Jon Hassell
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+ | "I listened to a lot of live music and bought a heap of records. One of the most important was by a musician I'd never heard of - a trumpeter called [[Jon Hassell]]. It was called ''[[Vernal Equinox (album) |Vernal Equinox]]''."--"[[The debt I owe to Jon Hassell]]" (2007) by Brian Eno | ||
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{{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
- | + | '''Jon Hassell''' (March 22, 1937 – June 26, 2021) was an [[American composer]] and [[trumpet]] player active since the 1960s. He was best known for developing the concept of "Fourth World" music, which describes a "unified primitive/futurist sound" combining elements of various [[world music|world ethnic]] traditions with modern [[electronic music|electronic]] techniques. The concept was first articulated on ''[[Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics]]'', his 1980 collaboration with [[Brian Eno]]. He had also worked with artists such as the [[Theatre of Eternal Music]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Farafina]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Tears for Fears]], [[Ani DiFranco]], [[Techno Animal]], [[Ry Cooder]], [[Moritz von Oswald]], and [[Carl Craig]]. | |
- | '''Jon Hassell''' (March 22, 1937 – June 26, 2021) was an American [[trumpet]] player and [[composer]] active since the 1960s. He was best known for developing the concept of "Fourth World" music, which describes a "unified primitive/futurist sound" combining elements of various [[world music|world ethnic]] traditions with modern [[electronic music|electronic]] techniques. The concept was first articulated on ''[[Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics]]'', his 1980 collaboration with [[Brian Eno]]. He had also worked with artists such as the [[Theatre of Eternal Music]], [[Talking Heads]], [[Farafina]], [[Peter Gabriel]], [[Tears for Fears]], [[Ani DiFranco]], [[Techno Animal]], [[Ry Cooder]], [[Moritz von Oswald]], and [[Carl Craig]]. | + | |
==Life and career== | ==Life and career== | ||
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In 1989, Hassell contributed to the [[Tears for Fears]] album ''[[The Seeds of Love]]''. | In 1989, Hassell contributed to the [[Tears for Fears]] album ''[[The Seeds of Love]]''. | ||
- | Jon died from natural causes on June 26, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pescovitz |first1=David |title=Jon Hassell, pioneering electronic musician, RIP |url=https://boingboing.net/2021/06/26/jon-hassell-pioneering-electronic-musician-rip.html |access-date=27 June 2021 |work=[[Boing Boing]] |date=2021-06-27}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=JON HASSELL, SONIC EXPLORER |url=https://vinylconnection.com.au/2021/06/27/jon-hassell-sonic-explorer/ |publisher=Vinyl Connection |access-date=27 June 2021 |language=en |date=2021-06-27}}</ref> He had had health issues over the previous year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Jon Hassell, Influential Avant-Garde Composer, Dies at 84 |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/jon-hassell-dies-at-84/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |access-date=27 June 2021}}</ref> | + | Jon died from natural causes on June 26, 2021. |
==Style== | ==Style== | ||
- | Hassell coined the term "Fourth World" to describe his work on "a unified primitive/futuristic sound combining features of world ethnic styles with advanced electronic techniques."<ref name="ankeny" /> He used extensive [[audio signal processing|electronic processing]] of his trumpet playing.<ref name="ankeny" /> In addition to nonwestern traditional musics, critics have noted the influence of [[Miles Davis]] on Hassell's style, particularly Davis' use of electronics, [[Musical modes|modal]] [[harmony]], and understated lyricism.