I was pondering lately the problems that continental Europe seems to have with popular music. They have no difficulties whatsoever with classical music and you would have to be a fool to contend that they did, but it seems that only the Anglo-Saxon countries (alright, and the Celts) can do popular music successfully.
The problem is more complicated than it appears at first glance, because the latin countries (excluding Spain, who in this, as in so many other things, are a wonderfully distinct case apart) can do jazz pretty well. As proof then check out any of the Italian musicians on the Schema label or the Quintette du Hot Club De France, with everybody's favourite Belgian gypsy, Django Reinhardt. However they have a near total inability to produce decent rock and pop records.
On the other hand the germanic peoples seem to excel in rock and pop, especially of the quirky, experimental kind: the whole Krautrock scene, Trio, Kraftwerk, Bjork and the Sugarcubes, not to mention more mainstream acts such as Aha or Abba, but you try and think of a truly great germanic jazz artist...
Maybe it is the blending of Roman and Saxon influences in Britain that allow us to succeed in both areas of popular music, or maybe this is just complete rubbish. Regardless of this, we should be celebrating, listening to and enjoying the range of different musical cultures, not just in Europe but around the world.
Happy listening.
Showing posts with label Jazz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jazz. Show all posts
Thursday, 31 March 2011
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Fezes are cool...
Nope, not a Doctor Who geekfest of a post, although there will probably be one or two of those in days to come, but rather an obscure musical reference.
For the last few days in the car I have been listening to the brilliant first album by Nicola Conte, 'Jet Sounds'. Nicola Conte is an Italian jazz musician who was part of a group of musicians from Bari known as The Fez Collective (see what I did?). He is a guitarist and a classically trained musician, but is probably better known as a producer responsible for some fantastic albums which showcase his distinctive style of jazz which combines Acid Jazz (and no, I haven't got the time or the inclination to open that can of worms and define the term - I know what I mean by it...), Bossa Nova (he has compiled two excellent albums of classic Brazilian bossa nova, 'Viagem' and 'Viagem 2'), Italian film scores and Indian music. He started on the Italian Schema label, but has released later albums, such as 'New Directions' and 'Rituals' on the legendary Jazz label Blue Note.
This album (and any of his others) is a textbook example of Italian cool, up there with Vespas and Lambrettas, sharp suits, Aurelio Zen, Scuderia Ferrari, proper pizza and Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita'.
What better way to celebrate Italy's 150th birthday.
Grazie mille e ciao!
For the last few days in the car I have been listening to the brilliant first album by Nicola Conte, 'Jet Sounds'. Nicola Conte is an Italian jazz musician who was part of a group of musicians from Bari known as The Fez Collective (see what I did?). He is a guitarist and a classically trained musician, but is probably better known as a producer responsible for some fantastic albums which showcase his distinctive style of jazz which combines Acid Jazz (and no, I haven't got the time or the inclination to open that can of worms and define the term - I know what I mean by it...), Bossa Nova (he has compiled two excellent albums of classic Brazilian bossa nova, 'Viagem' and 'Viagem 2'), Italian film scores and Indian music. He started on the Italian Schema label, but has released later albums, such as 'New Directions' and 'Rituals' on the legendary Jazz label Blue Note.
This album (and any of his others) is a textbook example of Italian cool, up there with Vespas and Lambrettas, sharp suits, Aurelio Zen, Scuderia Ferrari, proper pizza and Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita'.
What better way to celebrate Italy's 150th birthday.
Grazie mille e ciao!
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