FRANCIS DAVIS/CLEMENTINE

[PHILLYQ]

This was in today's Village Voice. It made me laugh out loud after the blistering criticism of Davis by our Clementine:

Leaving Out the Saxophone, a Tone Scientist Resurrects Albert Ayler's Spirit

Spiritual Unity

by Francis Davis

June 13th, 2005 3:21 PM write to us

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Spiritual Unity

Pi

The phone rang shortly after I put on Spiritual Unity's self-titled CD for the first time. And recognizing track two as Albert Ayler's "Spirits" from the next room, I thought for a moment there that I was hearing a tenor saxophone—it was Marc Ribot on guitar, heavy on the tremolo. There are really only two types of jazz guitarists anymore: the chord nerds who drool over "Have You Met Miss Jones" and the tone scientists like Ribot who recognize Ayler as kin to Charlie Patton and Dock Boggs. Leaving out the saxophone works in Spiritual Unity's favor: Ribot, trumpeter Roy Campbell, drummer Chad Taylor, and back-from-oblivion bassist Henry Grimes are going for Ayler's essence, not his sound, and invidious comparisons are avoided. Turning cowboy on "Bells," Ribot sounds like he's thinking about his darling Clementine rather than Ayler's holy ghost—a lovely, reflective moment before the crash-bang ending. More than just lending a touch of authenticity, Grimes's powerful bowing keeps everyone on an even keel as they switch from Slug's-era lurch to square dance to (I swear) polka. Taylor dances nimbly on his cymbals, and the criminally underrated Campbell is his usual puckish self. Spirits rejoice! Just what we needed to complete the long overdue Albert Ayler renaissance.

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[JSngry]

There are really only two types of jazz guitarists anymore: the chord nerds who drool over "Have You Met Miss Jones" and the tone scientists like Ribot who recognize Ayler as kin to Charlie Patton and Dock Boggs.

[JSngry]

Into which of those two camps do Melvin Sparks, Pat Metheny, & John Scofield (to name but three) fall?

[PHILLYQ]

Into which of those two camps do Melvin Sparks, Pat Metheny, & John Scofield (to name but three) fall?

←

They are the nerd scientists.

[Kalo]

When I think of the word "scientist" it immediately brings to mind such figures as Albert Ayler, Charlie Patton, and Dock Boggs.

Shouldn't it have been something more like "chord scientists" vs. "tone shamans"? At least that's an opposition of sorts, even if I don't quite get his point. And Ribot, for instance, can play the "chord nerd" quite well when he chooses. (He started out playing with organists BTW.)

I think those mingy word limits at The Voice are getting to Francis. Or maybe he's covertly trying to goad Organissimites?

Edited June 16, 2005 by Kalo

[Soul Stream]

I think of jazz guitarists as two types...those that know the chords to "Have You Met Miss Jones" and those that don't...

[Michael Fitzgerald]

The phrase "tone scientist" is a direct reference to Sun Ra (and Francis Davis is well aware of this).

Mike

[JSngry]

I'm totally cool with tone science. TOTALLY. But the notion that the only alternative route today is that of the "chord nerd" or some such leaves much to be desired, in both theory and actuality.

And if Melvin Sparks is a chord nerd, well....

[Kalo]

Guess I'm not up to speed on my "SunRa-ology." (Though I've certainly listened to a lot of his music.) Still, he strikes me as more of the Shaman type than scientist.

To me simple dichotomies are always false. But I guess there's two types of people: those who divide everyone into two types and those who don't.

[marcello]

I heard Ben Monder tonight with Donny McCaslin.

Which camp is he in?

There was a time tonight when he sounded like Sonny Greenwich chaneling Bola Sete through Wes Montgomery.

Take that, Francis!

[bertrand]

Clementine must be out of town, or he would have been all over this article.

Bertrand.

[Dr. Rat]

I'm totally cool with tone science. TOTALLY. But the notion that the only alternative route today is that of the "chord nerd" or some such leaves much to be desired, in both theory and actuality.

And if Melvin Sparks is a chord nerd, well....

←

Next you'll be telling me that practically all statements beginning "There are two types of . . ." are highly dubious!

--eric

[jazzbo]

Don't read! It only encourages them! -_-

[JSngry]

Next you'll be telling me that practically all statements beginning "There are two types of . . ." are highly dubious!

Shocking, ain't it.

[AllenLowe]

as usual you guys have missed the most important points of the article -

1) Francis is really referring to more recent electric guitarists, those who are just starting to make their martk - and

2) he's exaggerating, yes, but to make a point, and it's a damn good one - the guitar world is tired and lost -

[7/4]

- the guitar world is tired and lost -

Care to elaborate? Start a new thread ond go on at great length....

[Joe G]

2) he's exaggerating, yes, but  to make a point, and it's a damn good one - the guitar world is tired and lost  -

←

As is the bulk of humanity. By coincidence a moment ago, I came across this paragraph in the Autobiography of a Yogi:

In measuring the worth of a man, a saint employs an invariable criterion, one far different from the shifting yardsticks of the world. Humanity - so variegated in its own eyes - is seen by a master to be divided into only two classes: ignorant men who are not seeking God, and wise men who are.

At least the critics are alive and well!

[AllenLowe]

Francis is so right it ain't funny - Scofield and the gang are a dull bunch swamped with cheesy digital effects - and most of the rest are playing chord melodies and scale patterns - the rock and rollers are into modes but don't know their asses from their elbows (kind of makes it hard to play) - his point is that Ribot has already gone that route but understands that the guitar needs to be used for it's sonic advantages - indeed, Ribot is about the only contemporary guitarist I can listen to without wanting to throw somethin - he knows how to use sound, and has great creativity.

Edited June 16, 2005 by AllenLowe

[AllenLowe]

to elaborate on the problems with guitar playing and start a new thread would take more intellectual energy than I currently have - suffice to say that it's stuck in repeating old patterns or with false notions of being "contemporary" - whch is exactly francis's very good point - it's all gear and digital fog -

[Joe G]

to elaborate on the problems with guitar playing and start a new thread would take more intellectual energy than I currently have - suffice to say that it's stuck in repeating old patterns or with false notions of being "contemporary" - whch is exactly francis's very good point - it's all gear and digital fog -

←

That's not what I got from his statement. He puts Ribot in with the "tone scientists", implying that's a good thing. No mention of digital fog, just that the alternative is, I guess, someone like Peter Bernstein playing straight (and harmonically solid) jazz guitar.

[AllenLowe]

I'm expanding on his point - but I think it's related to his complaint -

[Ted O'Reilly]

Ah, well, if you want to get past nerds/tones/dichotomies/etc. there always music, and Ed Bickert. I found a nice appreciation of him today at

[AllenLowe]

personally I like Joe Puma - he played a solo piece at Bill Evans' funeral that was the most beautiful thing I ever heard -

Edited June 16, 2005 by AllenLowe

[JSngry]

Ah, well, if you want to get past nerds/tones/dichotomies/etc. there always music...

Nah, man, that's SOOO a 20th Century...

[Sundog]

I've recently discovered Kevin O'Neil via Braxton's 23 Standards album. Ain't nothing tired about his approach IMO.