expressing it in a variety of electronic, acoustic and analogue ways.
In short, the state of the art of jazz is in fine shape. Never been better in fact, in my opinion. It’s a stimulating time,
and t times an unc mfortable time. One likes to sit on his duff and think he’s heard it all. Well, I haven’t and this
music gets me off my duff and onto t e piano b ch to p actice and that’s a great thing. After all these years, it’s
learning new music and gaining new abilities on my i strument that turns me on more than my performances. I think
it’s true of most of my favorite musicians and certainly true of this bunch.
There are great negatives in the world at play at the moment. But in the world of jazz and improvised music, the light
has never been stronger.
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