February 2002
Improvise!
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Improvising with Marian McPartland and Willie Nelson
By Jackie King
I just got off the phone with Marian McPartland, legendary jazz pianist and host of NPR's longest running jazz show, "Piano Jazz". Our conversation had turned to January 24, when Marian had sat in with Willie Nelson and me at Irving Plaza during a concert we were playing. Marian said that playing with Willie was just like playing a jazz show, and I couldn't agree more. The spirit of improvisation is such an identifying part of both jazz and a Willie Nelson concert that separating the two is missing the point. Like Charlie Parker said, "It's all just music, man." Willie concerts are at least half jazz anyway, and when you consider the fact that Miles Davis used to hang out with the band and even occasionally play a little harmonica in the set, one gets a little curious.
Marian played beautifully as we did songs like "The Gypsy", "Heart of a Clown", and "Sweet Georgia Brown". The crowd roared after each of her gorgeous and burning solos, with true appreciation, proving once again that jazz and improvisation is not one particular setting, social group, attire or generation for that matter, but a universally recognized art form. As Monk said, "Jazz is freedom."
Another verification of this versatility in the appreciation of jazz appears when you consider the diversity of people that were there at the concert that night. They included Bill Evans (saxophonist), Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior of The Sopranos), Rip Torn, Tony Garnier (bassist for Bob Dylan), Ethan Hawke, Rob Thomas, Mantis Evar (Blue Note Records), and Brad Reisau (DL Media), among others. Needless to say, it was a historical improvisational event.
Willie Nelson and I will be appearing (audibly, that is) as guests with Marian McPartland on her NPR show "Piano Jazz". The show will air the week of February 10. Check your local public radio schedule for the exact time and date for your location, as this is a show you don't want to miss if you are a fan of pure unadulterated improvisation. You will love this show as it reveals the common thread between great artists and improvisers. My hat goes off to you, Marian. I love you.
Thank you,
Jackie King
www.jackieking.com
Improvise! copyright Jackie King 2002. All rights reserved. Some of the material contained in this column is derived from "The Jazz Book: An Improvisational System for Guitarists" © Jackie King.
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