skeith Posted November 5, 2004 Report Posted November 5, 2004 Next weekend. How come you Austin guys aren't talkin' this up. Quote
epistrophy arts Posted November 9, 2004 Report Posted November 9, 2004 I haven't been on the forum for awhile... I am very excited about Ornette. It is his first appearance in Texas since 1987 or so. I understand he is brining his quartet with Charnett Moffett, Denardo and Greg Cohen. I cannot wait. The night before Joelle Leandre will be here. and oh yeah. The Sun City Girls at Emos on Friday. Quote
kh1958 Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 I decided to make the drive to see Ornette Coleman. I must say he sounds great; his sound is so pure and beautiful. And, unlike with Prime Time, in an accoustic setting, you can hear his sound so clearly. He played with Denardo on drums, and two bassists, one of whom was Greg Cohen. Alas, no Charnet Moffett. The highlight for me was the stunning version of Lonely Woman. They played one set, about and hour and a half. I was pleased to see Ornette treated with such deserved reverence by the audience. Anyone else see this? Quote
jazzbo Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 (edited) The second bassist was Tony Falanaga. It was amazing. We had excellent seats, right of center, fifth row from the stage, and the sound was great with exception of the baffling around Denardo which was a bit too extreme; I know why they did it (so as not to overpower the sound of the two bassists, and Denardo is not the subtlest of drummers), but wished they had had a shade less baffling; it immasculated the lower end and midrange sound of the drums. Ornette thankfully only did two short violin solos (I'm not really a fan of his left-handed bowing!) and did some very nice trumpet and predominantly played alto (I couldn't tell if that was a Grafton plastic alto or a white enameled brass alto. . . couldn't get a good enough look at the right side where the differences in the key and pad mechanism are visible). He played wonderfully, with a full and warm sound. Both bassists were played exceptionally well. We were on Greg Cohen's side so we heard his bass so fully. Tony's bass was a little less audible presence-wise but we could see and hear him okay. His arco lines are really something, mirroring Ornette's melodic statements with an almost telephathic manner! I'm not disappointed it wasn't Charnette at all. . . . What surprised me was how calm and collected and humble Ornette was. I had expected him to be a little edgier. Much of the music he played was very "deep blue" for the most part, a lot of very plaintive and reflective material, a few uptempo items that he seemed to choose to use to soar with floating melancholy between the two basses and the ride cymbals. . . quite emotional and quite moving music. My friend Dave Laczko, former Tower Austin jazz buyer, was thanked by the introducer of the concert (forget his name, he works for the Gov's Commission on Music and Film) for helping to make this happen; he has been bugging the UT jazz productions booker to keep trying to get Ornette ever since Tower opened in 1991apparently, and knows this woman well; Dave was sitting right next to me and was totally unaware he was going to be thanked---it made his year! I'm sure nearly every die-hard jazz fan in Austin was there; quite a lot of these knew who he was. A great moment! I was hoping to also connect up with Joe Milazzo from Dallas but his cell phone number he gave me never did answer and I didn't see him in the crowd (there WAS a crowd, a good thing). . . . That was my one disappointment of the evening. Edited November 15, 2004 by jazzbo Quote
charlesp Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 I made the trip north from San Antonio and had a wonderful evening filled with beautiful music. Lon's description that the tone was "deep blue" is very accurate, as Ornette alternated between blues ("Turnaround" and "What a friend we have in Jesus") and dirges. I was fortunate to get a ticket at the door 4th row center and could hear Tony Falanga more clearly than Lon did. I would also note that the two times Ornette played violin, Falanga and Cohen both played arco in unison with Ornette. My primary observation is that Ornette's music with his current group is not about the solo, but about collective improvisation. Maybe, it was always the case, but hearing him live with this accoustic group in a wonderful hall really empasized the wholeness of his vision. I had only seen Ornette live with Prime Time, and that is also a collective approach, but Denardo, Cohen and Falanga were a balm against strut and self, and I got it. Quote
Soul Stream Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 (edited) I made the concert as well. Ornette was quite a striking figure from the 10 rows back where I sat. Especially when he cradled his white alto. Musically, I can't add much to what Lon and Charlesp said. Loved the 2 bass/drums acoustic lineup. Did notice firsthand Ornette's influence on many of our heroes. When Ornette played alto, it really made me think of Jackie McLean's 60's Blue Notes. When Ornette played trumpet, it made me think of Mile's Davis' sound with his second great quintet. I sat next to a couple of young hipsters who rambled on about how cool Scooby Doo and Wattstax was before the show. Once Ornette began, they seemed a bit fidgity and bored. Also, a number of older concertgoers near me (around 10 I'd say), got up and left after a couple of songs. Also, I heard a few laughs and snickers in the halls when I went to the bathroom at one point from people leaving. Some of this sort of thing was a distraction for me during the show. That was a drag. That said, it was a real pleasure to hear and see Ornette. Also, the majority of the audience seemed very, very attentive with a rousing standing ovation at the end...bringing Ornette on for a encore. Wonderful night. Between Ornette on Sunday and Fathead on Saturday...it was quite a good weekend! Edited November 15, 2004 by Soul Stream Quote
jazzbo Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 Charles, very good observation about he collective aspect! Mike, glad you made it to the show. I don't quite agree about the influence on Jackie, and especially about the influence on Miles (Don Cherry, yes, Ornette on trumpet, no) but I'll think it through more. . . . It was definitely a night to remember! Quote
Soul Stream Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 I don't quite agree about the influence on Jackie, and especially about the influence on Miles (Don Cherry, yes, Ornette on trumpet, no) but I'll think it through more. . . . You're probably right Lon.... It's just that while listening to Ornette last night, It reminded me of when I saw Jackie a few months ago. Also, not having heard Ornette on trumpet that much on record, I was surprised to be reminded of 60's Miles upon hearing him. Just a couple of impressions, whether they're founded in anything other that personal sonics I have no idea! Anyway, I did really like his trumpet playing!!!! Quote
jazzbo Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 I do too, it sounded better to me now than in the sixties. . . . And he has quite a range for a 74 year old! Quote
Soul Stream Posted November 15, 2004 Report Posted November 15, 2004 I do too, it sounded better to me now than in the sixties. . . . And he has quite a range for a 74 year old! Yes! He really was hitting the high notes. And his tone was very clear and bell-like where I sat. Quote
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