Wynton Marsalis?

[Benzum]

I'm after this "Sparks" tune, going around for the iPod / iTunes commercials, as it was performed just for special iPod sessions, I can't get hold of it, and it's annoying because it's always on TV every half an hour or so, and I need to get a copy of it ;)

Anyone got this? + for those who have heard it, does Wynton play similar stuff on all his albums?

Thanks for any help etc :wave:

[Benzum]

Hmmm, I tried to DL it off LimeWire, and got something completely different :angry:

[Rams]

It's an iTunes exclusive tune, along with two other tracks ("Oh Row That Boat" & "Quick Ate"). I don't personally have it. And yes, the rest of his jazz playing is pretty much the same as what you heard on the TV ad.

[Tillmon]

Check out the Herbie Hancock album, just called "Quartet" with Wynton, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. His playing on it is spectacular, I think you'll like it if you like Sparks.

[Zappa]

Check out the Herbie Hancock album, just called "Quartet" with Wynton, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. His playing on it is spectacular, I think you'll like it if you like Sparks.

I haven't heard of this, and am thoroughly interested now. Thanks.

[Samuel]

The "Standard Time" albums are also quite cool. He does some interesting stuff on them.

[Rams]

Does Wynton have any recordings with James Carter? Those two sound like they'd be great together.

[Krabsworth]

Wynton is awesome. Some of my favorite jazz.

[jazzfromhell]

Although I haven't heard very good things about it, I've never listened to his music, so I won't comment on it. However, I very strongly disagree with his stance on what qualifies as "jazz." The Ken Burns Jazz Documentary, which he had strong influence over, was successful in some ways, but in many ways was a total disaster.

[Kayetan]

Although I haven't heard very good things about it, I've never listened to his music, so I won't comment on it. However, I very strongly disagree with his stance on what qualifies as "jazz." The Ken Burns Jazz d0cumentary, which he had strong influence over, was successful in some ways, but in many ways was a total disaster.Care to elaborate? I've only seen one or two parts of that documentary.

[jazzfromhell]

Care to elaborate? I've only seen one or two parts of that d0cumentary.


Well, here are some of the biggest errors, from what I remember. First, and for me, biggest issue: Wynton Marsalis has a very limited definition of what constitutes "jazz." He follows the very traditional viewpoint that says music must "swing", stay in key, follow the rules, have melody, etc. to be jazz. Therefore, most new forms of jazz from the mid-50's onward that weren't rehashes of previous forms (for example (of rehash), the music of Wynton Marsalis :rolleyes: ) are not "jazz." Fusion, free jazz, avant-garde, whatever, doesn't count as "jazz" in his book.

Next, the documentary was ridiculously out of balance. They spend around six of the ten DVD's talking about the thirties, and around the majority of that time is only spent on Benny Goodman. Somewhere around three of the DVD's/episodes were used to cover the fifty years between 1945 and the present. So, let's put this in perspective: the entire careers of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, etc. etc. were covered in three hour and a half segments, while Benny Goodman got the majority of five or six of these segments. And I only talked about the musicians who were actually mentioned in the documentary, which brings me to my next point.

Many of jazz's best and most important musicians were ignored, or mentioned briefly and for the wrong reasons. Bill Evans was left out completely. Bud Powell and Charles Mingus, for all they accomplished, were only mentioned for a minute or two because of their mental instabilities. As I said above, fusion and free jazz are basically ignored, so that discounts a large group of important players. The only time Cecil Taylor was mentioned, he was insulted (no offense, but there isn't really a smiley on this site that's good for conveying pure outrage).


So, in conclusion, if you want to watch a documentary shaped around jazz bigotry that does a pretty good job of covering Benny Goodman's career, and does a decent job with some others, go for it. :rolleyes:

[Benzum]

Check out the Herbie Hancock album, just called "Quartet" with Wynton, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. His playing on it is spectacular, I think you'll like it if you like Sparks.

I'll do that right now, thanks :thumb:

[Chrysostom]

I own his 'Marciac Suite' album. Top stuff.

[jus]

The only time Cecil Taylor was mentioned, he was insulted (no offense, but there isn't really a smiley on this site that's good for conveying pure outrage).

I agree with you with most fo your post. I also agree that Cecil Taylor should have been looked at deeper in the DVD, but the clip they did have of Cecil was something along the lines of him saying, "I prepare before my concerts, so i think the audience must work and prepare for my concerts too." I believe what Wynton said about it was "It was the most self indulgent bull**** I've ever heard." I think Wynton's response was an insult, but he doesn't try to hide it. He is a very opinionated man, but he won't beat around the bush. And honestly, it was a very self indulgent thing to say, but that's not the point. All in all I think the series does a good job showing what it did, but it should definantly be used in addition to other films/teaching.

[jazzfromhell]

I agree with you with most fo your post. I also agree that Cecil Taylor should have been looked at deeper in the DVD, but the clip they did have of Cecil was something along the lines of him saying, "I prepare before my concerts, so i think the audience must work and prepare for my concerts too." I believe what Wynton said about it was "It was the most self indulgent bull**** I've ever heard." I think Wynton's response was an insult, but he doesn't try to hide it. He is a very opinionated man, but he won't beat around the bush. And honestly, it was a very self indulgent thing to say, but that's not the point. All in all I think the series does a good job showing what it did, but it should definantly be used in addition to other films/teaching.


I'll agree that Cecil Taylor talks a lot of out-there BS, but if Wyton Marsalis wants to talk self-indulgent, he probably shouldn't be doing it while participating in a documentary that hails him as "the savior of jazz." I mean, Wynton Marsalis didn't do anything. He's popular, but as far as I know he didn't innovate in any way whatsoever. What he's accomplished (once again, this is only as far as I know, but I believe it'd be somewhere around nothing, other than maybe sparking a bit more interest in jazz) amounts to a negligible amount compared to what Cecil Taylor has done.

[jus]

I agree, Wynton is definantly no Louis or Dizzy. I think mostly the clip was put it for the comedic value, you can say you didn't at least crack a smile when it just cuts instantly to Wynton, and he says that. It is somewhat hypocritical I agree. All in all it was in pretty bad taste.

[Joseph India]

People give Wynton so many opportunities to "show us the way" about jazz, and if you gave anyone that opportunity they would sound like a jerk, he is no exception. He is no original either.

[Samuel]

Just to clarify, it was Branford who trashed Taylor.

But Wynton is still annoying as hell through the whole thing.

[jus]

Just to clarify, it was Branford who trashed Taylor.

But Wynton is still annoying as hell through the whole thing.

You know what, when I just entered this thread I thought to myself, "wait, was it Branford or Wynton that was bashing Taylor."

Thanks for clearing it up, my mistake.

[BassVirtuoso]

Wynton's version of Autumn Leaves is great.

[Samuel]

Wynton's version of Autumn Leaves is great.
Yeah, those metric modulations are awesome. It's a very interesting take on a pretty worn out tune.