“Is it jazz?” This question has plagued improvised music for nearly half a century. Almost as long as people have used the label “jazz”, they have questioned how to define it. Some – Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Crouch being perhaps the most prominent voices – have even proposed unsupportable theses on the “true” definition of […]
“Stop.” “Exit.” “Wet Floor.” From a purely functional perspective, readers encounter signs countless times throughout their day. They have become so commonplace that many are understandable by mere symbols without text. But at what point does a sign become more than just notice or direction? We are similarly swimming in an ocean of sounds yet […]
We continue our conversation with bassists Ulf Ivarsson and Bill Laswell (read Part One here) with a further discussion of their new album Nammu (Ropeadope, 2022). We also cover Miles Davis, Ornette Coleman, turntablists, and the concept of genre. PostGenre: Ulf, how did you write the parts for Nammu? Ulf Ivarsson: When I sat down […]
One could cogently argue that Bill Laswell is the epitome of an artist unconfined by genre norms. As critic Chris Brazier correctly noted, “Laswell’s pet concept is ‘collision music’ .. bringing together musicians from wildly divergent but complementary spheres and seeing what comes out.” The output of Laswell’s first major band, Material, runs the gamut […]
People often start down the path of better understanding and appreciating art by emphasizing an artist’s intent. While a valid line of inquiry, this focus on artistic objectives is also flawed. Too often, the interpreter’s personal biases predominate the analysis. Ultimately, subjectivity is an inescapable part of every artistic study. Statements by, or interviews with, […]
We continue our conversation with Ron Carter by discussing his Foursight Quartet’s upcoming performances at both Carnegie Hall and the Newport Jazz Festival, his musical explorations of other cultures, and the power of music and education. You can read part one of our conversation here. PostGenre: So far, we have discussed two – the octet […]
Ron Carter is one of the most esteemed voices in contemporary music. Since arriving in New York in 1959, the so-called “golden year” of jazz, he has developed into one of the music’s most iconic artists. With over 2,200 recordings to his credit, Mr. Carter is the most recorded jazz bassist of all time. That’s […]
We continue our conversation with Mary Halvorson (Part One here) with a focus on her compositional process, the origin of her new sextet, the selection of the Mivos Quartet, and how Belladonna (Nonesuch, 2022) and Amaryllis (Nonesuch, 2022) connect to some of her other projects. PostGenre: One of the more fascinating things about Belladonna and […]
Sir Jeffrey Tate, the first principal conductor of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, once noted that “the most perfect expression of human behavior is a string quartet.” Where a string quartet can sound serene in one moment, it may reflect panic or morosity in the next. As Tate’s original career choice was medicine, it […]
Our conversation with Bill Summers (part one available here) continues with a further discussion on the Headhunters, how percussionists are often treated differently, the symbolism behind batá drums, and why “Latin rhythms” is a mischaracterization. PostGenre: Do you feel the emphasis many put on the bottle part on “Watermelon Man” minimizes your contribution to Head […]
