Scott Henderson Discussion

[dizzy]

Hey Scott. Thanks for answering these questions! Long time fan.

What do you think of the new York jazz scene?.....not Wayne Kranz and Adam rogers. But the free stuff. I won't name anyone. But I sometimes check out music by highly respected players in new York and I find it unappealing.....it sounds academic....it reminds me of intellectual music in acedamia.
Obviously there are exceptions like Chris potter.
I know you are not a critique. Just curious if you are able to appreciate some of the atonal music that is going on in new york.
or what thoughts you have on this style of music.

thanks Scott

[Scott Henderson]

To be honest I don't like it much, but I haven't heard it all so I'm sure there are exceptions. I can listen to an atonal piece on an album and get into it, but then I want to hear some music. I love the way Jaco started his Word Of Mouth album with a great atonal tune and then right into Three Views Of A Secret. But a whole night of that first tune - no thanks.

I draw the line when I can't tell the difference between experienced musicians and six year olds. A lot of the atonal stuff I've heard makes it difficult to tell. I don't consider Chris Potter atonal at all - he's one of my favorite players. He plays out but it's far from atonal. Experienced ears can hear when outside playing makes musical sense, and when it's just a bunch of chromatic nonsense. The latter makes me want to throw up, and I have to say I've heard that a few times in NY. I won't mention any names either.

[dizzy]

Thanks for the response. That is a good point about being able to tell when something is chromatic nonsense. When I hear you or Chris potter even if I don't know exactly what concept you are doing the overall effect makes musical sense. When I hear some players it is intuitively obvious that it is b.s.

[Scott Henderson]

A little comedy on that subject:

http://blogthoven.tumblr.com/post/3218733911/stephen-colbert-reacts-to-john-zorn-receiving-a

[dizzy]

[quote="Scott Henderson"]A little comedy on that subject:

http://blogthoven.tumblr.com/post/3218733911/stephen-colbert-reacts-to-john-zorn-receiving-a[/quote]

Ha Ha Ha!

Yeah John Zorn pretty much sums it up.