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Charles Powell's avatar

Old Home Week;

I was born in a tiny town in SE Kansas near Joplin, MO. I used to go to summer camp right outside of Branson [Lake Taneycomo]. I went to university in Nashville; after that I visited friends in Springfield, MO annually.

Oh, & I got into jazz via my room mate @ Vanderbilt, when I was 17. I only liked the good stuff, so I got to know Charlie via all the early Ornette records. I have all his Quartet West records, plus every recording of his from the '89 Montreal Jazz Festival.

I live in Sydney now. Charlie played here in '81 with Old & New Dreams, & in 2014 @ Sydney Opera House with Quartet West [I saw the latter]. I did see him play with Jack DeJohnette's Directions @ the Village Vanguard, September, 1976 sitting in for the third set.

No wonder I felt like I knew your father!

ps My name is Charlie, also.

ppps I like all styles of music. Country AND Western!

;)

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Josh Haden's avatar

Very cool. I didn't know Charlie sat in with Jack DeJohnette's Directions. I'd love to hear that.

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Charles Powell's avatar

It was the album launch of his 1st ECM of His 'Directions' band, titled 'Untitled'. Eicher has refused thus far to re-issue it on CD.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Untitled_(Jack_DeJohnette_album)

After the 1st set @ the VV the lights came up. I looked around & every famous drummer in NY was there: Roy, Elvin, Charles 'Bobo' Shaw, Freddie Waits, etc

There's a great track on it I can still hear in my head: 'The Vikings Are Coming'.

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Žiga's avatar

Living in a small country as I do (Slovenia, 2 milion people) a freelance musician simply cannot afford to be exclusivist and play only "country" or only "free jazz". But I only realised that later on. Because for me playing MUSIC instead of a STYLE or GENRE or SCHOOL has only been natural. I have been more than lucky to be raised in an environment where it never really mattered which "style" the music was. Every since I can remember we (my family) attended concerts and listened to records of all kinds: Golden Gate Quartet, Mozart, our traditional folk, Satchmo, Beatles, Duke Ellington, Vivaldi, to name just the internationally known. Pop radio, jazz festival, simphony, you name it. I am eternally grateful to my parents for that. It not only benefited me when I became a freelancer, I firmly believe it benefited me as a human being. Anyway, excuse me for going on about myself. What I actualy wanted to say is that right here it should be aknowledged yet again what a magical path Charlie had walked - from the two year old Yodelling Cowboy to the worldwide touring of all the bands he was a part of. Truly amazing! Humbling and inspiring. And a lesson in humanity.

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Erik Heddergott's avatar

Ornette Coleman told me once that Style is the Enemy.

I as a Listener have realized that great Art can be found in every Style.

Sometimes you have to search longer, but it is „around“.

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Erik Heddergott's avatar

Who loves Free Jazz and Country?

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Josh Haden's avatar

Erik, when we played at the Montreal Jazz Fest., many audience members walked out when they realized they were hearing traditional bluegrass music, banjo & mandolin pickin' etc...

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Erik Heddergott's avatar

I know this Reaction from some of my Friends

whereas the Friend I met for the first Time 1984 at the Country Temple of Zürich whilst Ornette Coleman and Prime Time played there for the Jazzfestival Zürich was ready to get confronted with Duet Recordings of Tammy Wynette and George Jones.

And against his Will instantly loved it.

I didn’t need the Flatlander who I had for a Back Up Plan.

For many the Sound of gliding Pitches with Fiddle is so linked to Right Wing Racism that they don’t know that some of the best Female Country Stars are definitively not Right Wing.

And Willie Nelson isn’t either.

When I saw the 4 Day John Zorn Festival in Hamburg Petra Haden, your Sister was not scheduled for the Big Hall. And I heard a lot of People saying, that they do not mind to have not gotten Tickets for her Concert.

It is strange!

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Erik Heddergott's avatar

Flatlanders with Butch Hancock, Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.

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