Hate to say this on a Zorn list, but someone's gonna have to be the critic. There really are better alto sax players out there. Javon Jackson is beautiful, and Steve Coleman is certainly one of the best ever (check out the sonic language of myth). I don't think that Zorn really compares as a genius on the saxophone. According to a recent interview (from Bomb Magazine I think), Zorn confessed to not practicing regularly in more than 10 years. He's not on the level of someone like Coltrane or Steve Coleman as a performer. I took jazz snob friend of mine who studied with Kenny Baron to see Masada. He LOVED Joey Baron, but said that Zorn was good but not great. He was floored though how Zorn would shift tones likes shifting gears in a car, sounding like Maceo Parker then Ornette Coleman then Eric Dolphy. Samerivertwice@aol.com wrote: No one's ever come out and said it -- not that I've seen anyway -- but my feeling is people on this list have mixed feelings about Zorn's proficiency as a sax player. While I'm hardly an expert on technique or innovations, I happen to think Zorn is an exceptionally good player with a unique style. Do others feel the same? Why or why not? I'd love it if someone could articulate Zorn's style in more technical terms so I can better understand and appreciate his playing approach. Thanks, Tom From: "Downard, Peter" Frankly, on the basis of the Masada studio and live sessions and the News for Lulu trios, I can't think of a better alto player in recent years. Can anybody else? Peter Downard --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site
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
on 11/19/02 9:19 PM, Matthew Garrington at thegrandguignol@yahoo.com wrote:
Hate to say this on a Zorn list, but someone's gonna have to be the critic. There really are better alto sax players out there. Javon Jackson is beautiful, and Steve Coleman is certainly one of the best ever (check out the sonic language of myth). I don't think that Zorn really compares as a genius on the saxophone. According to a recent interview (from Bomb Magazine I think), Zorn confessed to not practicing regularly in more than 10 years. He's not on the level of someone like Coltrane or Steve Coleman as a performer. I took jazz snob friend of mine who studied with Kenny Baron to see Masada. He LOVED Joey Baron, but said that Zorn was good but not great. He was floored though how Zorn would shift tones likes shifting gears in a car, sounding like Maceo Parker then Ornette Coleman then Eric Dolphy. Samerivertwice@aol.com wrote: No one's ever come out and said it -- not that I've seen anyway -- but my feeling is people on this list have mixed feelings about Zorn's proficiency as a sax player. While I'm hardly an expert on technique or innovations, I happen to think Zorn is an exceptionally good player with a unique style. Do others feel the same? Why or why not? I'd love it if someone could articulate Zorn's style in more technical terms so I can better understand and appreciate his playing approach. Thanks, Tom From: "Downard, Peter" Frankly, on the basis of the Masada studio and live sessions and the News for Lulu trios, I can't think of a better alto player in recent years. Can anybody else? Peter Downard Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting <http://rd.yahoo.com/hosting/mailsig/*http://webhosting.yahoo.com> - Let the expert host your site
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 --------------------------------- Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Web Hosting - Let the expert host your site
Wow... you mentioned Zorn's ability to change styles o sax, anad that's a key factor in masada playing. I doubt wheter any older saxophonist could do it that well. Of course, hew could sit in, and play a few solos... on bass clarinet & flute... :-( Marcin ----- Original Message ----- From: Matthew Garrington 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. site
participants (3)
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Marcin Gokieli -
Matthew Garrington -
skip Heller