the great recordings have life

it ain't just a guy playing a lot of notes. all the young cats have chops, but they don't get me off. some of the older dudes too, like george coleman and often jimmy heath, though i nearly spent 55 bucks to see his ass. his penis would have been an additional $20. he plays a lot of licks, but sometimes it sounds a little robotic. don't get me wrong, he's a bitch, but he ain't a giant, if you dig the distinction. at least to me, but that's all i can go on. now jackie mclean, joe henderson, gene ammons, they got their own thing. you can recognize them, and there is an energy, a life force that always come through their horn. it isn't just lines, it's their personality, their soul, their being that's involved. right now, i'm playing davis cup, an obscure blue note album by pianist walter davis and featuring mclean. the whole group is good, but when mclean comes in, something happens. a barrier is crossed, a little more freedom is attained. perhaps it's that tone, the personal cry that he always had, those sustained notes, often a hair sharp. booker ervin had his own cry, one that was every bit as unique and powerful to hear. but no one seems to have that yearning quality on alto that jackie has. it doesn't make him better than other alto players, but it makes him unique, and that is so important. isn't that what the whole thing is about? when you hear him play, you are hearing jackie mclean, not just a good sax player. you are hearing that as well, but that doesn't begin to describe the full impact of what you are hearing. listen to dolphy for example; the instrument is secondary. it is the man we hear. yes, his lines are incredible, but he is much more than even his most difficult lines. there is a totality to his music. he has invested his whole person into what he does. it is unique. it could only be him. someone may cop a few of his lines, but they could never cop that which is his and his alone.

and that's what it's really about. the giants can not be duplicated. they can't be copied. they are more than their chops, their licks, the strength of their memories. they have presence, energy, life, individuality.

and i have many of their recordings.