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Why Roscoe Mitchell is Important: CHARLIE KOHLHASE
Alto, tenor and baritone saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase has been a mainstay of Boston’s jazz scene for over twenty years. Whether leading his two newest bands, performing in a dozen others or writing over 50 compositions, his music spans a broad range of styles with an emphasis on the contemporary and the improvised. In addition, he co-led groups with the great Danish/Congolese saxophonist John Tchicai for New England tours in 1997, 1998 and 2003. Charlie was also a member of Either/Orchestra from 1987 to 2001, playing throughout North America, Europe and Russia. His recordings with Tchicai and Roswell Rudd have received critical acclaim.
Roscoe Mitchell’s 2 LP “Nonaah” set really kind of scared the crap out of with when I first heard it. It had a similar impact to my first hearing of Ornette’s “Dancing In Your Head” which was probably a year earlier, although the two albums are ineluctably linked for me. My reaction to both was something along the lines of “What the hell is happening to music?” along with “How can I get involved in this music?” I was already familiar with Roscoe’s composition ‘Nonaah’ from its initial recording on the Art Ensemble’s “Fanfare For The Warriors” album but, particularly the extended solo rendition from the Pori Festival, here it was stretched out into the elements of sound, silence, repetition and intensity. A 3-note introductory motif and Roscoe’s subsequent tonal shadings and smears, a reflective quiet interlude and ultimately a return to the opening material and a virtuosic saxophone meltdown. This performance has a similar shape to another masterpiece from that era, the performance of 'Chant’ from Studio Rivbea in 1976 that was issued on the Wildflowers anthology. I actually had the temerity to request 'Nonaah’ when I heard Roscoe play a solo concert at Lulu White’s in Boston circa 1979. He very graciously played it as a short encore: what a nice fellow! My eternal thanks to the master Mr. Mitchell for changing the way I think about composing, shaping and organizing music.
Table & Chairs Presents: Roscoe Mitchell Performs Nonaah on June 7th, 2013 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.
