Avant Garde Jazz Paul Murphy Jimmy Lyons Dewey Johnson

[GyldneAaB]

Well, gave me a headache.

[PrimericanIdol]

absolute shit

[worldwildwest]

The girl in the Piano is About to Have an Orgasm !!! Yeah!!!

[KuraMad2000]

thought I'd give listening to avant garde jazz another chance........ nope I still hate it.

[ALEXTHEALEXNATOR2]

Is your camera as good as your music?

[Jerkicus]

great thank you for sharing

[jibsmokestack1]

Amazing stuff! Great to hear and see Dewey Johnson! Only heard him on Ascension! Those who don't get this stuff it's all good but some of us can get our heads around polyrhythms and polytonality! It's a logical progression in for imo!

[DRUMSTAT69]

Dewey Johnson on Trumpet , Amazing ! ! He played on Coltrane's Ascension !

Do you have more of Dewey ?

[guitarsit45]

1982 NYC GO FOR IT ! ! !

[omarmiguel]

This proof that anyone who cant play music has an opportunity to play and be called a musician.

[RealizeReality]

This absolutely beautiful music... THOOOO!!!!

[jerkythesandpiper]

heavy metal jazz

[sharlott90]

adkjncmckjdfkwja;lsom2mrssslol­oaau8 89a uis THATS MY AVANTGARDE COMMENTARE empathize im so into it

[timeemotionstudies]

well, biscuit2937, harmony melody and rhythm ignore a whole lot of stuff like timbre, interaction, dynamics, counterpoint and density, context, and reference, and so much more...... your ignorance about that this stuff doesn't mean this stuff satisfies anything else either...

it's just not really very good is it.

[fainshmekers]

So beautiful harmonies! :D

[abscrete]

I do Like it as all art forms music is subjective it really depends of the perspective of the listener and his/her knowledge of music and consciousness and ofcourse not all art is for everyone. listen to karlheinz stockhausen same thing chaotic but allways looking forward to create something new and that`s a good thing to experiment to find new stuff otherwise the world would become a boring place cheers.

[ShoesNeverWorn]

This is the worst shit I've ever heard in my life

[jasonbgod4492]

AVANT GARDE

[HammarHeart]

meh this just inst my thing. too chaotic, just sounds like each player is doing whatever they want and arent really working together as a band

clearly they are extremely talented musicians, i just dont dig the freeform thing

[BleeemoMusic]

@HammarHeart no one cares that you don't understand.

[HammarHeart]

i understand it perfectly, thank you very much. clearly these are very talented freeform jazz musicians, and i have a lot of respect for doing this kind of experimentation, i just dont particularly dig it.

the sax really stands out here however, that is one thing i like

[MandoVidal]

Karen Borca is on the Bassoon and I don't know the Pianist... I want to say, "Irene Schweitzer", but I'm most likely mistaken...

Jimmy Lyons was the greatest alto player of his generation... a continuation of what was set-forth by Charlie Parker...

The funny thing is I read the disparaging comments on here and they are strikingly similar to what was said about the music of Charlie Parker and Thelonious Monk when they first came on the scene... same with Miles' electro-funk period...

[marylisse]

Une vraie cacophonie...

[magicjoybox]

Oh wow.

[waxanimalparts]

this is fucking amazing stuff.

[thomasloyens]

yesszzz !!!

[awesomeposem]

it sounds like a warm up room... NOT music

[PsytranceMan777]

Anything can be music, Awesomeposem, it doesn't have to sound pretty and be organized to be called music. A song that has no dissonance is like a movie without antagonists, it's just plain boring when nothing out of the ordinary is happening.

[PrimericanIdol]

I've heard plenty of bands that dub themselves "Avant Garde", I know what i'm talking about. Yes, pop has no creativity. Look to classical music, progressive rock, REAL Jazz, fusion, etc. not this random shredfest.

Why i loathe most avant garde is because the musicians involved are capable of MUCH BETTER CRAFTING than when they're doing this garbage.

so don't hesitate! Thumb up my comment.

[587614]

this shit is worse than black metal!!!

[sz42781]

did you ever hear of k9is or something? The lead siner is literally a dog LMAO

[whykatera81]

White people cant play free jazz dammitt!!!!!!! Just like black people cant and shouldnt polka!!!

[sz42781]

if you dident notice theirs black people playing to. these people are from another planet

[extrajimmies]

If I was this bands father i'd whip them and send them to their room.

Call me a moldy fig.

[PrimericanIdol]

Total shit.

