Dave, I've been listening to Magma for almost 50 years. In 1988 I wrote about them in the music magazine Option and I wrote the entry on them at Sea of Tranquility. Magma is the band of the drummer, Christian Vander, who is one of the great drummers- a small kit, never plays a song the same way, is intuitive and astonishing. This song was written by a former Magma bassist, the equally legendary Jannik Top. It is not an improvisation. Here, it is played by another former bassist, Phillip Bussonett, also known as Bubu. Phillip is one of the greats- check him out of songs like Slag Tanz. Phillip was actually fired more than 2 years ago, as Christian felt a need to shake up the band. The new bassist then? Jimmy Top- son of Jannik! And not the first of kids of former players, either, as Himiko and Antoine Paganotti sang for Magma many years after their dad Bernard played bass. One of the sad things here is the guitarist in this clip, James Mac Gaw, died nearly yeas ago after a 4-yr battle with brain cancer. You should check his incredible guitar solo on their composition Kohntarkosz, Magma's masterwork according to Vander (not Mekanik Detruktiw Kommandoh, as most would assume). Magma is a legendary band, now in its 55th year of existence and still playing live! The current iteration of the band has 7 singers, 2 keyboards, bass, guitar and drums. I'll follow this comment up with a few links.
KMX is intially a composition of the bassist Jannick Top which was a member of the band in 1973-1974. Here Phillip Bussonet is very ( i mean very) inspired by the playing of Jannick Top : the original version of this song was published on the album "Inedit" in 1977 ( it is a compilation of live and studio song ) th-cam.com/video/mcuuzSadODA/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=Magma-Topic However Bussonet , who has been member of Magma for more than twenty years, is a master here !
Slag Tanz: th-cam.com/video/CQP37EYBDOs/w-d-xo.html John Coltrane is Vander's great influence. Christian nearly lost himself when John died and he has honored him every since. There are compositions he has done where the Coltrane influence is greater, as with his band Offering. Or in some of his longer competitions, such as Another Day (Offering, 45 minutes). I've seen Tony Williams Lifetime and Magma both live, and yes, Tony is an influence.
Good ear. This is very atypical Magma, who do have a wide range though, and attract an eclectic mix of fans. Metalheads like them for pieces like this: th-cam.com/video/HAkSVTDfBVE/w-d-xo.html and this: th-cam.com/video/XP1rjs6TCsQ/w-d-xo.html . Those who appreciate the avantgarde gravitate to this: th-cam.com/video/8YkBjizw38c/w-d-xo.html or this: th-cam.com/video/z42dup9Zs4A/w-d-xo.html . Their early stuff included horns and tended towards hard jazz like this: th-cam.com/video/XYgM6cMIzDM/w-d-xo.html . Me, I like this: th-cam.com/video/wP3wtV_1v-I/w-d-xo.html
Probably the biggest influence (apart from John Coltrane) would be the classical music conservatoire that Christian Vander attended. From what I've heard, he's far from self-taught. The Coltrane influence, though, is very specific. According to Vander the whole reason he started Magma was to try to make up for the loss to the world due to John Coltrane's death. I don't think this is on any album. They had a tendency to develop a song over years (literally), live, before recording it, so they have a lot of songs that will probably only exist in some live sessions. The most recent album (still going, sort of), Zess, is actually something like 30 years old, or older. Their "biggest hit album", Mekanik Destruktiw Kommando, comes in all sorts of different forms. There's not just the album version. Chances are if you listen to a live version you haven't heard before, after hearing another or the album, it'll have a distinctive character all of its own. (Just another example of this "live first" approach they have).
CV never been to the conservatoire... almost completely self-taught. This piece is on the "Inedits" album published in the late seventies, in a live version with Jannick Top on bass.
@@jpslebassiste Thanks. (Had to check, but looks like you're right from what little info the internet has, now). Strange. I remember reading about him (from the little info the internet had when I first heard his music), and reading a quite detailed account of which conservatoire he was at, and how he moved from classical to rock-jazz-related music back then, forgetting almost all the details over the years, since, till all I "knew" was as far as education went, he started there. And he didn't. I don't remember the details, but remember it was pretty detailed, this account I read. And it was all made up! Well I never ... Ja, so thanks again.
I've heard of these guys and listened to a few tracks. It's good to pick an instrumental tune because their lyrics/vocals are definitely an acquired taste! But this cut I liked. Cool jam. Here's an obscure but worthy track for Dave to check from a band from Indiana called, Roadmaster, who were discovered by Todd Rundgren (who even produced a few of their tracks), their sound is like a mix of Boston and Styx. This tune is called, Hey World. th-cam.com/video/ZA70w3DJaAY/w-d-xo.html
Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic !!!
One of my top five comments of all time : '" This is what we call Punk Jazz "
Drums: Christian Vander, Bass: Philippe Bussonet, Guitar: James Mac Gaw, Keybords: Emmanuel Borghi.
