To create works of audio art that reaches those places that make you travel across a country to see just one set, a musician has to have an emotional tie with his music. He needs to have an almost supernatural ability to fill the space between the ears with the spontaneous feeling and emotions flowing through the night. The traditional jam bands seem to do this for me best, with artists like the Grateful Dead and Phish able to (sometimes) capture that essence of emotion, and channel it through their instrument. Its easy to forget that jam bands weren't/arent the only ones to do this.
The first time i heard zappa's "hot rats" blew me away. Someone i had passed off as a novelty act could jam. On the very first listen, i knew it was something special. Here was a leader who could show others the way to that plateau- where the notes come together in a way that can only happen once- a moment in time that was thankfully captured on tape for generations like mine that weren't even born yet.
I always knew jam rock had deep roots in blues and jazz. The festival scene is full of the charlie hunter and MMWs of the world. But the first time i heard bitches brew....
They say that at the time miles was working on bitches brew, he was tired of the jazz scene. Already a household name, fans went to his shows looking for the traditional jazz scene- trumpet, stand up bass, piano. In Aug of '69, right after woodstock, davis brought a bunch of musicians to the studio with little notice. Giving them only basic feeling and tempos for what he wanted to create, he created an ensemble that looked more like the grateful dead than thelonious monk. Borrowing from the world of electric guitars, electric bass, and electric piano, davis' statement was a powerful as that of dylan going electric. The instruments are merely an extension of the players.
And man, what a sound. A mantra i truely believe is "live music is better". This may be a studio album, but the magic of a live improvosational is clear. This isnt a record with sheet music fine tuned note for note- This is the audio record of musicians speaking through their tools. Like life, its a roller coaster of emotion. The precision of intricate horn and bass work. The quiet- accented by a gutteral barely audible rythm. The thunderous cacoughany of caos that suddenly snaps together into harmony that flow as if they had no other way. New ways of playing with the sound were created- loops of sounds, knocks, voices- the birth of funk, cool jazz, jam, psychedelic rock, all rolled into one.
Live Music Is Better.
Comments
Radiohead had the capability of producing a group trance like effect on their audiences....it's pretty amazing, something I haven't experienced at any other live show. I think much of it has to do with Thom Yorke's ability to channel that energy you refer to in your post. It's enchanting to see him lead the band on to ever increasing levels of intensity in such tracks on idiotique and stand up, sit down.
for reals? is that the story of this album? i did not know.
but I must respectfully disagree with you. there is no "better," there is only music.