Teo was the man! He was responsible for some major records, and he knew/produced some major cats. Producer - Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue" - highest selling jazz record of all time. Producer - Dave Brubeck - "Take Five", highest selling jazz single of all time...and so many others...he produced records by Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock...etc., etc. He was also a composer/arranger. He wrote symphonic music, conducted orchestras, and produced/staged operas...just an incredible career...truly astonishing. I love to listen to him talk about working with the jazz cats back in the day - late 50's/early 60's...craziness! He had soooo many great stories...and funny! RIP Teo - and thanks!
There are moments in one's life that are markers. One of mine is first hearing Bitches Brew 1st year in university. Sat there, with the headphones on, stunned. Still am. An amazing collaboration of two creatives - Davis and Macero. The players were the best there were, but the architects were D & M. Hats off to M. He should be better known. The 3 biggest selling jazz albums of all time - all his productions. Wowser.
You know, he has a point- I'm sure I'm not the only over-ambitious, under-talented musician in the world, or the country (hell, even in the city of Detroit) who has realised that NOBODY has ever actually gone beyond- or even taken to their logical conclusion- the ideas that Miles Davis particularly, but also Sun Ra and many others were exploring back in the late '60s & early '70s, and dreamed of putting together some "modern" form of a "big band" to take the entire history of (for lack of a better term) "popular music" and re-arrange those elements and anything else musically useful into something extraordinary, amazing and brand new...
Analog recording is certainly a thing to behold. He’s basically right about everything he says. Melodies are becoming more important, but pop music has reverted back to the 19th century in melodic terms. I’ll make some good music for you, Teo.
Different mix for vinyl, CD and cassette. Teo is exactly right, and it seems obvious when you think about it, so how come nobody else realised? A constant theme in these interviews is Teo being exasperated with people who thought they knew more about music production than he did, or who couldn't comprehend the value of Teo's contribution to the final recorded product (to them)/artwork (to Teo). I had the cassette of 'We Want Miles' back in the 80s. Unfortunately like many cassettes it didn't last the journey, but it had a seriously good sound, presumably because Teo mixed it for that format. Had some Teo produced Miles vinyl too, especially liked 'On the Corner'. Only in recent times have I got around to 'Bitches Brew'; listening to it now on CD, sounds great though I have never heard it on vinyl for comparison. I wonder if they let Teo do the remastering on that CD or was it released after his time at CBS? What I really wonder is, has this valuable knowledge that Teo possessed been passed on or studied? What were his principles for the optimum mix for each format? Did he take notes, are there people who assisted him who understand how he worked? Could the same principles be applied to any format, those currently used and those into the future? The music industry wants to produce what it thinks it can sell using the methods that it understands. Not every consumer of music cares much about the best possible audio experience, most it seems are content to purchase music that sounds good enough to them in a lot of the compromised sonic environments that they find themselves in or choose to be in. So probably few who matter in terms of putting music out to the public could be bothered with the alchemical complexities of Macero's methods. But there will always be those who care enough about music to want to hear it in the best possible environment and to pursue an optimal listening experience. And musicians can now self produce on a realistic budget and find an audience without the machinations of the traditional music industry. As such the knowledge and methods of the great Teo Macero are of inestimable value, and it would be a blessing to the music world if somebody who was close to Teo could preserve and promote this knowledge lest it be lost forever.
I recall about four years ago arguing with someone that vinyl had a superior sound over CD's. Just listen to early Sonny Rollins on LP and CD releases of the same session and you will hear what I mean.
CD's cannot hold a candle to vinyl - and the difference is immediately apparent, at least to my ear. For one thing, vinyl is usually recorded through an analogue system, which captures the full parametric properties of the acoustic wave, whereas CD's use digital technology. When you digitize music, the acoustic waves are broken down into precisely-sized "bytes", with each byte assigned a specific "chunk" of the acoustical wave. Once that happens, the wave ceases to be a wave, and instead becomes a precisely measured "slice", a measured portion of the wave chopped off at the top and at the bottom. That process destroys the organic nature of sound, making it artificial. While many people can tell the difference (you & I, for example), most people's ears can't discern that abrupt chop to the wave parameters. However, studies have shown that our brains definitely know the difference, and can affect our moods, our emotions, our ability to cope/problem solve and even affecting how we interact with others, etc., ... ergo, society as a whole can be impacted. We don't yet know the degree to which this technology affects us, or indeed, impacts society overall. Most believe it's not a big deal...I'm not so sure about that. In time, I think it could become quite significant, and moreso over the course of generations. No, thanks - I'll put up with the pops and the hiss and the hum gladly so that I can listen to the music the way it's meant to be heard.
Not so much .. at about 5:00 he gives the explanation: *Early* CDs weren't as good as LPs until producers learned to mix for CDs. Unfortunately, now most new pop music is mixed for mp3, not CD, so of course the CD will sound crappy. A *good* CD beats good vinyl because there is no hiss or pop.
Dude knows about free jazz, uses the word 'harmelodica' a word invented by Ornette Coleman. Says he's been doing it a long time. He's into the avant garde. That's cool. Schoenberg isn't exhausted in popular music hybrids by any measure.
Great Engineer, totally write that every foramt needs it's own mix, but wrong about the dynamic range, CDs have greater dynamic range. Digital conversion has come a long way from those early CD day though,
Teo was the man! He was responsible for some major records, and he knew/produced some major cats. Producer - Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue" - highest selling jazz record of all time. Producer - Dave Brubeck - "Take Five", highest selling jazz single of all time...and so many others...he produced records by Charles Mingus, Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock...etc., etc.
He was also a composer/arranger. He wrote symphonic music, conducted orchestras, and produced/staged operas...just an incredible career...truly astonishing.
