tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526704657739088406.post7213190221197344930..comments2024-02-01T12:37:55.180+00:00Comments on Mostly music: Art and CraftRonan Guilfoylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02668316692753726447noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526704657739088406.post-14191085950178018212010-01-04T04:30:39.582+00:002010-01-04T04:30:39.582+00:00As usual, a thought provoking post.
I must admit ...As usual, a thought provoking post.<br /><br />I must admit that I've always had a healthy respect for musical craft and would never put anyone down for being a "mere" craftsman, implying that they were somehow less than an "artist".<br /><br />In the Bluett clip, it's possible that he just didn't know the tune that well although he plays the written material with no problem. I think it's actually more difficult to "sight improvise" a tune you don't know than it is to sight read a piece of music you've never seen before. Maybe because it takes pure craft to do the latter and at least some artistry and creativity for the former. Note, however, that the other musicians, including Mingus himself, seem to dig it and of course the audience goes wild, reacting to all the sound and fury as they so often will - they really don't know or care that he's not actually "dealing with" the changes. (And that IS a truly badass 70's style leather jacket he's wearing).<br /><br />I point to the Miles Davis/Gil Evans collaborations (Miles Ahead, Porgy and Bess and Sketches of Spain) as the perfect marriage of Art and Craft in jazz. The innovative orchestrations, the supreme artistry of one of the most unique improvisers in the music's history, and the flawless craftsmanship of the other musicians - I really don't think it gets any better than this.<br /><br />Lindsey Horner<br /><br />www.lindseyhorner.comUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12840126370467092892noreply@blogger.com