lee konitz: q and a with ethan.

[alocispepraluger102]

http://jazztimes.com/articles/27721-lee-konitz-a-q-a-by-ethan-iverson

"Lee: I have one of these little dictation machines, a $49 machine with digital pitch control and a bunch of tracks. I have Lester Young solos, Wayne Shorter solos fromLive at the Plugged Nickel, some Jamey Aebersold records, some Warne Marsh. I can listen to it at the different speeds. I haven’t had that facility because I don’t use a computer.

Ethan: It’s fun to hear those solos slowed down, isn’t it? You can hear what the notes are, finally. What I find amazing with people like Lester Young or Warne Marsh, is that even when you take their fast lines and slow them down, it sounds swinging—it’s still so rhythmically accurate.

Lee: They somehow slowed it down in their learning of the lines, and they’ve gradually sped it up as they felt each note. I think that’s the process. I’ve been invited in August to be part of a workshop in Denmark and then immediately after to go to a week’s workshop in Slovenia. I had been invited to do that a few years ago, but I didn’t do it maybe because I wasn’t feeling well or whatever. I’m looking forward to that kind of intensity."

[Quasimado]

Lee's "They" there obviously refers to students who use half speed solos in their practice...

This is a great site for that. Some of the solos are incredible:

http://halfspeedjazz.blogspot.jp/

Q

[alocispepraluger102]

thank you!!!

[Big Beat Steve]

So you've changed your avatar, Aloc ...

Quite OT I know, but here is something somewhat jazzy to underline your avatar ...

Have fun!

[alocispepraluger102]

So you've changed your avatar, Aloc ...

Quite OT I know, but here is something somewhat jazzy to underline your avatar ...

Have fun!

sweet-thank you sir!!!!

[sgcim]

Thanks for the link!

IMHO, the greatest jazz improvisers had the ability to think of and execute high quality lines at tempos the reast of us can only open our mouths and say, "huh?

[alocispepraluger102]

Thanks for the link!

IMHO, the greatest jazz improvisers had the ability to think of and execute high quality lines at tempos the reast of us can only open our mouths and say, "huh?

to me, braxton is the fastest.............

Edited May 14, 2013 by alocispepraluger102

[danasgoodstuff]

No, I think Lee's "they" refers to Lester & Warne being able to do that mentally without the aids available now.

[JSngry]

Rule #1 - If you want to play fast, practice slow.

Well, ok, Rule #1 = Practice, period. But then you get to Rule #1.

[alocispepraluger102]

but playing slow is so difficult. should one practice fast to be able to play slow???

Edited May 15, 2013 by alocispepraluger102

[JSngry]

They counted that in eight notes, not quarters, that's how they got it so tight.

You practice as slow as you need to practice to get it without thought or hesitation. And then you move it up one notch. If you glitch it there, you back it back down. Otherwise you're either learning how to play it wrong but faster, or else not really playing what you think you're playing. It's all about mind/hand synergizing with muscle memory. You cna call it "soul" if you want to, and it is, but the most soulful motherfucker in the world still has to deal with making it work.

And hell yeah it's harder to play slow. That's why you practice slow. If it was easy, you'd not need to practice it.

I don't claim to actually know much (and I'll never claim to always follow my own advice, so this is as much a warning to those who have not yet fucked themselves up as it is anything)), but this is one of the things I can say that I do know.

Practice slow.

[robertoart]

When Joe Pass was asked what was the best way to become a fast player...he said... 'practice playing fast'

But I always got the feeling from reading and seeing video of surly old Joe, that if he didn't like you or the question - he'd give you a bum steer

[king ubu]

Rule #1 - If you want to play fast, practice slow.

Well, ok, Rule #1 = Practice, period. But then you get to Rule #1.

That reminds of me JG who mentioned in some interview how he practised in a cork-coated room ... until he got his HUUUUUUUUUGE sound right in that, uhm, narrowing surrounding. And then when he came out of there .... BOOOOOM in your face!

[alocispepraluger102]

They counted that in eight notes, not quarters, that's how they got it so tight.

