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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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