What is wrong with Wynton?

Boy meets Horn · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 2:50 pm Post subject:

What is the problem with Wynton? I feel like pretty much everyone recognizes his trumpet ability but they are hesitant to give him credit for his jazz playing. People say things like"he plays the same thing over again" or "I just don't feel like he is that innovator."
In my opinion, this is a cry of jealousy from people who wish they could play like him. I know I wish I could play like him in classical and jazz settings. I hear people talking about how he just sounds like he is stuck in the past.
True, Wynton is a die-hard conservative in his opinions about music. But that does not mean he is not an innovator. I feel it is wrong that guys continually understate his jazz playing simply because he may have been slightly overexposed in the beginning. That is what I have to say about Wynton.
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Larry Smithee · Heavyweight Member Joined: 11 Nov 2001 Posts: 4399

Rest assured that Wynton has a tremendous following. It’s like all things in music, some like and enjoy Wynton while some prefer…[fill in the blank], and some can’t stand the work of either x, y, or z. You really don’t need to worry too much about what anyone else thinks when it comes to like and dislike. Listen with big ears and enjoy, life is short.
Larry

tptguy · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2004 7:51 pm Post subject:

<<True, Wynton is a die-hard conservative in his opinions about music. But that does not mean he is not an innovator.>>

Fair enough. Tell us what innovations you feel he demonstrates. I think that would be more helpful in persuasion.
Best regards, Kyle

musicemt · Veteran Member Joined: 04 Jan 2004 Posts: 419

I just got back from hearing Wynton with LCJO tonight, and I have mixed feelings about the experience...Wynton is a hell of a player, but I just felt like some of his solos didn't fit the music the band was playing....I could have sworn I heard tritone subs and stuff during a Basie tune, and it just didn't sound right somehow! Don't misunderstand me, it was truly a humbling experience, and I learned alot from watching him, but I just don't know....

Anybody else feel the same way, or am I just nuts?

Ben
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Bri · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 4:53 am Post subject:

Wynton plays classical music like a jazzer and jazz like a classical musician.
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PH · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:24 am Post subject:

From another thread:

trickg · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 5:59 am Post subject:

Jon Arnold · Heavyweight Member Joined: 07 Jan 2002 Posts: 2026

His tone is lifeless because of the brand of horn he plays. He is an awesome player regardless.

marktrumpet · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 6:57 am Post subject:

I think he is criticised more for what he has said than how or what he plays.

JackD · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 9:00 am Post subject:

I'm suprised to see people criticising his tone - personally, I'd kill to get a sound like that. It stuns me every time I hear him.

Interesting to see people criticising him for being old-fashioned, and people also criticising him for not being old-fashioned enough (tritone subs etc).

Personally I love his playing, and I think if you dismiss him out of hand because you don't like his ideology, you're missing out on one of the greatest players alive today.

jazz_trpt · Posted: Wed Feb 11, 2004 9:13 am Post subject:

Listen to what you like and don't worry about what other people think.
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Ruechel · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

technique is one thing

creativity another.

listen to MILES DAVIS

Ruechel · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 6:27 pm Post subject:

and Jeff;

you are absolutely f%$ right.

_PhilPicc · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2004 6:46 pm Post subject:

I don't think there is anything wrong with Wynton. The only reason he is discussed is because of the extreamely high level he has achieved in the trumpet playing community.

You may not like the way he plays a particular piece but the man can play the the horn.
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JonKratzer · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 2:45 am Post subject:

Mark,

You hit the head on the nail. I've heard so many times "Wynton can play like an SOB, but he also makes comments like one too."

That's a direct comment (cleaned up for public use) said by a pretty well respected professional. I personally have nothing against wynton, although I'll say he is not my favourite trumpet player. What I can say is he was one of my first immediate trumpet influences, aside from my father who used to play close to 9 hours a day when he was in college. As time went on and my ears and tastes matured, I found more and more trumpet playrs I liked better, and liked Mr. Marsalis less, but that doesn't mean I don't like him!

jhatpro · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:18 am Post subject:

I think if you'd asked anyone at last night's sold-out LCJO concert at Chicago's Orchestra Hall "what's wrong with Wynton?" they'd have looked at you like you were nuts.
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stukvalve · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 6:46 am Post subject:

I bet none of us would stand next to Wynton with our horns in our hands, and his horn in his, (with Marcus Roberts, Tain, and Bob Hurst backing us up) ...look him in the eyes and say "You know, Wynton.... you're just not being creative anymore .... you play jazz like a classical musician, and vice versa... jazz has a new sound and it sounds like this! (Insert your trumpet playing here)" -Max-
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trjeam · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 3:40 pm Post subject:

a few years if you would of asked me what I thought about wynton i would probably of said "ehh nothing special".. but wynton is something special... the more i listen to him the more i like him...

wynton and jazz:
wynton is such a throwback from the old jazzers... if monk ever played trumpet he would of probably have sounded like wynton.. wynton is like a great combination of all the pass greats... everything he plays is just so hip and he really has a great understanding of the music and what it's about.

and then it's even more impressive to hear him go from playing possibly one of the funnest and hippest arr. of Autumn leaves (IMO) to playing a heart touching rendition of the second movement of the Hummel that it's just executed to perfection..

I may not agree with everything Mr. marsalis says or i may not like his equipment or whatever but i still can't deny that he's one fantastic player and truly one of a kind... there is no doubting that he's unique..
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jazz_trpt · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2004 4:47 pm Post subject:

Boy meets Horn · Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 12:32 pm Post subject:

This is to you, Jeff. How could Wynton be stuck in the past and not be a throwback of the old jazzers. Secondly, the reason one would say that if Monk played trumpet it would have sounded like Wynton is because everything Monk did in his composing and playing made sense and with the exception of Wynton from the late seventies to the mid 80's everything he has done with his playing has made sense. He has really good timing, something a lot of you cats who criticize could use. You transcribe a lot, why don't you prove that Wynton's ideas aren't very original and that he does not have his own voice.