Opinions of Chris Wood

[Michael Case]

I understand what you are saying. I assume you didn't read my last reply, because we posted within minutes of each other. My beef is with attitude, not the music. I'm not defending MMW's music, I was just a little bugged by the place you were coming from.

[newmusicbass]

#1. this thread is called opinions of chris wood. these are my opinions. To some people, MMW are ground breaking, maybe it's the first time they have heard anything like that, maybe they would be into some of the other music you suggested, and maybe they are put off by your coments.
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this is exactly why im stressing these points! im not trying to be hipper than anyone. i do work exculsivily in free jazz/free improvisation, so i do know a bit about what im talking about. i am put off by these guys making millions (or many thousands at least) and getting credit for being "experimental" while many of the originators of the ideas they are watering down can't pay their rent. on top of that, it's a bit of a sore issue, because these people are not just my heros but many are my friends and teachers as well.
but mike, don't you think it's a little funny that the west coast guy is shaking things up and the new york guy is kind of saying calm down?
damon
again: listen to what you want!

[Michael Case]

Damon,

I understand and respect your point and opinion. At this moment I am going between this post and your site and I must admit, I like what I am hearing. I'm not a hippie, I'm not trying to say your wrong, in fact I think it's cool to turn people on to the music you are talking about. It was just the way you came across that got to me.

Mike

[lermgalieu]

newmusicbass - this thread is not called "whether or not chris wood is groundbreaking". I hope that isn't your sole judging criteria, because its like 1/800 of the spectrum. Just because something isn't "groundbreaking" whatever you mean by that, does NOT mean it is "commercial" as those aren't opposites. I personally think MMW do what they want to do, I don't think they do what they do to appease the public, or else they could surely do it even better and sell out more if that was their plan. However, obviously this doesn't mean they are on the cutting edge of anything, however I don't think many people here actually suffer from that delusion. They are very solid, sometimes moving players who are doing what they love. I am not even the hugest of fans, but I totally can appreciate what they are doing and why they are doing it, which has less to do with being groundbreaking than it has to do with being true to yourself and what you enjoy. I like lots of music...groundbreaking and otherwise.

[dylanjohnson]

I will bet you that none of those players (Braxton, etc.)would share your opinions on their music. If one hears their own music as freer rhythmically, etc, great! If one wants to play a funk groove with freer playing on top, cool! Nothing is watered down if that is the way they want it, right? Its frustrating to hear people with attitudes like this.... its just like Wynton talks..... I bet you dont want to hear that!!!!!

[GeneralElectric]

Howdy, so hurray for following the stickies, eh?

I played upright in HS and just recently heard a few songs by MMV. In particular, this song blew me away:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f1BPIg4HCy8

That song, and his tone, is leading me into getting a new upright so I can play again.

I haven't purchased any of their albums yet. Anything you'd recommend? Any other bassists sound like him/play like him? I'd be interested in hearing it.

[scronus]

NewmusicBass What do you think of the Laswell Zorn projects or bands like the secret cheifs ? I dont think They are commercial ,But they draw crowds wherever they go .Some of what they do is definantly experimental but not technically freejazz .Do they not measure up to your standards? History is full of progenitors that never got their due while others became commercially succesful doing it .It happens, get over it ,cause its gonna keep happening too.If you feel it necessary to name drop and then say something like if you like Mmw you wont like this then you need to seriuosly work on your people skills .

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by scronus

NewmusicBass What do you think of the Laswell Zorn projects or bands like the secret cheifs ? I dont think They are commercial ,But they draw crowds wherever they go .Some of what they do is definantly experimental but not technically freejazz .Do they not measure up to your standards? History is full of progenitors that never got their due while others became commercially succesful doing it .It happens, get over it ,cause its gonna keep happening too.If you feel it necessary to name drop and then say something like if you like Mmw you wont like this then you need to seriuosly work on your people skills .

Funny, newmusicbass was me, several years ago, "much" younger, and even more opinionated. I like a lot of what Zorn and Laswell do. Except for some of Trevor's double bass projects Bungle and post Bungle are not my thing, just personally.
I stand by what I was originally reacting to, the positioning of CW as any kind of an innovator probably this:

Originally Posted by takemusu

Chris Wood of Medeski, Martin & Wood is absolutely outstanding. All three are, really, and they push not only the limits of jazz but music in general to breathtaking extremes.

He is a great player with a good successful band which is plenty for one person.
Innovation isn't everything, but it is something.
Musicians like MMW have a lot of people expecting everything from them.
What they do, they do well.
"Pushing the limits of music in general" is just not one of the things they do.

[Jason Sypher]

newmusicbass, a softer, gentler Damon Smith????

[MingusAmongUs]

Originally Posted by Jason Sypher

newmusicbass, a softer, gentler Damon Smith????

Or vice-versa....
What a funny thread. Especially this one:

Originally Posted by Peter McFerrin

That's what I don't like about MMW--it's pseudo-jazz for dirty hippies and rich potheads. There's only so much you can do with one-chord vamps. It's sad, because they're all very talented jazz players, but MMW is better IMO if you aren't actually listening to it. It's great music for smoking up and expounding about freeing Mumia.

[Christopher]

Originally Posted by GeneralElectric

I haven't purchased any of their albums yet. Anything you'd recommend? Any other bassists sound like him/play like him? I'd be interested in hearing it.

The one other guy I can think of that sounds like Wood was Dave Carpenter (RIP). Really funky upright chops. Check out the "Ocean's Eleven" soundtrack, which has a lot of prominent Carpenter lines.

[damonsmith]

Originally Posted by Christopher

The one other guy I can think of that sounds like Wood was Dave Carpenter (RIP). Really funky upright chops. Check out the "Ocean's Eleven" soundtrack, which has a lot of prominent Carpenter lines.

For groove playing on upright my two favorites are the South Africans Johnny Dyani (RIP) and Harry Miller (RIP). Especially when either one or both played the drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo. Dyani might be easiest to find in duo with Dollar Brand, and Miller with Chris Macgregor's Brotherhood of Breath.
Both of them had outrageous chops, too.

[GeneralElectric]

I just like Chris Woods concept of groove. I wish I could play that good My upright skills have gone stagnant since I haven't even held a DB in almost 2 years...

[Will Yager]

I'm pretty excited about seeing them tonight!