Joseph Jarman
So what we were doing with that face painting was representing everyone throughout the universe, and that was expressed in the music as well.
Joseph JarmanWell, dojo is a traditional Japanese word for training hall.
Joseph JarmanWell, by the end of the millennium, five, six months from now, we hope to somehow manage to move into a new location where we have the whole building, so we can devote space to all our activities.
Joseph JarmanYou know, face painting in non-Western cultures is a sign of collectivism, is a sign of one representing the community, it's not unique at all.
Joseph JarmanWhen Christopher and Charles passed away, I was completely depressed, I felt rejected and real down, and so Roscoe invited me because he had this spirit of compassion, and we had gone to school together, were friends and everything.
Joseph JarmanThe most recent has been the Infinite Compassion, that might have been the most recent orchestral piece I've done.
Joseph JarmanPeople doing the kind of sound research that I'm interested in still have a difficult time.
Joseph JarmanWell, actually, I don't consider myself a jazz legend or anything.
Joseph JarmanIn fact, since no one's been interested in my work, I took the responsibility recently to invest in my own work, so I'm producing a concert that was done at the Vision Festival in May.
Joseph JarmanThat was the nice thing about working with them, was to focus on your own style rather than becoming an imitator and trying to emulate them.
Joseph JarmanYou know, Equal Interest played at the Bell Atlantic Jazz Festival Awards and not one musician from that category was even thought of. Even thought of! The idea, that here's this vital energy, and that element doesn't even know it exists!
Joseph JarmanI've been fortunate in that I've been forced to move from zone to zone.
Joseph JarmanThat one year I just put aside the income from one European tour and invested it in this location here on Smith Street, so that's how it got started.
Joseph JarmanAfter two or three years, we had to perform 'cause the place that was allowing us to rehearse needed to know we were actually doing something there!
Joseph JarmanI've been informed by both sides, jazz, western music, Asian music, African music, all sides, because I've been interested in the sound of the universe, and that sound is without limit.
Joseph JarmanThere are several members in the dojo, people who've been practicing for some time, and people who haven't been practicing for some time!
Joseph JarmanI hadn't been practicing or playing or anything. But that had been a vital part of my life.
Joseph JarmanWe were doing performance art as far back as 1965, just not calling it that.
Joseph JarmanBut back to your question, it was a wonderful experience with the Art Ensemble, and I keep in contact and sort of follow what's going on, but it was also very important to make this step, you may say this leap of faith.
Joseph JarmanIt took me a long time to reach the decision to retire, actually, from the Art Ensemble.
Joseph JarmanSome years ago, I guess in 1990 or '91, when I was fortunate enough to work with the Art Ensemble, we would tour every year, and they still do.
Joseph JarmanLotta people don't realize when you grow up with people, you have an affinity, a relationship you don't get with anyone else. After you're twenty years old, anyone you meet after that, it's different from the people you knew before.
Joseph JarmanI was very impressed with Anton Webern, this composer. I was very impressed with his view and concept of time and space in music.
Joseph Jarman