You practice as slow as you need to practice to get it without thought or hesitation. And then you move it up one notch. If you glitch it there, you back it back down. Otherwise you're either learning how to play it wrong but faster, or else not really playing what you think you're playing. It's all about mind/hand synergizing with muscle memory. You cna call it "soul" if you want to, and it is, but the most soulful motherfucker in the world still has to deal with making it work.

And hell yeah it's harder to play slow. That's why you practice slow. If it was easy, you'd not need to practice it.

I don't claim to actually know much (and I'll never claim to always follow my own advice, so this is as much a warning to those who have not yet fucked themselves up as it is anything)), but this is one of the things I can say that I do know.

Practice slow.

[colinmce]

Is Konitz the living (name) jazz musician with the longest working career? His first work is with Teddy Hill in 1945, 68 years ago. That's amazing. The recording ban just prior makes this tough, but did anyone else of note who's still alive record before then?

Roy Haynes, Sonny Rollins, & Barry Harris are close but all three played bebop, whereas Konitz was still working in the swing/big band idiom, which makes it a bit more impressive still; such a link to such a particular time.

[JSngry]

Roy Haynes hit w/Luis Russell, remember.

Also in 1945.

[sgcim]

Here's a guy who never seems to get any recognition, but he pre-dates Konitz, recorded several LPs as a leader, and look at his sideman credits:

http://www.the-aleecat.com/aaron_sachs3.html

[AllenLowe]

is Sachs still alive? He was married to Helen Merrill at some point.

here's something I disagree with and which is I think is dangerously dated, that Ethan says: "you seem to follow the melodic line more than the changes, which is really the higher space of playing."

I think the highest space of playing is to forget about melody and only think about triads. But that's just me.

[AllenLowe]

strangest Konitz comment: 'Duke Ellington was a great bandleader. I don’t know who did all those arrangements. I can’t imagine Duke sitting there laboring over the arrangements."

makes no sense.

[colinmce]

Roy Haynes hit w/Luis Russell, remember.

Also in 1945.

I confess I didn't know this. Interesting.

[jazztrain]

is Sachs still alive? He was married to Helen Merrill at some point.

here's something I disagree with and which is I think is dangerously dated, that Ethan says: "you seem to follow the melodic line more than the changes, which is really the higher space of playing."

I think the highest space of playing is to forget about melody and only think about triads. But that's just me.

Yes, he's still alive. See here: http://www.the-aleecat.com/aaron_sachs1.html

His "official" website says: "Aaron Sachs is still quite active in music in 2013 and makes rare appearances in the New York City area."

Edited May 15, 2013 by jazztrain

[imeanyou]

Rule #1 - If you want to play fast, practice slow.

Well, ok, Rule #1 = Practice, period. But then you get to Rule #1.

That reminds of me JG who mentioned in some interview how he practised in a cork-coated room ... until he got his HUUUUUUUUUGE sound right in that, uhm, narrowing surrounding. And then when he came out of there .... BOOOOOM in your face!

JG=Johnny Griffin?

[sgcim]

is Sachs still alive? He was married to Helen Merrill at some point.

here's something I disagree with and which is I think is dangerously dated, that Ethan says: "you seem to follow the melodic line more than the changes, which is really the higher space of playing."

I think the highest space of playing is to forget about melody and only think about triads. But that's just me.

Yeah, Aaron is still going. I've done numerous gigs with him in Westchester.

He told me the story about when HM ditched him. He woke up one morning and she and the piano were gone!

He's a walking history of jazz, beginning his recording career with the Red Norvo Sextet in the early 1940s, then was a member of the Terry Gibbs Quintet, and then the Earl Hines Quintet

Unlike other BG clones, AS assimilated bebop and beyond, and even studied with Hall Overton.

Plays tenor sax just as great as he plays the clarinet.

Still a creative improviser into his 90s!

[colinmce]

That's wonderful.

[AllenLowe]

I am flabbergasted. And very pleased.

Edited May 16, 2013 by AllenLowe