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Looper's Delight
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want to get my 2cents in regarding this lovely topic:
I think a lot of kids come to "creative" music via Sonic Youth & out-rockers, at least my circle did. Being the only band on a major label in the early 90's that sounded absolutely like nothing else on the radio (and being label-mates w/Nirvana)--made them the most accesible link to the 'underground' & outsider music. Though this may not be the most academic/noble path, I think it is just as valid. Acessability. Both of the music and the history...What w/the web and all...publications like AMG, Noise From the Underground make it a lot easier if you're looking. It's easy to assume that the younger crowd (my age, 25 and younger?) isn't versed in the origins, etc...but not necessarily true. . And I'm not sure how much that matters in experiencing the music.
This acessability has yielded larger audiences I think. When I lived in LA area it seemed like every show featuring Nels had an larger and larger group of spectators...(he's a hero to kids like me)though, I think he is known 'cause of his work w/T. Moore and Geraldine Fibbers (not to say he is undeserving of the attention). Here in Seattle, the annual Improv Festival has a few shows that sell out. Zorn fills huge formal concert halls when he comes through town. There is a growing acceptance. And we see the influence of 100+ years of non-traditional, challenging music everywhere...in a "post-rock", post-Beck/Sonic Youth world, a lot of kids may take for granted the ability to make what ever kind of music/sounds/noise they want and actually find an audience. A lot may not know the history and pump out undisciplined or cliche stuff, but I am thankful we all have that opportunity.
And there was the question 'is it all derivitive of jazz'. If you've never heard Ornette or Coltrane, how can it influence you? And besides, we can thank Cage, (thanks for mentioning him earlier) and countless others, for freeing up the palet of sound. He himself didn't seem to have much respect for free jazz. I see at least three lineages--One of Jazz, one of 'New Music' & avant-garde composition (i.e. serious/formal musics), one of rock/pop. Rock can be argued I guess.
So, but anyway, my point is, we can make what ever audible phenomenon we want, using whatever we can find, w/o any knowledge of why we can, or what came before that it may bear resemblance to AND captivate an audience and maybe even sell records! I think it's important to keep faith in those younger than us (however old you are) for they are the heirs of this old New Free Music and the future of creative sound formation.
thanks for this thread & for whatever music you all make out there :)