Jon Christensen (August 2005 Issue)
ECM Great

Jon Christensen's got definite views on percussion. Basically, if you want the job done properly, you do it yourself. "Since most percussionists have paid good money for all sort of instruments," he explains, "they feel compelled to use them all the time. They don't leave any space. For me, music is very much based on pulses. When you have a percussionist banging away all the time, it's very hard to play drums."

Clatter is definitely not part of the ECM sound. The mic's go in special places - a couple of Crown PZMs on the floor adjacent to the bass drum, for example. The natural balance we hear on recent albums by Thomas Stanko and Bobo Stensen is no accident. Nor is the cymbal sound, a product of Christensen's cherished Turkish K 22" ride, as heavy as a doorstop.

When he's not recording, Jon's off to continental Europe and occasionally America. And sports are never far behind, he confirms. "There's a weeklong festival in Scandinavia where we play soccer matches. Instead of water, if somebody gets thirsty, it's beer and schnapps. Around ten years ago, Elvin Jones was involved. He was the referee. He didn't know anything about the sport, but it was nice to have him out there, running around in short pants and a hat!"

T. Bruce Wittet

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