<ref>{{Cite web | first=Mark | last=Gilbert | title=Jon Hassell | url=http://www.grovemusic.com | work=Grove Music Online | editor=L. Macy | access-date=November 7, 2007}}</ref> Both on record and during live performances, Hassell made use of western instruments—keyboards, bass, electric guitar, and percussion—to create modal, hypnotic grooves, over which he played [[microtonal music|microtonally]]-inflected trumpet phrases in the style of [[Pandit Pran Nath|Nath]]'s [[Kirana gharana|Kiranic]] vocals.<ref>Jon Pareles, "Jon Hassell with Trumpet and Electronics," ''New York Times'' September 21, 1989: p. C15, ''ProQuest Platinum'', Online (November 6, 2007).</ref> | + | Hassell coined the term "Fourth World" to describe his work on "a unified primitive/futuristic sound combining features of world ethnic styles with advanced electronic techniques." He used extensive [[audio signal processing|electronic processing]] of his trumpet playing. In addition to nonwestern traditional musics, critics have noted the influence of [[Miles Davis]] on Hassell's style, particularly Davis' use of electronics, [[Musical modes|modal]] [[harmony]], and understated lyricism. Both on record and during live performances, Hassell made use of western instruments—keyboards, bass, electric guitar, and percussion—to create modal, hypnotic grooves, over which he played [[microtonal music|microtonally]]-inflected trumpet phrases in the style of [[Pandit Pran Nath|Nath]]'s [[Kirana gharana|Kiranic]] vocals. |
==Discography== | ==Discography== | ||
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;Single tracks on compilations and remixes | ;Single tracks on compilations and remixes | ||
- | * "Map of Dusk" on compilation ''Myths 3: La nouvelle serenité'' ([[Sub Rosa (label)|Sub Rosa]], 1987),<ref>{{Discogs master|32942|Myths 3: La nouvelle serenité)|type=album}}</ref> recorded in 1985 with [[J.A. Deane]] | + | * "Map of Dusk" on compilation ''Myths 3: La nouvelle serenité'' ([[Sub Rosa (label)|Sub Rosa]], 1987), |
- | * "Pygmy Dance" on compilation ''Ai Confini / Interzone'' (New Tone, 1993),<ref>{{Discogs release|1969250|Ai Confini / Interzone)|type=album}}</ref> recorded live in Italy 1988 | + | * "Pygmy Dance" on compilation ''Ai Confini / Interzone'' (New Tone, 1993), recorded live in Italy 1988 |
- | * "Streetfaxx" and remixes by [[808 State]] on EP ''Voiceprint (Blind from the Facts)'' (Opal, 1990; reissued on All Saints, 1993 and 2006)<ref>{{Discogs release|933322|Voiceprint (Blind from the Facts)|type=album}}</ref> | + | * "Streetfaxx" and remixes by [[808 State]] on EP ''Voiceprint (Blind from the Facts)'' (Opal, 1990; reissued on All Saints, 1993 and 2006) |
* ''Personals'', maxi-single with remixes of "Personals" and "G-Spot" by [[MC 900 Ft Jesus]] and [[Organized Konfusion]] (Warner, 1994) | * ''Personals'', maxi-single with remixes of "Personals" and "G-Spot" by [[MC 900 Ft Jesus]] and [[Organized Konfusion]] (Warner, 1994) | ||
* "Then and Now (Berchidda)" on compilation ''Then and Now (Time in Jazz 1998 | 2007)'' (Tàjrà It., 2008), live recording from 2001 in Italy with [[John Beasley (musician)|John Beasley]], Rick Cox | * "Then and Now (Berchidda)" on compilation ''Then and Now (Time in Jazz 1998 | 2007)'' (Tàjrà It., 2008), live recording from 2001 in Italy with [[John Beasley (musician)|John Beasley]], Rick Cox | ||
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|- | |- | ||
- | | 1968 || [[Terry Riley]] || ''[[In C]]'' <ref>{{Discogs master|49739|In C|type=album}}</ref> || [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] || ensemble member | + | | 1968 || [[Terry Riley]] || ''[[In C]]'' |
+ | || [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] || ensemble member | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1974 || [[Francesco Guccini]] || ''[[Stanze di vita quotidiana]]'' <ref>{{Discogs master|590496|Stanze di vita quotidiana|type=album}}</ref> || Columbia || ensemble member | + | | 1974 || [[Francesco Guccini]] || ''[[Stanze di vita quotidiana]]'' || Columbia || ensemble member |
