Friday, May 2, 2008
CT Is it Jazz?
Gil Scott Heron had a song out years ago called "Is It Jazz?" When he would do it in person he would talk about how he would always find his records in Miscellaneous.
It could be hard to classify the improvisational based music and work by many musicians who previously created straight jazz in the seventies and eighties. Miles Davis was electricity uncorked through the Jimi filter, Roy Ayers brought jazz to soul. Les McCann, Herbie Hancock, and even Bill Evans moved from Steinway to Fender Rhodes.
Then there were folks like Freddie Hubbard, George Benson into large productions by Creed Taylor who expanded from his work at Verve and A&M. I dispute that CTI was the birth of inoccuous "smooth jazz." Early seventies CTI albums that were not hard to listen to, but not necessarily "easy listening." he music was often produced big (but like Hubbard's Red Clay) this could be by creating a dynamic large quintet sound, no strings or large orchestrations, although CTI in that era could easily include both of those elements.
My favorite moments on these albums often include star musicians who play supporting roles on the projects of others. Chet Baker is at about his most lyrical on Jim Hall's Concierto. There's Joe Henderson and is very memorable in his solos on Red Clay, And Ron Carter seems to be the time keeper and a unstoppable force on just about all of the albums, it seemed.
Kyoto Jazz Massive is as hard to classify as the CTI early seventies halcyon days. There music is big, positive, but is as influenced as much by the soul and funk of the seventies as the musical form that is part of their name. And interestingly enough, they released an album of CTI and Kudo (related funk jazz level --think Grover Washington Jr.) My favorite track is Freddie Hubbard and Milt Jackson making a lovely turn through the Stylistics' People Make the World Go Round." If you need to ask "Is it jazz?" I would have to answer, "Does it matter?"
posted by well-executed buffet at 9:38 PM
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