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i Generic music Reflections Without Mirrors' s -o ECM artists convert emotion is the submission of the world to the will of the successful person. by Brad Bermgdez alter the sound so much that it’s possible to play things that are un-guitar like.\ by Stephen Bennett The most useful preliminary to reviewing the book Reflections Without Mirrors by Louis Nizer (Berkley Publishing Corp. $2.75) is deciding what is and what is not conceit Nizer tells his readers on page one that he does not justify this book on the basis of any unique incidents in his life that would interest his reader, although he is willing to let us assume that there are many such incidents that could be shared. “A full and turbulent life, and this I have led, sweeps one into the presence of great men and He goes on to say, “Experiences which Nizer’s subject is the anatomy of dominance. It is quite possible that his arrogant tone, whteh I found bothersome at first, is a conscious device of the author’s. Dominance is not strength. There is more to it than determination. Much of success is defined in terms of social society rather than personal achievement. Although it may be quite fallacious to measure success by comparing one’s self to others, any introspective measure can be burdened with doubt. What we sec in those around us, however, is more than a basis for self comparison It is an experiencing of our capacity to see Contemporary music is coming full circle. Emerging from a quagmire of popular musical idioms is a genre that defies A clue to Abercrombie’s style may be culled from his attitude toward music. \I’ve never been interested in mastering the guitar or being a virtuoso player. Part of me thinks about acquiring more technique, but the most important thing is to find that place where I feel I’m coming out of the music.” categorization; a generic music. Generic music encompasses a multitude of styles, borrowing from each but evolving into something completely unique Critics, for the sake women one convenience have labeled it fusion, though this hackneyed label is as vague, and therefore useless, as the term jazz has become. Sharing a similar attitude, “ . . . if I had to stop playing tomorrow, if my left hand got chopped off, it wouldn’t be the end of my life,” Pat Metheny has garnered critical acclaim through his work with Gary Burton and his last three solo albums on LCM, may appear mundane become significant and universal if a sharp eye and a memory-filled pen can reflection without a mirror. The more we can see in a person beyond their reputation, the more extensive our inner resources must be. re-create them. At this point Nizer’s book came close to landing in my waste basket. However, from this self-inflated beginning there grew a series of essays that I found Generic music has been evolving since the late 60’s when the first strains of jazz-rock fusion were being heard. Groups like Larry Coryell’s Free Spirits, Tony William’s Lifetime, and Dreams attempted to make jazz legitimate to the rock listeners. And there were giants like Miles Davis and Eddie Harris who attempted to make rock legitimate to the jazz afficionados. Fusion, traditionally characterized by heavily amplified super chops, has just about run its course and is giving way to a more lyrical and loosely constructed generic music, characterized by a return to the acoustic instrument. On contemporary guitar, John McLaughlin has turned to the acoustic Indian influenced Shakti, Larry Coryell has reverted to touring solo with acoustic guitar, and ECM records has garnered three of the - most innovative generic guitarists recording today ’Pat Metheny, John Abercrombie ;and Ralph Towner. I / Objective difference This is the real quality of Reflections Without Mirrors. Nizer describes his subjects in terms of what made them great and shows the reader a capacity to observe as well as a capacity to project. His use of conceit, once the reader is accustomed to it, can make the reader a member of this process, preventing him from being absorbed totally, keeping him at an objective difference. Nizer’s unusual tone and point of view can be quite enjoyable, despite all the offense it can cause. Emotion takes hold r vi .iiemn Metheny brings a startlingly fresh style to the electric guitar, a combination of George Benson chops and )im Hall lyricism. His chryslalline tone is achieved through echo effects. Even more Metheny 's Success is a subject that interests many American readers; but this book doesn't suggest a formula for success Instead it reflects, as the title suggests, on that transient commodity of the American dream. I enjoyed Nizer's chapters on jimmy Walker and Fiorcllo LaGuardia, two politicians, both mayors of New York. I was not surprised to find Jimmy Walter characterized as an entertainer more than a mayor, but I was surprised to find La Guardia so characterized, when the two men were arch rivals politically. It seems that politics may just be something for people to fight about in bars or on college campuses. refre shing compositional ability which reached its highest level to date on his last release. The shimmering San Lorenzo and Phase Dance features the acoustic piano of Lyle Mays who compliments Metheny’s hammercd-on runs. If there is any complaint about the Metheny Group’s last release, it’s that Metheny himself plays less to achieve more of a group effort. Politics as an occupation is chiefly concerned with entertaining the populace. The style of the man must fit the need of the people. As Nizer says of Walker and La Guardia: “Each represented the true mood of the city at a particular time. But conditions changed. That is why Walker could easily defeat LaGuardia the first time he was challenged by him, and then lose decisively to him in his second attempt, though the issues were the.same.\ very thought provoking and entertaining, even though undeniable sense of Nizer’s conceit continued to emerge throughout the book. Ralph Towner -has been a consistent exponent of the acoustic guitar, exploring Indian, classical and jazz motifs. Towner’s tCM release Batik ’’the atousticfbass of Eddie Gome? and the sensitive rhythmic variations of jack De johnette. Batik offers delicate introspective compositions by Towner that explore varying textures of sound. “Waterwheel” evokes images of trickling streams while “Shades of Sutton Hoo\ showcases Towner’s classical technique. To be sure, Nizer is both a successful lawyer and a successful man. Success is a subject that interests many American readers; but this book doesn't suggest a formula for success. Instead it reflects, as the title suggests, on that transient commodity of the American drearYlf is the i*suk of overcoming odds. It is also the result of obtaining a position of dominance. Talent can be helpful in this; so can hard work, indeed they are most necessary. The reward and the punishment of success, however, rut As Nizer develops his reflections he touches on not only politics and law, but also love, art and mysticism. It is the all-American version of Meetings With Remarkable Men by Gurdjief. It is a rich and entertaining book. Ethereal tones £ One of ECM’s latest releases, Arcade, with Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Peter Donald playing acoustic piano, bass and drums respectively features Abercrombie’s haunting electric guitar work. \Neptune” and \Alchemy” are two lyrical, almost symphonic compositions that showcase Abercrombie’s staccato single note runs. He employs echo and volume pedals to achieve a floating ethereal tone. Abercrombie admittedly likes electronic effects but doesn’t overdo them. In a Guitar Player (GP) magazine interview Abercrombie admitted, “I can As in the cases of all these players, it is emotion that charges their approach to the guitar. Perhaps Towner’s quote summarizes it best: \I don’t think this technical thing is much of a mystery - as much as converting this technique into music and emotion.’ \An Imitation To A Fascinating Afternoon At The MoNes\ A Japanese fln Mowed by a ledvre/dseottion by tiie producer ... BLIND SWORDSMAN producer. Professor John Nathan Nathan is the author of “Mishinw ’ A Biography , he teaches Japanese literature at Priticeton and is weB known foe ihit , • translations of Japanese novels. FREE... Saturday, April 28 at 2:80 pm Woldman Theatre, Norton Union, Amherst Sponsored by: Intensive English Language Institute, Council on International Studies and International College.