[kwaidancincy]

Jimmy Lyons was one of the all-time great alto saxophonists. It's great to see him in this video. I heard him in 1975 with Cecil Taylor and Andrew Cyrille at the Five Spot; in 1979 with his own group at the Moers Jazz Festival; and in the mid-'80s at the Studio Rivbea. He had such a distinctive sound and phrasing. He solos were both passionate and cerebral. He moved with ease and logic from stacatto bursts to high-pitched screeches to flowing, lyrical lines.

[daltondeuce]

Pure bliss.

[waxanimalparts]

fo sho. most the time avant garde consists of people putting every bit of themselves creatively in one piece of music and 99% of the population won't get it, as seen from most the comments. glad i can get it.

[elsby]

While these people may be great musicians theyre just caressing their own egos and calling it "music" just as certain "artists" call abstract art "art".

[mclarke825]

The word that comes to mind is... intense! No it's not "pretty" or "catchy" but it is pure emotion which in real life is not always pretty. Many people are uncomfortable with intense emotions expressed in other ways too.

[NecroButcher91]

This stuff is so great. Definitely not for the uninitiated, though. You need to develop an appreciation for atonal noise by listening to death metal and Stravinski before you can really dig this stuff.

[mclarke825]

Interesting. I had never noticed the connection between death metal and Stravinski before, but now that you mention it, I see what you mean.

[tear1369]

Drummer Paul Murphy formed and recorded this group at CBS and one year later at RCA NYC , 1981. Paul was still a long standing member of the Jimmy Lyons Quartet. Jimmy believed in Paul's musicianship and approach to composition. Drummer Paul Murphy and Pianist Composer Larry Willis are now at the forefront of American Jazz. " A Prayer For All Ages " LISTEN ! ! ! !

[CodyRicheson]

I'd also like to mention how amusing it is that the chaotic nature of this music is the reason for how consistent it is in its lack of structure.

[ulisesGian]

is buenona the narigona sexy.

more interesant que the music.

[CodyRicheson]

I think that in order to enjoy this type of music, you have to have a pre-acquired taste for atonality, cacophony; really, just noise in general. I love everything about this, but totally understand those that think it's complete garbage.

[drift1469]

this music from the early eighties is historic as well as GREAT ! ! !

[PrimericanIdol]

what the hell is this?

[ragewar13]

dewey johnson played on john coltrane's ascension . it don't get much HEAVIER than that. murphy got this group recorded at cbs , rca , nyc ! ! give some fucking credit where credit is due.

[aaldredge]

Well, they sound like crap here.

[sz42781]

WTF is this garbadge

[gregwaits]

WTF is with your command of the English language? It is spelled GARBAGE.

[waxanimalparts]

YOURE GARBAGE

[aaldredge]

Wow! AMAZING! Oh, not the playing, the fact that you guys got a record deal. Can I play sax, clarinet or flute for you guys? I can blow aimlessly through my instruments, just give me a bunch of sleeping pills. Heck I can play circles around the trumpeter. Nah, I actully put thought and creativity to my improv solos.

NOISE all around.

[extort13]

WHERE MAY WE VIEW YOUR LATEST WORK ?

[aaldredge]

I play and write music for a living. If I ever get a good quality video, I will post if if I can figure out how.

[edcerc]

i take it you dont play modern jazz or listen to it. do you like coltrane? eric dolphy? guys from that era?

[aaldredge]

Yes, those guys have talent.

[edcerc]

jimmy lyons was the saxophone player on many classic cecil taylor albums. YOu check out unit structures for it is a masterpiece. He was one of the notable free players and his group with cecil taylor is highly influential

[Dakora]

I would like to see you achieve the same intensity as in this video. There's a lot of pointless prejudice towards avant-garde music and avant-garde term in general. It's wrong. It takes a lot of commitment and dedication to play this kind of music. It's incompetent to judge the sound of it by listening to 2-3 minutes or it.

[aaldredge]

I listen to EVERYTHING!. My mp3 player and record collection covers everything from gregorian chant to ives, stravisky, coletrain, dolphy (great bass clarinetist), miles davis, ect... I listened to the whole video and did not find anything redeeming. Not all avant garde is awfull, the is some john cage that is good and some lesser knowns. HoweverThese guys are a scam! And yes, I can do better.

[edcerc]

i doubt you could play better free music. YOu should check out albert ayler.

[elsby]

I think it would be torture to listen to more than 2-3 minutes of it. Have you ever heard of oriental water torture.