I love to listen to him talk about working with the jazz cats back in the day - late 50's/early 60's...craziness! He had soooo many great stories...and funny!
RIP Teo - and thanks!
There are moments in one's life that are markers. One of mine is first hearing Bitches Brew 1st year in university. Sat there, with the headphones on, stunned. Still am. An amazing collaboration of two creatives - Davis and Macero. The players were the best there were, but the architects were D & M. Hats off to M. He should be better known. The 3 biggest selling jazz albums of all time - all his productions. Wowser.
first Stereo records ever made.....holy moly
You know, he has a point- I'm sure I'm not the only over-ambitious, under-talented musician in the world, or the country (hell, even in the city of Detroit) who has realised that NOBODY has ever actually gone beyond- or even taken to their logical conclusion- the ideas that Miles Davis particularly, but also Sun Ra and many others were exploring back in the late '60s & early '70s, and dreamed of putting together some "modern" form of a "big band" to take the entire history of (for lack of a better term) "popular music" and re-arrange those elements and anything else musically useful into something extraordinary, amazing and brand new...
Teo Macero's name was on most every Columbia jazz LP I bought. He talks of his concern for the future. Roger that.
Analog recording is certainly a thing to behold. He’s basically right about everything he says. Melodies are becoming more important, but pop music has reverted back to the 19th century in melodic terms. I’ll make some good music for you, Teo.
Legend! RIP Mr. Macero.
So good to see and hear you friend...many blessings.
Thanks so much for posting.
Words from a master !
Thank You for doing this video.
Such wisdom from such a great man.
this man produced more great music than any human im history.
Is there a link to this interview in entirety? Instead of these short segments?
The OP never bothers to respond!
Different mix for vinyl, CD and cassette. Teo is exactly right, and it seems obvious when you think about it, so how come nobody else realised? A constant theme in these interviews is Teo being exasperated with people who thought they knew more about music production than he did, or who couldn't comprehend the value of Teo's contribution to the final recorded product (to them)/artwork (to Teo).
I had the cassette of 'We Want Miles' back in the 80s. Unfortunately like many cassettes it didn't last the journey, but it had a seriously good sound, presumably because Teo mixed it for that format. Had some Teo produced Miles vinyl too, especially liked 'On the Corner'. Only in recent times have I got around to 'Bitches Brew'; listening to it now on CD, sounds great though I have never heard it on vinyl for comparison. I wonder if they let Teo do the remastering on that CD or was it released after his time at CBS?
What I really wonder is, has this valuable knowledge that Teo possessed been passed on or studied? What were his principles for the optimum mix for each format? Did he take notes, are there people who assisted him who understand how he worked? Could the same principles be applied to any format, those currently used and those into the future?
The music industry wants to produce what it thinks it can sell using the methods that it understands. Not every consumer of music cares much about the best possible audio experience, most it seems are content to purchase music that sounds good enough to them in a lot of the compromised sonic environments that they find themselves in or choose to be in. So probably few who matter in terms of putting music out to the public could be bothered with the alchemical complexities of Macero's methods.
But there will always be those who care enough about music to want to hear it in the best possible environment and to pursue an optimal listening experience. And musicians can now self produce on a realistic budget and find an audience without the machinations of the traditional music industry. As such the knowledge and methods of the great Teo Macero are of inestimable value, and it would be a blessing to the music world if somebody who was close to Teo could preserve and promote this knowledge lest it be lost forever.
Vinyl is the Best music format.
I recall about four years ago arguing with someone that vinyl had a superior sound over CD's. Just listen to early Sonny Rollins on LP and CD releases of the same session and you will hear what I mean.
CD's cannot hold a candle to vinyl - and the difference is immediately apparent, at least to my ear. For one thing, vinyl is usually recorded through an analogue system, which captures the full parametric properties of the acoustic wave, whereas CD's use digital technology.
When you digitize music, the acoustic waves are broken down into precisely-sized "bytes", with each byte assigned a specific "chunk" of the acoustical wave. Once that happens, the wave ceases to be a wave, and instead becomes a precisely measured "slice", a measured portion of the wave chopped off at the top and at the bottom. That process destroys the organic nature of sound, making it artificial.
While many people can tell the difference (you & I, for example), most people's ears can't discern that abrupt chop to the wave parameters. However, studies have shown that our brains definitely know the difference, and can affect our moods, our emotions, our ability to cope/problem solve and even affecting how we interact with others, etc., ... ergo, society as a whole can be impacted.
We don't yet know the degree to which this technology affects us, or indeed, impacts society overall. Most believe it's not a big deal...I'm not so sure about that. In time, I think it could become quite significant, and moreso over the course of generations.
No, thanks - I'll put up with the pops and the hiss and the hum gladly so that I can listen to the music the way it's meant to be heard.
Not so much .. at about 5:00 he gives the explanation: *Early* CDs weren't as good as LPs until producers learned to mix for CDs. Unfortunately, now most new pop music is mixed for mp3, not CD, so of course the CD will sound crappy. A *good* CD beats good vinyl because there is no hiss or pop.
the ogiginal vinalys are the best.......
stanley tonkel.....one of th eall time greats in the usic industry!!!
Back to vinyl
Dude knows about free jazz, uses the word 'harmelodica' a word invented by Ornette Coleman. Says he's been doing it a long time. He's into the avant garde. That's cool. Schoenberg isn't exhausted in popular music hybrids by any measure.
It's harmolodics. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmolodics
@@tedl7538 That’s right, and Zappa used something similar when he toured with his original Grand Wazoo.
Great Engineer, totally write that every foramt needs it's own mix, but wrong about the dynamic range, CDs have greater dynamic range. Digital conversion has come a long way from those early CD day though,
Separate mixes for each format.
He was right: It’s more than just a coincidence that rap is crap rhymes.