Here's a Review of Drummer Jon Christensen's "Rarum" Tribute CD on ECM Records

It just occurred to me that --- as I embark on sharing nuggets and life observations from my 2009 interview in Oslo, Norway with esteemed European drummer, Jon Christensen ---  I should probably point readers to a CD review I wrote (for Amazon) earlier that very same day of the interview.

You can follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2E2N5ML9TVQBP

Or simply read the text here:

 A True Master of Time and Space, May 15, 2009

By 

Robert S. Weathers "DRUMMAH"

This review is from: Rarum, Vol. 20: Selected Recordings (Audio CD)

To call Jon Christensen "the thinking man's drummer" would be to miss his incredible sensitivity to the musical feeling going on around him, and his particularly subtle way of engaging and punctuating rhythmic time by means of his signature, nuanced cymbal work and thoughtfully placed drum accents. Nevertheless, his unique and dynamic "thinking" about the relationship of sound to silence, of rhythm being both stated explicitly and not, make him one of the very few drummers on the planet who, by one stroke of a cymbal, or a single pattern or phrase laid down, are both instantly recognizable and absolutely joined, without fanfare or bombast, to their fellow musicians. His contributions to the patented ECM sound (care of producer Manfred Eicher and engineering marvel Jan Erik Kongshaug) are legend. This sampling here, on Mr. Christensen's own Rarum selection, ought rightly to inspire the listener's delving more deeply into the drummer's extensively documented catalog. A few further recommendations, beyond the current selected recordings, all featuring percussion maestro Jon Christensen at his creative peak: Rainer Bruninghaus-"Freigeweht," Jan Garbarek-"Paths, Prints" and "Photo with Blue Sky...," Mike Nock-"Ondas," Keith Jarrett-"My Song" and "Belonging," Terje Rypdal-"Waves," Ralph Towner-"Solstice/Sound & Shadows," Bobo Stenson-"Witchi-Tai-To," Eberhard Weber-"Yellow Fields," and Miroslav Vitous-"First Meeting." And that's only scratching the surface of this genuinely modern master and his hugely influential body of artistic work! Enjoy!!

I hope that this review may give you a feel both for Jon's inimitable and highly influential style of drumming; as well as my deep affection and appreciation for his career contributions.