And to put my money where my mouth is: check out Hamiet Bluiett, Pharoah Sanders, Sainkho Namtchylak, Gyuto chant, Peter Brotzmann, Hukwe Ubi Zawose, Ken Vandermark, Ned Rothenberg, Evan Parker, Akosh S., Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Koaru Abe, David S. Ware, Inuit throat singing, Julius Hemphill, polyphonic Pygmy music, Tuvan throat singing, Master Musicians of Joujouka, Kecak chant, and so on. A lot of what he's doing has ancient lineage in terms of tonal/vocal production.
Great playing, but I have misgivings about the novelty effect of hearing this guy open for Arcade Fire, everyone getting their chance to feel a little "avant-garde-y," without the slightest appreciation of the huge store of under-recognized jazz/folk/improv traditions that inform his playing. In other words, he's liable to end up being the token "serious music" guy among a bunch of people who couldn't care less, just so avant-jazz can hang out with the popular kids.
@Oneiricist Except it's not the "how" sound is being produced, but the execution. Much of free-jazz/improv etc isn't very approachable (dare I say even listenable). What's amazing is that his sound is relevant, cogent and engaging.
@sugasugaki I agree that a lot of free jazz is an acquired taste. But honestly, almost thirty years ago Ned Rothenberg was executing through-composed solos that sound eerily similar to a lot of Stetson's work. Plus the list I gave is what I would think is at the more approachable end (Parker, Brotzmann, Abe, and Ware excepted) of non-Western/-traditional acoustic exploration. And it's certainly all listenable, unless my endorphins are lying to me. I'm sure Stetson would agree.
@sugasugaki Also, and not to berate, but isn't "relevant, cogent and engaging" just a more elaborate way of saying "good"? Is good music (or art for that matter) ever not those three things?
@Oneiricist Well, I think that there is a lot of music that people need an "in" to. Some of those people might be so taken by it that they do their searching and discover lots of things that they wouldn't have in the first place. When I was a kid growing up in a small town listening to mostly death metal and hardcore and the like(pre-internet), it was the one group that threw in the jazz guy that cracked that door and allowed it to be kicked in the first time someone played me Miles Davis.
@kuboaadv Agreed, really all music requires repeated exposure to understand and appreciate. When we all grow up surrounded by the same pop structures, instrumentation, and chord changes, we don't notice it. But imagine what those dudes playing Jojouka or Gamelan music think of Beyonce or Slayer. Hell, Miles Davis thought Ornette Coleman was a lunatic in the late 50s, and 12 years later he did Live Evil. It was noisy-as-hell free jazz that helped me appreciate death metal... You never know.
saw him yesterday with godspeed you! black emperor and i must say it was probably one of the most interesting opening acts i've ever seen. after each song he was always out of breath. i don't really get the circular breathing technique but whatever it is, it's ridiculous
what do you guys use to record this? I feel like all your videos have such a clear clean crisp sound. I almost want to say it sounds better than the actual album. How do you do it???
this guy is amazing and his album New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges is a truely breath of fresh air..a remarkable piece of work...u can almost feel his intensity and passion from his focused face
Beautiful. As a music filmmaker myself I really look up to you guys. You're the reason I decided to get into it and you keep giving me reasons to continue searching for amazing talent and documenting it for the world to see!
meh
shooter0404 2 weeks ago
whatever about his brilliant hypnotic music, he's got a really nice house as well
theultimatecheeseman 1 month ago
Oh... so THIS is what my Band teacher was trying to teach me... lol
GorgonDrageil 4 months ago 5
dual tones???
shuckslbj 5 months ago
@shuckslbj sounds like he is humming/singing while playing. Neat
leetskeet 1 month ago
omg I never thought I would like saxophone music, this is soo amazing
escthepresent 5 months ago
fucking haunting.
nated103 7 months ago
I bet he feels high after playing it, because of hyperventilation.
Soilwar 8 months ago
And to put my money where my mouth is: check out Hamiet Bluiett, Pharoah Sanders, Sainkho Namtchylak, Gyuto chant, Peter Brotzmann, Hukwe Ubi Zawose, Ken Vandermark, Ned Rothenberg, Evan Parker, Akosh S., Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Koaru Abe, David S. Ware, Inuit throat singing, Julius Hemphill, polyphonic Pygmy music, Tuvan throat singing, Master Musicians of Joujouka, Kecak chant, and so on. A lot of what he's doing has ancient lineage in terms of tonal/vocal production.
Oneiricist 8 months ago 3
Great playing, but I have misgivings about the novelty effect of hearing this guy open for Arcade Fire, everyone getting their chance to feel a little "avant-garde-y," without the slightest appreciation of the huge store of under-recognized jazz/folk/improv traditions that inform his playing. In other words, he's liable to end up being the token "serious music" guy among a bunch of people who couldn't care less, just so avant-jazz can hang out with the popular kids.
Oneiricist 8 months ago
@Oneiricist Except it's not the "how" sound is being produced, but the execution. Much of free-jazz/improv etc isn't very approachable (dare I say even listenable). What's amazing is that his sound is relevant, cogent and engaging.
sugasugaki 8 months ago
@sugasugaki I agree that a lot of free jazz is an acquired taste. But honestly, almost thirty years ago Ned Rothenberg was executing through-composed solos that sound eerily similar to a lot of Stetson's work. Plus the list I gave is what I would think is at the more approachable end (Parker, Brotzmann, Abe, and Ware excepted) of non-Western/-traditional acoustic exploration. And it's certainly all listenable, unless my endorphins are lying to me. I'm sure Stetson would agree.
