Air, consisting of Henry Threadgill, Henry Hopkins, and Steve McCall, produced a gem in their jazz interpretation of a Scott Joplin ragtime piece. "Weeping Willow Rag" manages to accomplish the impossible: retain that bouncy, old-time feel of the original yet sounding contemporary. Since many elements of free and avant-garde jazz were a return to the roots of the music, it's not altogether too shocking that Air were able to bring to life Joplin's ragtime compositions. Even without a piano, their version captures that ragged, two-step style with rollicking drums and old-timey saxophone from Threadgill who can't help but turn this weeping willow into an upbeat one. There is a celebration of life in music such as this, which I can appreciate in similar jazz forays into the past of black music.
No comments:
Post a Comment