[drift1469]

i still find it amazing that the magazines , writers and some associates of Jimmy Lyons act as if he did not EXIST. the truth will set you free. he was a GREAT ARTIST.

[anonmist]

nice clip. but it is 3 hours too short!

[TEP251]

Karen Borca and Jimmy are amazing.....

POST MORE I ALWAYS LOVED PAULS PLAYING.

[ThePhobiaViewed]

There are a lot of things you can learn about music by watching clips like this one. The drumming is very cool to watch because of the way the pulse can be felt and exactly when patterns are started and stopped. Good music has good note choice and good emotion. Most amateur musicians practice the good note choice, these guys practice the emotion. Plus just jamming like this is always a lot of fun.

[mklambatsea]

I love it thank you do you need any voice??

[guitarsit45]

check out paul murphy,larryy willis "TITANIUM"

it was just featured on "RISE" radio L.A. by

ollie bivens from "ALL ABOUT JAZZ". "SMOKING".

[Benwade90]

i like art, particularly anything avant garde, but this isn't art in my opinion. it's just a jumble of cacophonous noise lacking structure or beauty.

[que2pineapple]

This might sound dumb but how exactly do you play Ascension?

[karl198]

I can't believe how much crap you guys talk about a peice that has no musical value. Please like this for what it is which is a block of noise! not music. Then again if you listen to a lot of crap you will speak a lot of crap ;)

[vicquartet]

during the 70's , jimmy lyons , karen borca , and drummer paul murphy , were placed in the GROVE DICTIONARY of MUSIC.

paul murphy / larry willis "titanium " is 08'.

[guitarsit45]

check out PAUL MURPHY TITANIUM it was recorded

at LION and FOX, april 08. Henry Rollins just aired it last week. Paul and Larry are "GREAT". it will be released in AUGUST.

[sz42781]

HAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAAAA Its like the more you suck the better!

[musicman12]

One extra thing: I think avant-garde is most natural when musicians are tripping over themselves on things they can't do or play. As opposed to leaning towards the licks they've learned. But again I'm just throwing in opinion.

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

thank you for checking this out. larry willis and i just recorded at lion and fox , it should be out in august.

i love to LISTEN as much as i love to play.

paul.

[meursault42]

Ok, ok, I'm a Jazz musician and I've been playing for some 10 odd years. I STILL do not understand avant garde jazz. There isn't even a distinct 'feel' to it. I hate to come down hard, I mean their technique is spot on, but they sound like 6 musicians in a room doing their very loud and complicated warm ups. All in different keys. Explanations?

[meursault42]

And I did note that this is a warm up, but it's a warm up for AN ACTUAL SONG.

[musicman12]

It's heart (and life). The most honest form of emotion. Not an emotion we study in books to entertain crowds and draw a liking to through familiarity. The beauty is that like life and emotions, maybe you don't like every moment of life or emotions you have but they are there still. That's why this appeals to me.

Just flat out "soul it out" (that's my term for it at least)

[damien093]

I don't know anything about jazz. but when i'm jamming, i don't consciously play in key, but i follow patterns of notes which i see in front of me in my mind, some of them are in key and some of them aren't, but it ends up coherentish usually. If you listen to songs like head(beach arab) by john frusciante, or pali gap by hendrix, then you will see they are just playing something brilliantly emotional just as it comes to them. But this just seems lie people playing random notes in my opinion

[Plasticsoul]

I think the problem is that you are trying to "understand" it. While I admit this particular performance isn't my cup of tea either, I do like some avant garde music. I think the secret is to try to avoid trying to putting it within a preconceived frame of reference and just let it wash over you - say for the example - the sounds of a busy city.

[jazzyjames123456789]

"sounds of a busy city" is a really nice way of putting this i reckon, because I find these really emotion fueled bursts from each individual amazing to listen to individually, but then when a group of them play their own feelings together it becomes more difficult to feel one player's expression. It might take even more courage and commitment to play these as a solo.

[ledzepboy3]

Hey let's not get into harsh ground here... This is just an innocent jam and/or rehearsal.

[bobdwilliams]

I was surprised to read about Cecil in my latest Downbeat™ mag. The article was done quite well but it didn't include ANYTHING about Jimmy Lyons?How/why could they have forgotten THAT!!Didn't he play in the band for,what, 26 years? In fact it didn't include quite a lot of the Avant-Garde cats...

*maybe they wanted more Bop?