Oneiricist 8 months ago
Comment removed
Oneiricist 8 months ago
@sugasugaki Also, and not to berate, but isn't "relevant, cogent and engaging" just a more elaborate way of saying "good"? Is good music (or art for that matter) ever not those three things?
Oneiricist 8 months ago
@Oneiricist Well, I think that there is a lot of music that people need an "in" to. Some of those people might be so taken by it that they do their searching and discover lots of things that they wouldn't have in the first place. When I was a kid growing up in a small town listening to mostly death metal and hardcore and the like(pre-internet), it was the one group that threw in the jazz guy that cracked that door and allowed it to be kicked in the first time someone played me Miles Davis.
kuboaadv 7 months ago
@kuboaadv Agreed, really all music requires repeated exposure to understand and appreciate. When we all grow up surrounded by the same pop structures, instrumentation, and chord changes, we don't notice it. But imagine what those dudes playing Jojouka or Gamelan music think of Beyonce or Slayer. Hell, Miles Davis thought Ornette Coleman was a lunatic in the late 50s, and 12 years later he did Live Evil. It was noisy-as-hell free jazz that helped me appreciate death metal... You never know.
Oneiricist 7 months ago
Whoa, what an incredible sound
MachineMalfunction 8 months ago
I honestly can't remember the last time I've been this excited about music.
donalejandro22 9 months ago
when is he coming to new york so i can bear his children?
remcult 10 months ago
his skill is just......holy crap, words cant explain
stevemasters0 10 months ago
amazing!!
pepebocadillojave 10 months ago
amazing!!
pepebocadillojave 10 months ago
This guy must have lungs of steel. Amazing.
TomBandfield 11 months ago
definitely impressive - but he needs a band behind him too... maybe just a drummer or something
smile21jonno 11 months ago
@smile21jonno sacrilege!!!
DandeB88 11 months ago
@smile21jonno no way. that would ruin the appeal! it's raw, visceral, controlled yet free. he can hold it all with one sound, multiple voices.
trumpet90909 9 months ago
It just figures this guy is in a basement. Probably the only place something like this could be written.
QuickLookLightning 11 months ago
There's no way he's a smoker.
5940Collins 11 months ago
Is he circle breathing?!
seamonkeyguitars 11 months ago 2
saw him yesterday with godspeed you! black emperor and i must say it was probably one of the most interesting opening acts i've ever seen. after each song he was always out of breath. i don't really get the circular breathing technique but whatever it is, it's ridiculous
kbakster 11 months ago
other worldly!
5940Collins 11 months ago
.
imagine a duet between this guy's bass sax and arrington de dionyso's bass clarinet and singing... must be surreal.
YoutuChannel 11 months ago 3
how is he still standing after that? that was awesome!
dboyd1089 11 months ago
His head looks like it's about to explode.
harrytheblurfan 11 months ago 4
where does he live, the Bat Cave? I dig it.
waldofaldo120 11 months ago 4
Oh my, this is so impressive. It makes my lungs hurt! I really want to know what he was thinking about while playing that!
BurntByTheMoon44 11 months ago
HOW DOES HE BREATHE?!?!?
LetsGoEverywhere2011 1 year ago
Brilliant. Sounds like Charlie Brown's school teacher beatboxing.
PlanktonBouy 1 year ago 7
he was so great in vienna..
thetasurfers 1 year ago
Comment removed
hyperion311 1 year ago
FANTASTICO!
nonvoglioche 1 year ago
what do you guys use to record this? I feel like all your videos have such a clear clean crisp sound. I almost want to say it sounds better than the actual album. How do you do it???
PsychedToSkate 1 year ago 2
i'm so seeing this guy at sxsw!
theneedledrop 1 year ago 23
@theneedledrop damn it anthony. DAMN YOU. btw are you going to post a review of the gy!be show?
Samodrei 11 months ago
@theneedledrop He was wonderful, saw him right before Gold Panda.
artemiss6 6 months ago
this guy is amazing and his album New History Warfare Vol. 2: Judges is a truely breath of fresh air..a remarkable piece of work...u can almost feel his intensity and passion from his focused face
G4700 1 year ago
Hey nice lungs.
vltcrdv 1 year ago 2
Wooooowwwww !! :O
Increibleee !!!
sonrisas sonrisas sonrisas :)
PatoParanoico 1 year ago
its like dubstep
TheMomoply 1 year ago 6
holy shit that is cool
SirDegzzalot 1 year ago
amazing. kind of sax-digereedooo.
carvermarks 1 year ago
amazing.
carvermarks 1 year ago
something about these 2 videos make me want to get on a typewrite and start writing a book. I love it.
imthefly 1 year ago
Asombroso!!! Me a encantado. Saludos desde México :)
Jaroselector 1 year ago 2
this is fantastic. i admire his lungs
ZionSing 1 year ago 2
@ZionSing not the lungs are that admirable, but his circular breathing technique instead.
inbard0 1 year ago 18
Beautiful. As a music filmmaker myself I really look up to you guys. You're the reason I decided to get into it and you keep giving me reasons to continue searching for amazing talent and documenting it for the world to see!
ahhhbree11 1 year ago
That's intense! Sweet.
Mindwanderingguitar 1 year ago
this is mesmerizing
gageiiiiitttt 1 year ago
Gotta love when you find a new artist with such skill and potential!
Inavaru 1 year ago