paul secor Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I bought a copy of the Microscopic Septet's first album years ago, and ended up selling it - at the time, their music seemed to have more cleverness than substance to it. I see that their first two albums have been reissued and a relatively newly recorded CD has been released. I'm wondering if my early opinion of their music was a good one or not. Time and experiences have been known to change my mind about music and other things, though my memories lead me to believe that might not be the case here. Anyway - any thoughts, opinions, appreciations, put downs of the Microscopic Septet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I have those discs and embarrassingly, never got around to reviewing them. Clever and curious, not mind-blowing or anything. I guess that's why I didn't write 'em up, though they're not unloadable either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Free For All Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I know they are responsible for the theme to NPR's Fresh Air. Don't they also perform a lot of the other incidental music on NPR? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I like them. They are "post modern", I suppose. Everything is played with a self-consciously ironic or wryly comic point of view, from what I can tell. Still, there is quite energetic, appealing playing, and some of the compositions are catchy. They have a certain vision and stick with it. My take on them: You don't go to the Microscopic Septet for soul searing genuine emotion. They are not going to plunge into the depths of the human experience. They fulfill a certain function, and mean to do so. If you feel like hearing their particular vision at a particular time, you may like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHILLYQ Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I bought a copy of the Microscopic Septet's first album years ago, and ended up selling it - at the time, their music seemed to have more cleverness than substance to it. I see that their first two albums have been reissued and a relatively newly recorded CD has been released. I'm wondering if my early opinion of their music was a good one or not. Time and experiences have been known to change my mind about music and other things, though my memories lead me to believe that might not be the case here. Anyway - any thoughts, opinions, appreciations, put downs of the Microscopic Septet? I saw them play many moons ago and thought exactly the same thing about them. If you want wit, cleverness & substance try the new one by Reptet, 'Chicken or Beef'- our own Johnny E is on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I went to High School with Phillip Johnson - the Fresh Air theme is by his pianist, Joel Forrester, I believe - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Dorward Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) I have both sets, review copies. The pianist Joel Forrester is great, the tunes & arrangements are great. On the other hand, the rhythm section is so-so & the solos (except for Forrester) are just OK (with Sewelson kinda annoying me). Worth hearing but I think I like the idea of the Micros more than the actual discs. I don't get the "cleverness no substance" claim at all--it's a handy putdown but seems wilfully blind to the imagination & passion that went into the music. As I said, I think they got everything right in terms of the mix of ingredients, it just seems uneven in execution. If you are OK with that, then you'll like them. If you want my copies PM me & I'll mail them. Edited June 5, 2008 by Nate Dorward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I enjoy Seven Men In Neckties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bichos Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 since i heard the micros in the mid 80´s on the dutch radio (the "let´s flip" lp on "osmosis records"), i´m a fan of them. it´s music with fun. keep boppin´ marcel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I don't get the "cleverness no substance" claim at all--it's a handy putdown but seems wilfully blind to the imagination & passion that went into the music. As I said, I think they got everything right in terms of the mix of ingredients, it just seems uneven in execution. If you are OK with that, then you'll like them. Thanks, Nate. Will have to re-listen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I very much enjoyed them back in the day, and praised them when one of their cuts appeared on a BFT here a while back. The "fun" thing is real, and more than a little worthy of praise in my estimation. But I never bought any of their records. So there you go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeline Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 (edited) Their music is fun. Forrester did a solo piano album (partly, I think, due to the fact that Terri Gross and Francis Davis promoted his work). It was also on Koch. Very nice, though his liner notes were pretty over the top. Edited June 6, 2008 by seeline Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 you guys are tough critics. new one: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I like them a lot. Only in jazz is an element of fun in the music considered something bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TedR Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Joel Forrester is mentioned near the end of the book, Nica's Dream. The Baroness befriended him and, according to the book, when Monk became quite reclusive, refused to play anymore and didn't leave his bedroom, she invited Forrester among others back to her home to play for Monk. According to Forrester if Monk liked what he played he opened his bedroom door a bit. When he didn't like it he shut his door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I went to High School with Phillip Johnson On Lawn Guyland? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lazaro Vega Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 There're 3 Forrester recordings on Koch from the mid to late 1990's. The solo one called "Stop the Music," then a quartet with Claire Daly on bari and Denis Charles on drums called "People Like Us In Heaven," and "pre-Microscopic music circa 1980" on a recording called "Joel Forrester and the Illustrious Others. Gassing to the un-unison head of "Gallop's Gallop" from the Micros Play Monk album, and the sort of Steve Lacy meets Ed Blackwell soprano/drum duo that followed it. Has any one noticed the piano sounds kind of electronic on this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffcrom Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 Old threads never die.... I want to like the Micros more than I do. I have one CD, which doesn't get played very often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 (edited) I held on to my copy of Joel Forrester and the Illustrous Others, mainly because Denis Charles plays on it. Played it recently and it's enjoyable on a light hearted level - that's not meant as a criticism, just a description of how it sounds to me. I'll play it again when I'm in the mood for something like that. Edited October 12, 2011 by paul secor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted October 12, 2011 Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I did some projects with some of these guys in the '80s (Phillip, Joel & Hofstra)--I was singing my own lyrics for Monk tunes. Joel is a blast, but a challenge as an accompanist, since he loves to throw curveballs. I always had to keep an ear closely on Hofstra. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted October 16, 2011 Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 Phillip and I went to Massapequa High School; class of 1972. Excellent saxophonist, good composer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeway Posted October 16, 2011 Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 I like them a lot. Only in jazz is an element of fun in the music considered something bad. It's true for me. One of the problems i have with a lot of Dutch jazz is the jokiness. I can only take so much even of ICP and Breuker's Kollektifs, and then only because they have so many other sterling qualities. Microscopic always seemed facile to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlitweiler Posted October 16, 2011 Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 I like the Micros, miss the jokes somehow. Ingenious arrangements, good playing. The Dutch bands, including jokes, are usually another pleasure. So was Thelonious Monk's dancing, which was sorta like staggering. The best, though, was some of the young Roscoe Mitchell Art Ensemble's business, including custard pies, from the mid-1960s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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