The Game of Jazz Dialectics

[Alon Marcus]

The rules of the game are simple.

In the first post we choose the thesis.

In the second post the antithesis is presented.

In the third post you present the synthesis which is the new thesis and the so the game goes on and on.

YET, it's a musical game.

In the first post the thesis is a piano player. Let's say Bud Powell for example.

The first poster puts a link to a video with Bud Powell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9P-kpOiT6Eo

The second post is an antithesis for Bud Powell's video, and you also need to give two reasons why.

Let's say you chose Bill Evans as the antithesis

1. Lyrical approach as opposed to Bud Powell's more trumpet like attack.

2. Richer use of left hand chords.

And a link to Bill Evans video.

The synthesis might be Herbie Hancock.

You need to give two reasons why he is a synthesis of Bud Powell and Bill Evans in your ears.

And a link to his video.

It's fun

[Alon Marcus]

Here's a random choice of mine for a thesis to begin spinning the wheels of the game.

Art Tatum- Yesterdays

[neveronfriday]

No, I'm NOT going to post an Oscar Peterson video here.

NOT.

[Tom Storer]

OK, that's an easy one. My antithesis to Art Tatum is Thelonious Monk.

Tatum's musical genius was inseparable from his mastery of the piano. He was a technical virtuoso who impressed the greatest classical interpreters. Monk was not interested in that kind of technique. He achieved his own musical mastery by reducing the elements of jazz to startling abstraction. Tatum's ideas flowed in extravagant harmonic detail, Monk's stomped and jerked in bold, angular gestures--arguably no less elegant, but with radically different means and values.

Now--who was the synthesis?

[Alexander Hawkins]

OK, that's an easy one. My antithesis to Art Tatum is Thelonious Monk.

Tatum's musical genius was inseparable from his mastery of the piano. He was a technical virtuoso who impressed the greatest classical interpreters. Monk was not interested in that kind of technique. He achieved his own musical mastery by reducing the elements of jazz to startling abstraction. Tatum's ideas flowed in extravagant harmonic detail, Monk's stomped and jerked in bold, angular gestures--arguably no less elegant, but with radically different means and values.

Now--who was the synthesis?

Cecil? Muhal?

[Alon Marcus]

OK, that's an easy one. My antithesis to Art Tatum is Thelonious Monk.

Tatum's musical genius was inseparable from his mastery of the piano. He was a technical virtuoso who impressed the greatest classical interpreters. Monk was not interested in that kind of technique. He achieved his own musical mastery by reducing the elements of jazz to startling abstraction. Tatum's ideas flowed in extravagant harmonic detail, Monk's stomped and jerked in bold, angular gestures--arguably no less elegant, but with radically different means and values.

Now--who was the synthesis?

Cecil? Muhal?

Maybe Cecil and Muhal are good choices but you need to give two reasons for your opinion and examplify it with a video clip.

Edited February 1, 2007 by Alon Marcus

[Alon Marcus]

I think that Martial Solal plays a synthesis of Tatum's and Monk's styles.

1. He has Tatum virtousity.

2. He has Monk's angular phrasing.

Obviously other reasonable choices could be made, but that's part of the freedom the game allows.

Solal plays with Montgomery and Griffin