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

Cecil Taylor is a jazz icon; much has been written and much is left to write. I loved to hear Sonny Murray and Andrew Cyrille play drums with the Unit. When CT and Tony Williams

were recording, I was playing with Jimmy's band. I love to listen as much as I love to play. Paul

[guitarsit45]

this music is 25 years old and is still causing controversy, that in itself is avant garde. check out Jere Carroll's "D.C. LINE", and Paul and Larry's new release "EXCURSIONS".

[ibepoppin]

why are you lot lying 2 youselves this is the bigest piece of crap i have ever heard in my life my retarded dog could do better than this, sorry not tryna be rude but this is purely hot noice (and not in the good way)

[JiMiFAN101]

i totally dig what ur sayin man

[Ducktowners]

Avant-Garde isn't anything like your Britney Spears' music, dude. In fact, Jimi Hendrix had great respect & understanding of this music. He played with the great Rashied Ali and others from the Avant-Garde sector.

Avant-Garde music is played by leaders of the NEW & UNconventional (like Hendrix and Zappa)!

*now you know......I'm just sayin'

[JiMiFAN101]

cool man cool

[drugdaddy]

someone with a retaded dog has got to be a spastic. am i right?

[ContrabassSaxophone]

i personally think the bassoon player is the coolest (in this piece).

[ContrabassSaxophone]

This is an example of why I admire youtube. awesome work!

[littlejimmydickens]

This music speaks for itself!

Love the exploration!

[thosemeddlinkids]

Dude please if anyone has ever studied Schoenberg they would understand that these katz are just fakin the funk.. Not so impressed.

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

Arnold Schoenberg was a great composer and influence,dodecaphonic. I was introduced to his "Harmonielehre" in 1964 while studying classical percussion with Joseph Leavitt, the principal percussionist othe National Symphony and Director of the Peabody Conservatory of Music. I still have the book.

Thank You, Paul.

[Ducktowners]

owned!

ha ha ha

no need to splain-your-self, thosemeddlinkids!

[TheCaliumHorse]

Absolutely amazing! The most beautiful piece I have heard in my entire life!

[drawfilk]

I think this is a fantastic snapshot of a part of the music's history that, sadly, I wasn't aware enough to experience at the time. Tell me, were these the sessions later released on the "Cloudburst" LP?

Again, beautiful stuff. Thanks.

Clifford Allen

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

this video was a rehearsal only. my cbs "red snapper" and my rca "cloudburst" were also completely improvised music and recorded months after this video was shot by a very dear friend of mine, from the west coast. thank you very much for your interest. paul

[PhuckHue]

the bassoon is kicking major ass. kinda hard to hear the band as a whole because of quality of audio

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

thank you, karen is truly a great musician. the live at cbs and rca sessions really represent the sound we were looking for. paul.

[guitarsit45]

These musicians have dedicated their lives to the exploration & expansion of music. Jimmy Lyons began playing with Cecil Taylor in 1961. Dewey Johnson played lead trumpet on Coltrane's Ascension in 1965.Paul Murphy was playing with bassist Billy Taylor from the Duke Ellington band, at age 17. This clip is rehearsal footage of Paul's CBS "Red Snapper" and RCA "Cloudburst" recordings.

[RolfLarsson]

This is bullshit.

[whenmutantscollide]

This music is great! The drumming impresses me most, and reminds me slightly of Joey Baron. I will definitely be checking out some of the albums you've played on.

[marisabellas]

I wouldn't criticize these guys trying anything new...it's the way to develop new ideas.

I think working somewhere between the free jazz modality and more traditional stuff is great. You should listen to don cherry and a ayler.

[marisabellas]

This is collective improv/free type jazz at its best...it's great that you could wade through that and create such great stand out drumming parts

[guitarsit45]

I have just had the opportunity to LISTEN to Paul Murphy and Larry Willis' latest release " EXCURSIONS ". The music is beautiful and marks a long awaited transition in JAZZ. This was recorded in April 2007 at Lion and Fox ; engineered by Jim Fox and the recording is CRYSTAL CLEAR . This is AWESOME *****.

[jazwelter]

What I have notice about Youtube is, people say things that they would not in real life. And it seems most people are always judging and critizing everything. No matter what it is, politics,sports,music,etc. I think most people go through the day in their mind critizing everything they dont like. I dont like it, but, I am not going to critize it. 5000

[progmetaller91]

Firstly, I like music that I myself like, not just to go with the trends. That may be why i like such things as jazz fusion. I searched for 'avant garde jazz' to see what it was like because i have a love of jazz and thought i might as well explore it a bit more.

