Actually I never made any remarks about playing dotted thirty-second notes (but Zorn can actually play real fast). Steve Coleman isn't really known for doing that type of stuff anyways. I just think that Coltrane and Coleman are better soloists. I bet anything that Zorn would agree without blinking on that remark. Somebody made the comment of Zorn as a performer. I'm inclined to agree that Javon Jackson wouldn't sound as good as Zorn in Masada, but I think Eric Dolphy would sound better. I really enjoy Zorn much more as a composer than as a performer.

matt g

 skip Heller <velaires@earthlink.net> wrote:

If your concept of what makes a guy a great player can be based on his
ability to play dotted thirty-second notes at q= 280, then there are lotsa
guys better than John Zorn. But using that as your yardstick, you've just
made Al DiMeola better than Curtis Mayfield.

Zorn's execution is right for his ideas. And his ideas are great. The fact
that he's not hurling Joe Hendersonisms forth at every turn doesn't mean
he's not as great as Joe (who was very, very great). Just means he has a
different job. I'm not all that sure Javon would sound that good in Masada.
But I'm more than reasonably sure Zorn could function admirably in any
context where Javon might excel.


Jazz snobs don't generally give it up to guys who pilot their craft that
way.

sh