Jazz for aficionados

frogmanI know what you mean because I ran into some Flack from someone on this site regarding W Marsalis recently.I have always heard that Wynton came in for criticism from Jazz critics and writers. Can you explain what their beef was with his music? Was it the fact that he was more traditional in his playing and writing rather than being someone who push the envelope? I have always appreciated his writing and playing especially in theLCJO.

nsp, With the organ trio that JC always plays with live going on 8 plus years:

https://www.amazon.com/At-Crossroads-James-Carter/dp/B005HWUC04/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BMNGPEYWK3DZ&key...

Leonard King - Drums :http://leonardkingdrums.com/

Gerard Gibbs Hammond B-3 :http://hammondorganco.com/artists/organ-and-leslie-artists/gerard-gibbs/


This album really cooks. Its the same trio plus 2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out_of_Nowhere_(James_Carter_album)

Nsp, I am one of the people in the past on this thread, who did not give Wynton his due. Much of my problem was his stanch neoclassical approach to Jazz music. This is Jazz and this isn't. I think you can tell where I am on that.

We mentioned if everyone took his approach the music Jazz would be in a museum.  There was never any doubt of his musical ability, and how darn good his bands are. 

This is a long thread and as is the case with long threads it tends to repeat.  An opinion someone has 3 years ago or even a shorter period, may have changed or hardened. Mine on Wynton has softened. I do have most everything he did till he started putting out 3-4 records a year, around 2000, and I lost track. I still pick up the stuff I don't have. I even have 'Blood in the Field'. I think now you have to be looking for something wrong to find it with Wynton. 

Anyway, now you have an idea of what Frogman was referencing.

nsp, I agree with acman3; my opinion of Wynton’s IMPROVISING also has softened. As a trumpet player he has few equals; some might argue, no equal. As a bandleader he is great. As an educator and advocate for jazz, particularly its roots, he is fantastic. He has become such an important personality in jazz that I think the “beef” that many critics and players had/have has become rather moot. The beef was that the level of attention, notoriety and fame that he received was considered by some as not being deserved relative to the quality of his jazz playing. The feeling was that his playing somehow lacked soulfulness; that it was dominated by feats of virtuosity and, as older players like Miles would say, “he doesn’t say “sh$t”. I agreed to a degree. While I acknowledge that this is a subjective thing, I was seldom particularly impressed by his “story telling”, but the gorgeous sound and amazing command of the instrument usually held my attention. My opinion on this has softened because I think he continues to grow as an improviser. The solo on the Ruben Blades clip is a good example. I must say, however, that there are other current trumpet players that I find more interesting.

Tom Harrell is a favorite. Not too many players can play an extended solo without the help of a rhythm section. His time feel is so strong that one almost doesn’t miss the bass or drums. His command of harmony is so good that one can follow the changes of the tune without the help of a harmony instrument (piano or guitar). Beautiful warm sound:

https://youtu.be/Gw5bXS5VZcU