Re: [JPL] Shades of Felicano & Hendrix in the 60s. René Marie stirs it up

[Jim Wilke]

Interesting, the variety of responses this has evoked.  Jaco also had  
a wild version on solo electric bass, and how about George Coleman  
solo sax version on the CD "America"?  I think we had this discussion  
before and I mentioned seeing Max Roach play the National Anthem on a  
hi-hat (alone) before a Sonics game.  I've got an hilarious tape of  
Slim Gaillard attempting it at a ball game, but apparently forgetting  
the words and scatting and improvising the melody - absolutely vouty- 
o-rooney!

I'd have to agree with Jae, it's probably not the smartest thing to  
do much "enhancement" at a ball game, it's a matter of context.   
There's been a trend for pop artists to try to outdo each other with  
melismatic elaboration reminiscent of Medieval plainsong  (nothing  
new here, really!) and it gets even more ridiculous in the hands or  
voice of the unskilled performer.  Unfortunately, we're seeing and  
hearing more of them than ever before.

However, on a different plane, have you heard Carla Bley's five- 
movement big band suite "The National Anthem" on the CD "Looking for  
America"?  This one's never going to be played in a sports stadium or  
a rock concert. For one thing it's over 20 minutes long, and for  
another you couldn't play it if you were stoned!   It's a brilliant  
piece of writing and playing using fragments of SSB and turning them  
every which way, different rhythms and voicings ranging from a  
salvation army band to classic chorale to boogaloo to free improv,  
even incorporating a solemnly intoned "O Canada" rising out of an  
Ivesian fray near the end.   It's breathtaking, and I always play it  
around the 4th of July.  I've thought I might hear some complaints,  
but I haven't (so far) in the five years I've played it.    I'll play  
it again this Saturday night at 1 AM EDT on most stations... http:// 
jazzafterhours.org/stations.html

Jim Wilke
Jazz After Hours, PRI
www.jazzafterhours.org


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On Jul 2, 2008, at 1:36 PM, Jae Sinnett wrote:

>
> I would concur Eric about Jimi's version. I think it was off the  
> cuff too because his performance was delayed for so long that by  
> the time he came on I think it was about 6am. It was like the  
> beginning of a new day. In reference to the drugs....It's funny...I  
> talked with David Sanborn a few years back and asked him what he  
> remembered most about Woodstock. The first thing he said was he was  
> blown away at how high Hendrix was. Funny in that would be the  
> first thing he remembers about that epic event.
>
> In reference to Renee...I think her artistic vision of  
> superimposing was clever and certainly thought provoking and I  
> would say done with the purpose of enhancing. However, it may not  
> have been the smartest thing to do at that event because it puts it  
> in the position of transcending artistic intentions...particularly  
> when she was asked to sing the anthem. At times you simply have to  
> play to the script and get out. That said... "Lift Ev'ry Voice" is  
> a profound piece of music. A "disgrace" was what Rosanna Barr did  
> to the anthem.
>
> Jae Sinnett
>
>>
>> In a message dated 7/1/2008 11:56:42 P.M. Eastern Daylight
>> Time,
>> georgetfuller at juno.com writes:
>>
>> <<..   The national anthem   ( any country's  )
>> is not any person's property
>> to desecrate or whatever . I for one am  appalled that Rene
>> Marie  would
>> choose to deliver this in the way that  she did ..>>
>>
>> To me, "interpreting" a national anthem is
>> antithetical to the concept of
>> anthem. There are ways and places to make a statement, but
>> if you agree (or, as
>> many artists do, ask) to sing the anthem, it should be
>> unadorned.
>>
>>
>>


Jim Wilke
Jazz After Hours, PRI
www.jazzafterhours.org