Our guest for this episode of JAZZIZ Not What You Think is Jethro Tull’s intriguing leader, Mr. Ian Anderson. When Jethro Tull entered the music scene, they opened the eyes and ears of a generation of music fans with their new kind of fusion; mixing rock with folk, blues, jazz and classical music with unusual visual references through Anderson’s coloful lyrics and “stories”. And unlike other prog rockers of the time, Anderson’s music encompassed a certain humor mixed in with the band’s musical hooks, rock riffs and modicums of extended acoustic and electronic solo instrumentation. Today ‘Tull remains unsurpassed as the most commerically successful eccentric progressive rock bands of all time and the articulate Anderson naturally had a lot to say … from the progressive rock era when Yes, Genesis and Emerson, Lake and Palmer ruled to Frank Zappa to spirituality and even his own financial support of Scottish cathedrals. Anderson also delves into a few seminal “Tull moments”, including when Jimmy page walked into the studio during one of Martin Barre’s solos and cheered him on, and how the band leader was still learning to play the flute during the making Tull’s earliest albums. The pop flautist also had some interesting comments about improvisation and jazz, and how jazz was his first/real introduction to music. For Tull newbies,(with a Spotify account) CLICK HERE to check out about an hour of some of our favorite Tull tunes and we hope you enjoy a conversation with the very gifted, progressive rock legend, Ian Anderson.
Sound Engineer: Geoffrey Fagien
Music by: Jeff Lorber – Kickin’ it