Oh i forgot! Voice: Klaus Blasquiz
Dave, I've been listening to Magma for almost 50 years. In 1988 I wrote about them in the music magazine Option and I wrote the entry on them at Sea of Tranquility. Magma is the band of the drummer, Christian Vander, who is one of the great drummers- a small kit, never plays a song the same way, is intuitive and astonishing. This song was written by a former Magma bassist, the equally legendary Jannik Top. It is not an improvisation. Here, it is played by another former bassist, Phillip Bussonett, also known as Bubu. Phillip is one of the greats- check him out of songs like Slag Tanz. Phillip was actually fired more than 2 years ago, as Christian felt a need to shake up the band. The new bassist then? Jimmy Top- son of Jannik! And not the first of kids of former players, either, as Himiko and Antoine Paganotti sang for Magma many years after their dad Bernard played bass. One of the sad things here is the guitarist in this clip, James Mac Gaw, died nearly yeas ago after a 4-yr battle with brain cancer. You should check his incredible guitar solo on their composition Kohntarkosz, Magma's masterwork according to Vander (not Mekanik Detruktiw Kommandoh, as most would assume). Magma is a legendary band, now in its 55th year of existence and still playing live! The current iteration of the band has 7 singers, 2 keyboards, bass, guitar and drums. I'll follow this comment up with a few links.
Here is the solo from James Mac Gaw on Kohntarkosz: th-cam.com/video/1eGgXa360-E/w-d-xo.html
And a full version of this most incredible composition: th-cam.com/video/QTucmvIEbbg/w-d-xo.html
Never heard of these guys, but that was thoroughly entertaining. Love watching and listening to great musicians. Thanks guys, glad you’re back.
Apologies for several posts now, but I thought you'd like to see eh current version of the band: th-cam.com/video/hESllwEqUGw/w-d-xo.html
KMX is intially a composition of the bassist Jannick Top which was a member of the band in 1973-1974. Here Phillip Bussonet is very ( i mean very) inspired by the playing of Jannick Top : the original version of this song was published on the album "Inedit" in 1977 ( it is a compilation of live and studio song ) th-cam.com/video/mcuuzSadODA/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=Magma-Topic
However Bussonet , who has been member of Magma for more than twenty years, is a master here !
Slag Tanz: th-cam.com/video/CQP37EYBDOs/w-d-xo.html
John Coltrane is Vander's great influence. Christian nearly lost himself when John died and he has honored him every since. There are compositions he has done where the Coltrane influence is greater, as with his band Offering. Or in some of his longer competitions, such as Another Day (Offering, 45 minutes). I've seen Tony Williams Lifetime and Magma both live, and yes, Tony is an influence.
Good ear. This is very atypical Magma, who do have a wide range though, and attract an eclectic mix of fans. Metalheads like them for pieces like this: th-cam.com/video/HAkSVTDfBVE/w-d-xo.html and this: th-cam.com/video/XP1rjs6TCsQ/w-d-xo.html . Those who appreciate the avantgarde gravitate to this: th-cam.com/video/8YkBjizw38c/w-d-xo.html or this: th-cam.com/video/z42dup9Zs4A/w-d-xo.html . Their early stuff included horns and tended towards hard jazz like this: th-cam.com/video/XYgM6cMIzDM/w-d-xo.html . Me, I like this: th-cam.com/video/wP3wtV_1v-I/w-d-xo.html
Probably the biggest influence (apart from John Coltrane) would be the classical music conservatoire that Christian Vander attended. From what I've heard, he's far from self-taught. The Coltrane influence, though, is very specific. According to Vander the whole reason he started Magma was to try to make up for the loss to the world due to John Coltrane's death.
I don't think this is on any album. They had a tendency to develop a song over years (literally), live, before recording it, so they have a lot of songs that will probably only exist in some live sessions. The most recent album (still going, sort of), Zess, is actually something like 30 years old, or older.
Their "biggest hit album", Mekanik Destruktiw Kommando, comes in all sorts of different forms. There's not just the album version. Chances are if you listen to a live version you haven't heard before, after hearing another or the album, it'll have a distinctive character all of its own. (Just another example of this "live first" approach they have).
CV never been to the conservatoire... almost completely self-taught. This piece is on the "Inedits" album published in the late seventies, in a live version with Jannick Top on bass.
@@jpslebassiste Thanks. (Had to check, but looks like you're right from what little info the internet has, now).
Strange. I remember reading about him (from the little info the internet had when I first heard his music), and reading a quite detailed account of which conservatoire he was at, and how he moved from classical to rock-jazz-related music back then, forgetting almost all the details over the years, since, till all I "knew" was as far as education went, he started there. And he didn't.
I don't remember the details, but remember it was pretty detailed, this account I read. And it was all made up! Well I never ...
Ja, so thanks again.
Saw these dudes live on their 50th anniversary tour. Was a bit up and down but the good parts were great!
I've heard of these guys and listened to a few tracks. It's good to pick an instrumental tune because their lyrics/vocals are definitely an acquired taste! But this cut I liked. Cool jam. Here's an obscure but worthy track for Dave to check from a band from Indiana called, Roadmaster, who were discovered by Todd Rundgren (who even produced a few of their tracks), their sound is like a mix of Boston and Styx. This tune is called, Hey World. th-cam.com/video/ZA70w3DJaAY/w-d-xo.html
Magma's Maahnt: th-cam.com/video/d8eZj-LLFZY/w-d-xo.html
can you do Buried Alive by Avenged Sevenfold?
Yes!
@@samechick thank you!
Today's the day!