[progmetaller91]

Secondly, maybe i was being too general when i said i don't 'understand it'. What i mean is, most, or all, music has a purpose. It might be to entertain, or it might be just for expressing emotion. Now this video might show people doing just that - expressing their emotion, but what is coming out the other end is something that is unlistenable and i cannot understand why it has been recorded. With most music, even if i don't like it, i can understand why other people do but with this i can't.

[progmetaller91]

Oh and if you want to find me in person and ask me what i think of it, i will say the same thing. Probably because i am opinionated and i am not afraid to express those opinions.

[guitarsit45]

I have just had the opportunity of LISTENING to Paul Murphy / Larry Willis " EXCURSIONS ". Recorded by Jim Fox ,at Lion and Fox April 2007. The recording is pristine and the MUSIC is the long awaited change from within JAZZ.

[jazwelter]

Find me G7 !

[jazwelter]

It's hard to play bad on purpose.

[defdeezy]

i think the proper grammar is badly, but what do i know

[jazwelter]

Could be ? Formal paper yes, you-tube language no. It is about expression versus technical structure. Just like this music. As a Jazz bassists, this music is more funner to play than listen to. 5000

[defdeezy]

the key word (which you did not include) is FORMAL technical structure.

[jazwelter]

Like the word "funner".

[progmetaller91]

I don't get it. What is this music supposed to represent - to me it just sounds like they're all just doing their own thing and not paying any attention to the overall sound. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[guitarsit45]

its avant garde, its all soul

[progmetaller91]

Yeah, it sounds like they're playing with no feeling at all.

[defdeezy]

it is random, subconscious gestures of emotion. it is your collective experiences in life exploding into one moment of fire, never to be the same way again, an eternally changing torrent of (mis)understanding.

maybe i'm exaggerating. i don't think i am, and if it isn't your thing don't watch the video

[jazwelter]

I watch things I dont like to make sure I dont watch again. To paraphrase Miles Davis, "you have to b f...k up in the head to listen to this." Now you dont watch Miles if it isn't your thing.

[defdeezy]

i love miles davis.

[jazwelter]

Miles is the man ! Your allright my man ! 5000

[defdeezy]

there's beauty in every jazz idiom my friend. make sure to explore every niche, and test the waters. no big deal if it isn't your thing

[progmetaller91]

See that is a great thing said by a great man, Miles Davis is legendary, but what we have in this video is not.

[defdeezy]

fuck canonization.

[progmetaller91]

I think you're trying too hard to explain what they're trying to do in this video and just because they're acclaimed musicians, what they play is always 'genius'. If I can give my analysis, perhaps they are just deliberately playing crap to see if people will actually like it.

[defdeezy]

yeah? i think you're trying to hard to disqualify it because you don't like it. it doesn't matter why they're playing to me. and i promise, promise, promise you that these artists love and cherish their musical idiom like all musicians should.

also, genius is so passe.

[progmetaller91]

I just believe that maybe the first time musicians played avant garde music it was good because it was original and, at the time, creative. But now there is no creativity in it at all and the only emotion that can be expressed from this is anger because of the way the pianist is bashing away at the piano.

I can accept them liking to play it if they want to get their aggression out, but how anyone can enjoy listening to it is beyond me.

[defdeezy]

originality doesn't mean good music.

you condition yourself to like things. no idiom of music can be liked innately; you are told and trained to like certain ones and dislike others. or you can discern for yourself and disregard social conventions.

and, that's fine if you don't like it, or "understand" it, or whatever.

[bobdwilliams]

+ 1

[videofreeLA]

this is BIG! BIG sound BIG history BIG dreams. BIG.

[needausernameokay]

Jimmy Lyons is a great player. Too bad Frau Driscoll doesn't know how to lay out; the group becomes the "too much tutti" tentet. I'm going to listen to Neil Diamond CDs now.

[babydweezil]

thanks for this one brother Murphy--what a find!

[guitarsit45]

probably the video with the most impact on the geneology of avant-garde! This treasure surpasses the expectations of the neophite and the knowing.

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

Thanks dabusser

I was speaking with Rashied Ali about him this morning, we believe he has transcended

[dabusser]

Thank you for this, Mr. Murphy!! I dig Dewey Johnson from "Ascension" and Bley's "Barrage"...Is Mr.Johnson still alive?

Other recordings to check out?

[PaulMurphyJazzDrum]

Thanks man, that's Mary Anne Driscoll on piano

[ugurun]

so nice, so good, so pretty to see great jimmy lyons with his wife karen borca on bassoon, dewey johnson on trumpet,murphy on drums! thanks for posting that!is crispell on piano?