Branford on Sting and Stardom.....

THand · #1 05-02-2011, 10:23 AM

I just ran across this clip and thought I'd share:

YouTube - Branford Marsalis about Sting and stardom @ web62.com Internet TV

Dr. Cheese · #2 05-02-2011, 10:31 AM

What he said aboout Sting was interesting, and fitting considering what he says in his memoir. Branford sounds like a stereotypical jazz guy when talks about pop. There is lots of pop music that has been listened to over and over for decades. Complexity does not equal good automatically. Simple pop can be priceless, and you can go to any lounge and see jazz musicians with fake books going through the motions.

THand · #3 05-02-2011, 10:46 AM

I thought something similar. Just yesterday, I was listening to The Police...Ghost in the Machine...on CD and was telling my son how I almost wore that LP out back when it came out, & I was in high school.

Matter of fact, probably the majority of what I listen to, I have listened to for decades now. Not that I don't explore new sounds, but it's hard for me to connect to new songs and artist like I could when I was younger. If I hear a new song now, I usually think it sounds like an older song or that there is too much computer magic going on...The older stuff is like certain smells...it can instantly bring back memories and emotions.

Tampabass · #4 05-02-2011, 10:52 AM

BRANFORD

WJGreer · #5 05-02-2011, 10:57 AM

He's so bitter about music as a business...he has no interest in that world, and seems to disdain anyone who does. I couldn't tell if the things he said about Sting came with begrudging respect, or maybe a little acrimony there too. He does admit that Sting is correct, at least in the context of someone pursuing Sting's goals.

Pretty interesting. Thanks for posting.

THand · #6 05-02-2011, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tampabass

BRANFORD

fixed, thanks!

WJGreer · #7 05-02-2011, 11:05 AM

FWIW, Bring On The Night came out 25 years ago and I still listen to it. A lot, kind of.

THand · #8 05-02-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WJGreer

FWIW, Bring On The Night came out 25 years ago and I still listen to it. A lot, kind of.

I keep meaning to buy the DVD. I saw it on HBO ( I think ) and really enjoyed it.

WJGreer · #9 05-02-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THand

I keep meaning to buy the DVD. I saw it on HBO ( I think ) and really enjoyed it.

That group of musicians walked a very fine line between rock and jazz. It was obviously a bunch of jazz guys playing Sting's music in a rock setting - which appealed to me then and now very much indeed.

I'm not criticizing - that Darryl Jones and the guy playing footballs for the Stones over the last 20 years don't sound like the same guy to me.

THand · #10 05-02-2011, 11:25 AM

I couldn't understand why Sting hired someone to play bass, and I was happy when he finally started playing bass again. He was the first person I knew of playing fretless, then Steinberger's, then Spector with EMG's....he just seemed daring and cutting edge at the time. I enjoyed Darryl Jones playing, but I never could fully accept "why" he was there.

echoSE7EN · #11 05-02-2011, 11:44 AM

I'm in my mid-30s and still of buying stuff that's forgotten about two months later. I'll look through my iPhone/iPod and just blink..."I bought this!? When!?" There are albums that I still listen to after 20 years, but I'm as guilty as the next person for buying too much "throwaway" music.

Jazzdogg · #12 05-02-2011, 12:02 PM

I agree that much of contemporary pop culture is more concerned with superficial appearances than substance; selling the sizzle instead of the steak.

That said, quite a few of the remarks I've heard from Branford and Wynton seem quite intolerant, condescending, contemptuous, holier-than-thou. I find it sad that someone would expend so much time and energy mired in self-imposed negativity.