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Jazz Just Died
Jazz Just Died
I couldn't help feeling, sitting in the audience in Carnegie Hall last night, that jazz was dying right in front of my eyes and ears. Of course, it was an illusion because all jazz or any jazz or any piece or subset of jazz is just nonsense: a placeholder for the experience I was having in that moment and nothing more. But let me just put it this way: Carnegie Hall isn't, for me, the ideal place to audition a jazz trio. It may be fine for orchestra, or even small ensemble, but jazz trio?
Well, let's bring the players into it. The ensemble in question is the Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, Jack DeJohnette "Standards" Trio. The trio that has recorded a hundred albums or so and still plays live for the millionth time "Someday My Prince Will Come", "My Funny Valentine", "Answer Me, My Love". What was I expecting? More o' the same? Of course. But I had never heard Jarrett live in an ensemble setting before so I decided to try anything once.
There were moments of "beautiful" playing, of course. Especially in the ballads. Their attempts at up-tempo were strangely subdued. Everything felt like it was on crutches. OK so I didn't need to be there, but let's not allow that prejudice to get in the way any further. Most of the audience were anointed, faithful, and true to their god(s). Let me instead just say that the sound itself was oddly attuned, echoey and globular in a way I'm not used to in Carnegie. It often sounded as though it were being played in a natatorium, or at the far end of a long Holiday Inn hall. Like audio from the past. Like audio from The Shining. Creepy.
And then all of us sitting there in the audience respectfully watching the guys do their things. Ugh. This doesn't feel like jazz to me, or music, or anything. Forced to watch a funeral. And keep the tempo up. And tune the bass. And your high-hat too. Not for me. Jazz is about proximity, no matter the real size of the venue, you have to feel intimacy. Whatever the opposite of intimacy is, that's what I felt.
More Posts from Craigswanson
Vladimir Feltsman plays with an admirable sense of pianistic touch and clarity. He has what was once described to me (with regard to another player, I think Weissenberg) as "steely fingers". And of course if you prefer your counterpoint detaché, he's right in the zone. Why then is his Bach so boring?
I'm not sure I have the answer. I don't know if my view is shared in any way that could provide insight. All I know is: he is throwing in all kinds of extra-Johann variations and improvisations, which is lovely and fine and wonderfully impure, and he's clipping away with his steely technique, and it's boring beyond belief. I don't mean to say it's unlistenable, it's not banal exactly, but the pieces, the positives, don't add up. It's the damnedest thing. Terrific soporific.
(Note: the Courante is provided for example only. I find the above true for all his Bach, and truth be told almost everything else too. But I encourage you to try him for yourself, I hope my experience isn't true for you.)
I'm not as big a fan of order as Erica is (at least I try not to be), but fugues are irresistible. I mean, unless you're John Cage (with whom I once discussed this topic), how you gonna resist a fugue? Go on and tell me how.
On The Other Hand
To hell with originality. It's a fool's quest. The minute you think you're on to something new, you find someone who did it or said it 500 years ago. Don't worry about it.
She is someone, for me, I cannot imagine as 62 years old. But I am glad. And does she deserve a place on Players+Pianos? Well, it's a stretch, I'll admit, but Wikipedia gives me leave, per this, so I'm doing it:
"The box set Enchanted, was released to acclaim on April 28, 1998 with liner notes from Nicks, as well as exclusive rare photographs, and pages from her journals. Featuring successful solo hits, Nicks also included b-sides, rare soundtrack contributions, duets, covers, demos, live recordings, and a solo piano rendition of "Rhiannon" recorded for the set. The box set was supported with a successful US tour with a more varied set list incorporating rare material such as "Rose Garden", "Garbo" and "Sleeping Angel". The set sold 56,000 units in its first week and was certified Gold."
thingsiatethatilove:
Happy 62nd birthday, Stevie Nicks! I tried to think of a joke but they were all dumb. “Edge of 62”? Nah.
Today is an auspicious day. Tickets are still available for the First Kiss event.
