Sonny Sharrock on Improvisation..

[Jules]

Here's an interesting, if somewhat contovertial, essay from Sonny Sharrock (avant garde jazz/rock guitarist- I'm sure Bobby G knows his work). Your thoughts....?

http://www.sonnysharrock.com/info.asp?pgs=freeimprovisation

 

[altissimo]

what's controversial about this? Sonny Sharrock knew his stuff....

 

[Jamesmac]

I don't know of Sonny Sharrock, and maybe he plays like an angel. But he sure talks a lot. ( is that the bit that is controversial ) Unlike a lot of great improvisers. Thinking of master improvisers like Paul Desmond, who was a musician of few words, and spoke mostly through his instrument.

 

[Nick Wyver]

You seem to be suggesting that to be a great improviser you have to be inarticulate too?

Dave Liebman (and many others) might respectfully disagree.

And Sonny Sharrock is a rather good player too.

 

[Jamesmac]

You seem to be suggesting that to be a great improviser you have to be inarticulate too?

Dave Liebman (and many others) might respectfully disagree.

And Sonny Sharrock is a rather good player too.

No. You obviously don't need to be inarticulate to be a great improviser, in fact Paul Desmond was a writer as well as a great improviser, he just preferred to not write about improvising/ jazz, he preferred to play it. ( which I kinda like) The point I was making is that this piece of writing on improvisation is the same as what you would read on any web site, re. Improvisation, nothing devastating new. Perhaps I could have taken the time to check Sonny out, and compare his notes.
But what is probably more to the point, as a member of the forum, I have a right to an opinion, I also post on YOUR sound clips for other members to enjoy or comment on unlike some contributors on this site who challenge other opinions, and speak with great authority , but never post any examples of how they play themselves.

 

[Nick Wyver]

But what is probably more to the point, as a member of the forum, I have a right to an opinion, I also post on YOUR sound clips for other members to enjoy or comment on unlike some contributors on this site who challenge other opinions, and speak with great authority , but never post any examples of how they play themselves.

Yup. Of course you do - as do we all. Thank you for clarifying your point. I quite like reading about the thought processes of other musicians. I find it interesting how many different ways there are to skin a cat.

BTW (in case the last bit was a dig at me ) if you look really hard you will find a clip I posted some years ago. Although it was just a bit of fun it probably represents what I like doing (apart from playing live in a band - which is what I prefer to do most). Recording myself just doesn't much appeal to me.

 

[Jamesmac]

Yup. Of course you do - as do we all. Thank you for clarifying your point. I quite like reading about the thought processes of other musicians. I find it interesting how many different ways there are to skin a cat.

BTW (in case the last bit was a dig at me ) if you look really hard you will find a clip I posted some years ago. Although it was just a bit of fun it probably represents what I like doing (apart from playing live in a band - which is what I prefer to do most). Recording myself just doesn't much appeal to me.

The sax is a solo instrument, and has the ingredients to inspire. Personally I have the utmost respect for the players who contribute to the forum their musical endeavours, and the starters who have the balls to post, and make this forum more than a talking shop.

 

[ArtyLady]

............. playing live in a band - which is what I prefer to do most). Recording myself just doesn't much appeal to me.

Oh how I agree Nick - I've spent the last couple of months recording for BOTM. I've pulled my hair out learning how to record, work Audacity, upload to Soundcloud......and have decided I hate it! It brings out the worst in me, I sound awful, but playing live brings out the best in me (provided I don't know that anyone is recording it!)


Re the article - I found it very interesting and also like the idea of just developing one's own style as he suggests towards the end - I just don't sound like anyone else as much as I try lol!

 

[altissimo]

that Paul Desmond sure talks a lot - http://youtu.be/1SJVI0HSp6A

 

[altissimo]

it should be noted that the Sharrock 'essay' is in fact from an interview with Guitar Player magazine and it would be unusual for a musician not to 'talk a lot' about music when being interviewed by a music magazine. If he didn't talk a lot, then there wouldn't have been anything worth publishing...
I can't find the original interview, but here's another one, equally interesting - http://www.guitarplayer.com/Default.aspx?tabid=84&ArticleId=6123

and yes, the late great Mr Sharrock did indeed play like an angel, here he is in action with some other angelic beings (am I allowed to say that, or will Kev tell me off for 'mentioning religion'?) -
http://youtu.be/mgzkdFvrWqM

 

[Jules]

and yes, the late great Mr Sharrock did indeed play like an angel, here he is in action with some other angelic beings (am I allowed to say that, or will Kev tell me off for 'mentioning religion'?) -
http://youtu.be/mgzkdFvrWqM

Mr Brotzman.... you monster.... absolutely terrifying, yet auxilerating, sax player (saw him live recently- he shreds a reed pretty much every song- ended up standing in a small pile of frayed teonr reeds by the end of the gig!)....

 

[Nick Wyver]

Mr Brotzman.... you monster.... absolutely terrifying, yet auxilerating, sax player (saw him live recently- he shreds a reed pretty much every song- ended up standing in a small pile of frayed teonr reeds by the end of the gig!)....

Looks like he might do the same to tarogato reeds as well.

 

[Jules]

I've not found him to have quite the raw belligerence on Taragoto... his reeds probably last, oo - say, two or three numbers. Saw Peter Brotzman in Brighton while I was ufffering a raging toothache, it seemed oddly fitting.......

 

[altissimo]

I've not seen Brotzmann for years, is he still wearing that leather trench coat and playing a Berg Larsen...? He had a piece of sheet metal soldered under the crook of his tenor, presumably some kind of reinforcement to withstand the hurricane blast of his playing - there's a pic here - http://noiselab.com/blog/por-que-debes-ver-a-peter-brotzmann-hoy-en-el-festival-aural/
and here - http://www.flickr.com/photos/fabiolug/4318732638/

He's probably the main reason I took up the sax... which might explain my lack of gigs...

 

[Jules]

He's probably the main reason I took up the sax... which might explain my lack of gigs...

Berg- yes, trench coat- no. I'm heading the same way gig wise!