David Izenzon (again?)

ablumley · #1 09-28-2006, 03:43 PM

I've been getting into a lot of Ornette's mid-late 1960's stuff with David Izenzon and I was wondering if anyone knows of interviews/analyses of his playing that are available. Most of what I can find about him are short little biographical paragraphs. I know about his work as a psychotherapist, that he started playing bass in his mid-twenties, and that he didn't like to use an amp. Is there anything else out there?

Thanks,

Aaron

damonsmith · #2 09-28-2006, 05:23 PM

He studied with Fred Zimmerman and I believe David Walter as well. He used to play in orchestras with Bert Turetzky. He is one of my favorite bass players of that time period and as far as I am concerned made the best records Ornette ever made. His students included Gary Peacock and John Lindberg.
Peter Kowald said the reason he studied arco was to learn to sound like David and Ornette (on violin) together.
Other great records are "Further Fire Music" in trio with Archie Shepp, Duo with Jospeph Scanni (very rare), "Dance" with the Paul Motion trio and a favorite of mine: "Sunshine of My Soul" with Jaky Byard and Elvin Jones. they do a great version of "St. Louis Blues" with David playing high register arco, Elvin on Tympani and Jaky playing straight.

jallenbass · #3 09-28-2006, 07:33 PM

He also studied with Tony Bianco in Pittsburgh. One summer the 2 of them painted Tony's house. Tony would sing intervals for David to identify to pass the time.

oliebrice · #4 09-29-2006, 04:30 AM

he also takes a beautiful arco solo on 'travelin' light' on Sonny Rollins 'the standard sonny rollins', with Teddy Smith playing pizz bass, and Jim Hall on guitar.
Much straighter than the Ornette stuff (which I also love), but shows another side to his playing. (edit: its not really a solo, more a counterpoint to Sonny's solo).
Oh, and theres some great Ornette 4tet stuff with Izenzon, Haden and Ed Blackwell together, well worth checking out.

dperrott · #5 09-29-2006, 08:32 AM

There is a Ornette video out that has Izenzon and Charles Moffett on. They do the music for a strange film. I haven't seen the video in years.

As a side note, Ornette has a new album out called Sound Grammar. It has Denardo on drums and 2 bass players, Greg Cohen and Tony Falanga. Falanga plays arco while Cohen plays a "bass" part. Falanga is really a classical player. I like it. I saw them live a few months back, with a third bass player! An electric player. I actually think the album is better than the live date I saw.

Jeff Schwartz · #6 10-04-2006, 03:38 PM

John Lindberg has a solo CD called "Luminosity" which is a tribute to Izenzon. He plays a couple of Izenzon compositions and there's a lot of interesting info in the booklet essay (I'm at work now, hence no excerpts or summary).

damonsmith · #7 10-04-2006, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Schwartz

John Lindberg has a solo CD called "Luminosity" which is a tribute to Izenzon. He plays a couple of Izenzon compositions and there's a lot of interesting info in the booklet essay (I'm at work now, hence no excerpts or summary).

That is a great cd. Lindberg is just awesome.

ablumley · #8 10-13-2006, 11:00 AM

Thanks for the responses. Lots of records to search out. Damon: Thanks for sharing that bit on Peter Kowald wanting to sound like Ornette and David Izenzon playing strings at the same time. That sonic touchstone is really apparent on some of those arco solos that he takes on "For Adolphe Sax". Also, when did Gary Peacock study with Izenzon? Was it before "Spiritual Unity" was cut? I was listening to that on LP yesterday and to me there seemed to be similarities in the way Peacock engages Ayler's sax and the way in which Izenzon seems to alternately play under and play against Ornette's lines in the 1960s trio.

ablumley · #9 12-01-2006, 12:29 PM

Could someone tell me if David Izenzon played with a German or a French Bow?

Thanks

Aaron

oliebrice · #10 04-23-2007, 08:28 AM

theres some great moments on here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I9Bp...elated&search=

of the wonderful ornette trio with Izenzon. Its interrupted with talk-overs, and its only short clips stuck together, but worth a look.

damonsmith · #11 04-23-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ablumley

Could someone tell me if David Izenzon played with a German or a French Bow?

Thanks

Aaron

German, he studied with Fred Zimmermann.

jallenbass · #12 04-23-2007, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by damonsmith

German, he studied with Fred Zimmermann.

and Tony Bianco