Parker/Schlippenbach/Lytton Anywhere But Tonic

[Jonathan Sutton]

Houston reporting. I drove 250 miles there, stayed the night with a friend who also came to the concert, and drove 250 miles back the next day. It would have been well worth driving 500 miles for and staying with someone I detested who slashed my tires just before I was due to leave.

Capacity crowd at a dance studio in downtown Houston -- I estimate 90-100, but that could be way off. After the break, Schlippenbach came back playing a medley of 2 Monk tunes, one of which was Work and I can't recall the other. He improvised on the tunes in a standard manner -- and very well, it is probably not necessary to add. I think on the old Tonic thread someone mentioned a similar thing happened elsewhere, but the poster characterized it as "a joke." I don't think it was a joke. It was shocking and surprising, and would not have worked except as the opening to the second set. But it worked really well as an integrated part of the performance. If Parker had come out playing Giant Steps that could only have been a joke, no matter how well he played it. I cannot explain the difference -- anyone care to try (assuming you agree)?

It was also very interesting to watch Parker when he wasn't playing. He listened intently to Schlippenbach, of course (and Lytton, too, I imagine), but I was intrigued by the fact that he was constantly fingering his saxophone. I expect that at each moment he was fingering what he would play if he were to reenter right then so that he would be right on top of it when he decided that the moment was right to actually reenter. Perhaps this sort of thing is common in free improv -- I have heard a lot of free improv, but seen relatively little. Again, anyone care to comment? I certainly have never seen anything comparable at a regular (or not so regular) jazz gig. (Apologies to those who insist that Parker plays jazz -- I disagree (except for the Charlie Watts Big Band etc.), but that is not in any way a criticism!)

As for the rest of the concert -- well, you probably know what Parker et. al. sound like if you are reading this post, so I'll just leave it at "sublime."

[hkimprov]

It's great to hear that Parker/Schlippenbach/Lytton is playing in Texas. Is it the first time that they are playing there? People like Schlippenbach and Brotzmann traveling a lot in the States these days. The last time I've seen Schlippenbach was in 2000, with his quintet playing all Monk compositions.

[Jonathan Sutton]

I have only lived in Texas for 5 years, and only rekindled a serious interest in music about 2 and a half years ago, so I am not sure whether Parker has played in Texas before. Brotzmann is playing in Houston next week. I would say that there are 4 or 5 visits by comparable musicians each year to Houston and Austin. Almost never to Dallas, though. Hence the long drive.

[hkimprov]

Thanks for your prompt reply, Jonathan.

There's the Vision Festival in NY starting 21/5. Hopefully I can go there and catch all of them.

Milford Graves duet with Peter Brotzmann and so many Chicago cats.

[David Williams]

Originally posted by Jonathan Sutton
I drove 250 miles there, stayed the night with a friend who also came to the concert, and drove 250 miles back the next day.

My hat's off to you sir; and here I am only 150 miles from London, and the Vortex: I should make the effort more often. Don't know anyone there who could put me up, these days.

[jgthomas]

I did a similar thing to Jonathan but drove to Austin on Saturday to see this group.
It was a great concert. They played one long set with all possible permutations
of solos, duos, trios. Schlippenbach played Monk here too though I am not
sure which tunes. During some of the pieces he placed some metal objects (what
looked like bowls or small cymbals) on the strings to alter the piano sound.
He also did a cool version of Dolphy's "Miss Ann" during his solo segment. I can't believe
he is 65 years old!

Parker has played in Texas before. He appeared in Austin (Houston prob too) a year or
two ago, solo and in duos with Susie Ibarra.

[Jonathan Sutton]

David, 150 miles in Britain (where I spent the first 23 years of my life) is subjectively much further than 250 miles in Texas. Obviously, the relative sizes of the countries has something to do with it. I'd say by the relevant standards, I should be credited with no more than 100 psychological miles for the drive.

Schlippenbach did the piano preparations (in the loosest sense of the term) in Houston, too. He's a lot more dignified looking at 65 than he is in the liner photos of Pakistani Pomade which I bought at the concert! I recall now that Parker and Ibarra did play in Houston a year or two back, as you supposed, JG, at Rice U -- I even recommended the event to a friend of mine.