Ethan Iverson notes the absence of the “weight of thought” when describing Miles Davis on John Lewis’s “Three Little Feelings” from Music For Brass (Columbia, 1956).
I confess I find the idea of the "weight of thought" as a burden better dispensed with somewhat baffling. I don't hear Miles' playing as simply existing. Rather, I'm always aware of an active, discerning intelligence at work. Is that not thought? Is a beautiful tone honed through years of mindful playing not thought, or the dramatic architecture of a solo? Maybe I just don't get the semantics. But I agree one needn't *over*think it. As ever, thanks for your words and thoughts!
I like this post a lot. Thank you. I think that people have a way of parsing intuition and intellect as if when one uses one of those words it’s taken as a negation of the other. I think that’s really unfortunate. Honestly, after playing for most of my life (60+ years not subtracting months or years off) I have absolutely no idea what admixture between those poles drives me at any given moment. It’s always changing and I have limited access to what that is even though it’s my own self. Nevermind being, yikes, Miles at… 19, and trying to make his mark with these heavy hitters, and away from home, and dealing with the [I don’t really have the right word here] experience of being at Julliard (trust me on that one). Indeed there’s something about the freshness and percolating promise in Miles’ playing at this point that you are reaching for here as you note. Juxtaposed with Bird (& indeed Max!), it’s a marvel that Miles could even be there at all, and he’s just becoming himself.
But as you point out, there’s so much of what Miles will become already embedded in those few moments. Listening to it and taking in what we know retrospectively about what he’d do in this adult life is a lot to take in. So just listening closely seems to me to be the best strategy as a listener. And yes, we can hear Miles in those moments as if he’s not over thinking what he should play, however much intellect of course did go into it. I get what are aiming at & I appreciate your taking us back to that instant in time.
I confess I find the idea of the "weight of thought" as a burden better dispensed with somewhat baffling. I don't hear Miles' playing as simply existing. Rather, I'm always aware of an active, discerning intelligence at work. Is that not thought? Is a beautiful tone honed through years of mindful playing not thought, or the dramatic architecture of a solo? Maybe I just don't get the semantics. But I agree one needn't *over*think it. As ever, thanks for your words and thoughts!
Good points Tom. I find the phrase meaningful, but if it doesn’t work for you, please discard! Appreciate your attention and comments 👍
“Bebop is the music of the future (as soon as they learn how to play it.) — Dexter Gordon
I like this post a lot. Thank you. I think that people have a way of parsing intuition and intellect as if when one uses one of those words it’s taken as a negation of the other. I think that’s really unfortunate. Honestly, after playing for most of my life (60+ years not subtracting months or years off) I have absolutely no idea what admixture between those poles drives me at any given moment. It’s always changing and I have limited access to what that is even though it’s my own self. Nevermind being, yikes, Miles at… 19, and trying to make his mark with these heavy hitters, and away from home, and dealing with the [I don’t really have the right word here] experience of being at Julliard (trust me on that one). Indeed there’s something about the freshness and percolating promise in Miles’ playing at this point that you are reaching for here as you note. Juxtaposed with Bird (& indeed Max!), it’s a marvel that Miles could even be there at all, and he’s just becoming himself.
But as you point out, there’s so much of what Miles will become already embedded in those few moments. Listening to it and taking in what we know retrospectively about what he’d do in this adult life is a lot to take in. So just listening closely seems to me to be the best strategy as a listener. And yes, we can hear Miles in those moments as if he’s not over thinking what he should play, however much intellect of course did go into it. I get what are aiming at & I appreciate your taking us back to that instant in time.
I appreciate your intelligent and sensitive comments Bob! Great stuff..
absolutely...
Beautiful Vinnie!
Thanks Rob!