Actually, there's enough sonic invention in stuff Little Walter did forty
years ago that many of us are still trying to figure out exactly what we're
hearing him do. Unfortunately, because few people in the "properly
acknowledged" avant-garde world look at rhythm'n'blues as having the correct
quotient of progressivism, so you're rarely liable to hear/read it discussed
as anything other than an easily repeated twelve-bar form regenerated weekly
in bars for the amusement of white fraternity types. Somehow, it's deemed
more useful to argue the merits of music created by people who crave critical
acclaim from "important" publications like THE WIRE or whatever.
The most avant-garde message anyone can send out is, "I don't give a f**k
what's supped to be 'in'. I'm playing what I play the way I play it, and the
marketplace can either like it or lump it.'" You think Cecil Taylor played
that way on COLTRANE TIME because he thought somebody at DOWNBEAT would write
how hip he was? And this is something like forty years ago, when
"practitioners of serious music" were wagging their fingers in the air about
how the piano had been done to death and had therefore lost its ability to be
the vehicle for new musical statements.
Just because some music is deemed "avant-garde" by the people who walk around
deeming things doesn't mean it's all that snazzy, or, for that matter, all
that new. At the same time, a whole lot of stuff that really is challenging
- -- sonically, structurally, technically, whatever it is -- isn't given the
proper pedigree by the people who make it a point to tell people about what
creative progress is occurring in the world of music. These people usually
don't want to know if some really fresh, exehavior happening in worlds that
the cognescenti doesn't research -- trust me.
The idea that there is a blues harmonica player out there who is every bit as
singular and creative as Mark Feldman (who I think is excellent) is not only
a good idea, it's also one that I'd bet on. Those who think it's unlikely
would be wise to remember all the strerotypes attatched to, say, the
accordion. Here was an instrument that was all polkas and "Lady Of Spain" --
an instrument that had no hope of progressive acceptance, an instrument that
was the butt of every joke musicians told. Then Guy Klucevsek turned heads,
and, one Andrea Parkins later, people no longer chortle over the notion of an
accordion. And more over, more people play the harmonica. Not to mention
the fact that there already has been one wierd harmonica virtuoso, Leo
Diamond (who, in the fifties, made a few truly bizarre easy listening
records, utilizing some harmonicas he designed and built himself, both
standard reed and electric).
There's a lot that bears checking out here. The predjudices of the
gentrified avant-garde aren't neccessarily the marker forn the progress of
all creative music.
skip heller
- -
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 02:40:09 EST
From: Acousticlv@aol.com
Subject: zorn meets kagel: fly on the wall
just got back from carnegie hall. all-kagel program.
me, the family, and buddy cliff preiss of wkcr.
"midnight" piece: fantastic sound/text piece based on rbt schumann's
diaries; gothic pierrot lunaire with thicker texures and chorus.
the main piece: "kidnapping in the concert hall."
didnt work for me, tho few left in the middle.
great musical sounds but the theater premise bombed,
plus they didn't go it as planned with the musicians slowly
disappearing from the hall. kagel told me that it was easier this way.
before i talked to kagel he was talking to john zorn, who greeted
kagel warmly. kagel told zorn he had heard a zorn piece at, i believe,
some european festival or concert, but was hesitant to come back and
say hello, zorn told kagel cordially that he should have.
there wassome talk of a potential saxophone piece; i didn't make it all out
but it was good-natured patter; they really liked and respected each other.
i wasn't there to spy, but you know how it is when yr there anyway.
love to all, spy vs. fly.
another all-kagel concert at columbia miller theater i believe feb 10, but
check millertheater.com to be sure.
steve monkeyboy koenig --- n.p.: shifts (frans de waard):
"equal"/"unequal", 10" vinyl, fourth dimension records uk
- -
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 02:49:03 EST
From: Acousticlv@aol.com
Subject: └puzzle punks?
In a message dated 11/14/00 10:25:11 PM, you wrote:
<< Eye also had two other recent hardcore projects not on this list
> called "Puzzle Punks" and "One"... anyone know anything about these? >>
<<Puzzle Punks have two records that I know of. The first is called
"Pipeline",
and is presented as a compilation of 24 puzzle punks bands, with a thick art
book. Might be hard to find and expensive (my copy was expensive!) The second
record is called "Budub", and there is a beautiful picture-LP or a CD
version.
I like this one a lot!
>>
hi friends,
i have the puzzle punks 'budub' which i found for a buck in the street
and do like but hadnt been able to figger out, as with so many of these
neon oft-japanese artsy-covered thingies:
what's the group, whats the title, what's the band's "project," etc.
feel free to write just to me if not pertinent to the whole list.
yrs,
monkeyboy k.
n.p.: sator absentia "mercurian orgasms" dark vinyl records
- -
------------------------------
Date: Sun, 19 Nov 2000 03:25:30 -0800
From: "Fag music" <pattonsucks@37.com>
Subject: Sharp knife
Not sure wether this has to do with avant-garde or not,
but anyone know if Kevin Sharp's into the scene?I really like the guy's voice in Brutal truth,and some of the stuff he did with Cobra was funny...well,can't say I'd listen to his track on Melvin's Crybaby,but...so,anyone knows where is Kevin Sharp?Is he still recording?Last thing heard,he was in a ''hate-core'' band called Damaged....but I didn't find it anywhere(if anyone has it,mail me).Oh yeah...maybe some of you avant-gardist dudes will like this band....it's called Exit-13....it's ''kind of grindcore''(like ''bungle is kind of a rock band''),but they put out a cd with some old 60's jazz covers...I found it funny.
