Ornette at the RFH
I know it's not standard DiS fare but did anyone go to this? I thought it was absolutely awful. It wasn't Ornette himself, I'm aware of how his age has taken its toll on his skills, it was the drumming. I've seen Denardo playing with his Dad before and I don't remember him playing that badly. Bill Frisell and Patti Smith livened it up a bit but there's not much you can do when your rhythm section isn't just on another page but a completely different book.
When the Master Musicians came on at the end it should have been one of the musical highlights of my life but I was sat with my head in my hands the whole time in disbelief. One of the worst gigs I've ever been to.
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really?
I was tempted to go to this, not listened to him loads but I assumed it would be a classic gig. My guitar teacher was there actually, a proper "jazzer". I'll ask him what he thought next time I see him.
yeah
this wasn't very good... :(
Glad it wasn't just me.
I presume the standing ovation at the end was in recognition of the man's life works. I was reminded of the Brian Wilson Pet Sounds show where I was sat in almost exactly the same spot - artist past his best but backed up by awesome band that brings the music to life. Ah, how great this could have been...Radio 3 noarmally record these things but I would say this one was unbroadcastable. Oh well, off to see Charlie Haden tonight. That should be good.
Housemate was wingeing
about how he buggered up a perfectly good Bobby McFerrin gig with an improv encore where he stole all the limelight.
ohhhh
I really wanted to go to this but couldn't afford it. I don't even feel smug, just sad that Ornette can't cut it no more. I think it's been a brilliant Meltdown line up wise however. What's everyones highlights?
only caught Ono properly
but the free Polar Bear concert followed by her was pretty awesome. There's a DiS review round up due next week that'll feature reviews of Roots, YLT, Yoko, Patti Smith and tomorrow's Ornette concert - everyone seems to have loved everything, though bit nervous for tomorrow now!
Really looking forward to Charlie Haden tonight.
Robert Wyatt is on the bill. I would love him to do some singing but since he doesn't sing live any more I expect he'll just play trumpet on Song For Che.
Moby
was fantastic, loved it.
Woah, really wanted to go, especially with Frisell on the lineup
But I couldn't arrange it.
Oh man, that's really sad though. I've been listening to The Shape of Jazz To Come all week.
It wasn't really 'The Shape of...'
As you or I would know it. I was expecting it to open with Lonely Woman. I think I detected bits of the theme in the shambolic finale with the Master Musicians but otherwise they might have played it as an encore. I left by that point.
There were 2 bassists (electric and accoustic) and the electric bass played most of the themes and Don Cherry parts, more like a guitar than bass because Ornette doesn't keep time like he used to. Bill Frisell was amazing but it did sound a bit OTT with 2 guitars soloing. They finished with Dancing In Your Head/School Work/The Good Life (whatever you want to call it) which was good but he kept coming out of time. His soloing is still wonderful though. There were very bried moments of transcendent beauty. When the finale started up I thought it wouldn't have sounded out of place on the recent Sunn album. Unfortunately those moments were all when the drumming stopped.
I've been reflecting on why it was so bad and last time I saw him the bassist was Charnett Moffatt, son of the drummer in his 60s trio, who acted as band leader. I thought they were surprisingly tight. This time Denardo was following his dad's lead, which is the one person you don't want to be taking cues from.
Just saw my guitar teacher downtown
said he loved it, and the Master Musicians at the end was one of the loudest things he's ever heard
Fair enough
The Master Musicians of Joujouka were wonderful and I guess if he's a guitar teacher then he'll have seen some amazing guitar playing last night which might sway it. I get the impression lots of people in the audience were just in awe of hearing a bone fide musical legend but it just didn't come together for me. I've been to hundreds of jazz gigs at all points on the traditional to free spectrum, including Ornette, so I've plenty to base my opinion on and I can honestly say I've never heard anything so disappointing.
.
that's a shame. last time ornette was over here denardo was absolutely amazing
Was that when Cecil Taylor was on the day after?
I wish I'd gone to that. You only need to listen to Sound Grammar to hear that he's still got it. I saw them about the same time that was recorded and it was brilliant. oh well.
.
i'm not sure..it was at the barbican
i saw cecil in 2005 at the (now legendary, apparently!) double-header with anthony braxton' sextet..they released braxton's set as ive in london because it was so good..seriously i have never been so blown away by live music i don't think.
cecil was amazing too, with tony oxley (also awesome) and bill dixon (who i was less impressed with)
I hate you
I'd have loved to go to that but just couldn't, I'm kicking myself now. Sounds like we might have been at the same Ornette gig at the Barbican. I think it was 2001, not when Sound Grammar was recorded as I said earlier. Not sure if he's played that venue since.
Charlie Haden was amazing last night
Slightly frail as he's getting on a bit too but backed up with an amazing band. I thought it was quite a short set and then realised 2 hours had elapsed.
Most importantly on two of the songs Robert Wyatt actually sang! I can die happy now.
^ Staggering.
The previews had said Wyatt would be doing a 'spoken word' contribution so I wasn't holding my breath for him singing, but by God I was holding it pretty much all the way through his time on the stage. Pretty much waited near on 30 years to see that, since I first discovered Wyatt's work.
All round wonderful show and I agree that it didn't feel at all like two hours. Though curious to know what delayed Ornette turning up.
Yeah, it's a shame that.
Not sure the jokes made up for the lack of Coleman but it was quite touching when he came out at the end. I don't know why Robert Wyatt doesn't perform his own stuff any more. He could get one of his many collaborators to sort out the live stuff and just turn up on the night. I saw him at his own meltdown doing the Roger Waters bit on comfortably numb but I that doesn't really count as singing so I was totally floored on Saturday.
Anyone see Ornette last night? I hope it was a better show.
Did you think that was touching, I found it a little awkward really
And the end of Charlie Haden was a bit shambolic as he was frantically trying to find out what was going on and why Ornette wasn't playing. In a lot of ways I preferred the night before which you seem to have been slating, I can see why you didn't like the drums but I thought they were fine. And I preferred it before frisell came on, he seemed out of place really and didn't seem to know what he was doing. The two basses were good for me. Was pleasantly surprised by the Bad Plus on saturday, thankfully nothing like what I've heard on record from them. The drummer looked annoying though.
I thought Wyatt was good, missed a few notes but his voice is beautiful. Haden didn't seem fully in control to me.