Klarinet Archive - Posting 000669.txt from 2000/12

From: "Charles Schneider" <chnani@-----.fr>
Subj: Re: [kl] Jazz artistic achievement [was, Peplowski continued]
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 19:33:24 -0500

Dear mister Pay,

when you wrote :
<This feeling of myself operating at a lower level of creativity than
> the jazz performer, however, is somewhat offset for me by the feeling
> that the end result of the jazz enterprise is not on such a high level
> of artistic achievement.

I am very surprise that nobody react and I feel a little sad
you have wrote that.
As matter of fact I am sure (I want :-) you don't think so
about "the Jazz artistic achievement".
Your contribution is a good analyze of Jazz on lot of points ,
but I just cannot agree with this sentence when I think
about Billie Holliday and some others great Jazz Musicians.
A little further in your mail you correct your sentence with a
"different level". Be sure I want not give a lesson to anybody
with this email, but I don't understand your discussion
about Classical and Jazz musician "EGO".
Why are you asking to you (and us) those questions.

Kind of American/Latino language PUZZLE :

For instance do you think it would be possible to perform the
Coltrane's 'Chasing the train' at Village Vanguard if it was written ?
I don't think it's possible to write this spiral of time
manipulation in a normal process of composing, with this
result. And for me, there are some artistic acts, even
some technical stuffs that cannot be achieve so precisely
if they were written. For instance :
In this piece Coltrane explore the possibilities of his instrument
to some musicals and technical ideas. He react on them, made lot
of 'real time" choices and found some new ways to play saxophones.
And the achievement is perfect because he is JC and that the piece
is about the "John Coltrane Quest".
And it is what I want to hear when I choice to listen this record.
It's a Masterpiece.

I know (for instance) that some Ligeti parts of
clarinets use some similar process (disorder,etc).
But the result of the 'Chasing the train' Freedom
is at really high (human possible) level of Artistic
Achievement and "Not Only" at a high level of creativity.
It reminds me Van Gogh or Tal Coat painting.
"Idem" for lot of other "Jazz Stuff".

Just another little thing :
-Satchmo (for me) wasn't playing on chord changes ,
not even more than Mozart, I am sure that you agree with that.

Improvisation is just a way to play music, not only
used in Jazz. There are no difference of levels
(creativity/Achievement) between the different ways to play
music, different Cultures. Classical music is 'just a part'
of all the world's music's. I am sure you are care about this fact.
Even if we hear and play lot of very bad things everywhere.

It is true that the Jazzmen have sometimes their own
very personnel sound, rhythmic approach, intonation, etc
but it didn't mean that the "artistic achievement"
is at an lower level than great classical musicians.
They do it precisely their own way, like You do on some
others different styles. I am talking about the better Jazz
Musicians. It also true that you cannot ask to play anything
at a Jazz musician but at classical musician either.
I have made some experiences on that way. (both side ;-)

The difference between Classical musician and Jazzmen
is not so great. When I sit near my (classical/clarinet) teacher
and play some (easy)duos, I don't feel like playing with
a musician from another planet.(but he is very kind ;-)
I didn't think -ok, he plays great but he cannot improvise on
"Peggy's Blues" or on "nothing prepared", cannot speak
with my Swiss accent (we are in France) !

I think when you will sitting near Parker in another life ...
you both will be very pleased and forget all this discussion
of level in creativity or achievement and found quickly
something to play together.

I am asking me if it's not just a question of education :
I think that because of the Jazz Schools and the playing of some
'bad' students. Those ones play Jazz like just an idiom,
sometimes (nearly) perfectly but at a very very low level of creativity.

In your playing I feel you 'live the instant beautifully, freely'
and with an "generous/human/communication aspect".
like in the Sonny Rollins 'high level of achievement'
"A house is not a home" piece.

May I paint on a wall :

----- Tony Pay is a Fantastic Jazz Musician -------
?

With all my respect.

Charles Schneider
chnani@-----.fr
http://perso.club-internet.fr/chnani

Page Souffleurs: (EJMAWoodwind's page)
http://perso.club-internet.fr/chnani/ejma.html

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