Question and Answer

Pat,

I have always really dug the above referenced tunes off the Rejoicing Album. For some reason I always felt that you "said alot" in the the tune "The Calling". (possibly laying the groundwork for other compositions which employ that same "thickness" or as it has been refered to "density") I was instantly drawn into the piece by the way it starts with its "fanfare" and proceeds to go through many changes only to come back to the fanfare again. I always enjoy listening to that tune. Immediatley following that tune is "Waiting for an Answer" which I also thought said equally as much as the "Calling" only with out all the density. It uses so much space. I have often wondered, where those tunes planned that way? Do they compliment one another? Also, do you think people ought to just listen to your music and not question it so much? As always, thanks for your time and consideration in answering these questions.

John.

hi john,

the piece "the calling" became kind of a cornerstone of what that trio was about. we would often do 45 minute versions of that live where billy (higgins) would play his sarod and charlie and i would do many of the kinds of things behind him that later evolved into what we did behind ornette on "song x". in fact, i think it was from hearing the three of us play that piece one night at the village vanguard that ornette decided he wanted to do the record that we finally made together. and in fact, "the calling" was played on all of the "song x" concerts as well, and there were some versions of it live with that band that were just amazing - and hearing ornette play that melody was just thrilling for me, cf course.

"waiting for an answer" was really just an improvised little piece that we made up in the studio - as was kind of regular thing to do on most ecm records of that time. but i remember that it did begin to capture the kind of listening thing that charlie and i were developing around that time too.

as far as people "questioning" the music - all i can say is that no one questions it more that i do! i think it is good to really look into things as to why you do and don't like things - it is one of the qualities that art of any kind offers those who would behold it - the chance to maybe discover something about yourself that you didn't even know about.

best from pat