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1974 || [[La Monte Young]] and [[Marian Zazeela]] || ''[[Dream House 78' 17"]]'' <ref>{{Discogs release|655646|Dream House 78' 17"|type=album}}</ref> || Shandar || ensemble member (quartet) on one of two extensive tracks | + | | 1974 || [[La Monte Young]] and [[Marian Zazeela]] || ''[[Dream House 78' 17"]]'' || Shandar || ensemble member (quartet) on one of two extensive tracks |
|- | |- | ||
| 1980 || [[Talking Heads]] || ''[[Remain in Light]]'' || [[Sire Records|Sire]] || on "Houses in Motion" | | 1980 || [[Talking Heads]] || ''[[Remain in Light]]'' || [[Sire Records|Sire]] || on "Houses in Motion" | ||
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| 1989 || [[Tears for Fears]] || ''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' || [[Fontana Records|Fontana]] || on "Standing on the Corner of the Third World" and "Famous Last Words" | | 1989 || [[Tears for Fears]] || ''[[The Seeds of Love]]'' || [[Fontana Records|Fontana]] || on "Standing on the Corner of the Third World" and "Famous Last Words" | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1991 || Marc Beacco || ''The Crocodile Smile'' <ref>{{Discogs master|6939003|The Crocodile Smile|type=album}}</ref> || Polydor/Nova || on "Funeral for a Flower", co-composer | + | | 1991 || Marc Beacco || ''The Crocodile Smile'' || Polydor/Nova || on "Funeral for a Flower", co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1991 || [[Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses]] avec [[Hector Zazou]] || ''Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses avec Hector Zazou'' <ref>{{Discogs release|2007081|Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses avec Hector Zazou|type=album}}</ref> || [[Philips Records|Philips]]/[[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] || on "Anima", "In la piazza" and "Notte", co-composer | + | | 1991 || [[Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses]] avec [[Hector Zazou]] || ''Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses avec Hector Zazou'' || [[Philips Records|Philips]]/[[Phonogram Records|Phonogram]] || on "Anima", "In la piazza" and "Notte", co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1993 || [[Ry Cooder]] || O.S.T. ''[[Trespass (1992 film)|Trespass]]'' <ref>{{Discogs master|489113|Trespass (Original Motion Picture Score)|type=album}}</ref> || Sire/Warner || ensemble with [[Jim Keltner]] | + | | 1993 || [[Ry Cooder]] || O.S.T. ''[[Trespass (1992 film)|Trespass]]'' || Sire/Warner || ensemble with [[Jim Keltner]] |
|- | |- | ||
| 1994 || [[Stina Nordenstam]] || ''[[And She Closed Her Eyes]]'' || Telegram/[[East West Records|East West]] || on "Crime" and "I See You Again" | | 1994 || [[Stina Nordenstam]] || ''[[And She Closed Her Eyes]]'' || Telegram/[[East West Records|East West]] || on "Crime" and "I See You Again" | ||
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| 1995 || [[Techno Animal]] || ''[[Re-Entry (Techno Animal album)|Re-Entry]]'' || Virgin || on "Flight of the Hermaphrodite" and "Needle Park", co-composer | | 1995 || [[Techno Animal]] || ''[[Re-Entry (Techno Animal album)|Re-Entry]]'' || Virgin || on "Flight of the Hermaphrodite" and "Needle Park", co-composer | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1996 || [[David Toop]] || ''Pink Noir'' <ref>{{Discogs release|97953|Pink Noir|type=album}}</ref> || Virgin || on "Slow Loris Versus Poison Snail", co-composer | + | | 1996 || [[David Toop]] || ''Pink Noir'' || Virgin || on "Slow Loris Versus Poison Snail", co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
| 1997 || [[Jackson Browne]] || ''[[The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne]]'' || [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] || on "The Next Voice You Hear" produced by [[T-Bone Burnett]] | | 1997 || [[Jackson Browne]] || ''[[The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne]]'' || [[Elektra Records|Elektra]] || on "The Next Voice You Hear" produced by [[T-Bone Burnett]] | ||
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| 1999 || [[Guy Sigsworth]] || O.S.T. ''[[G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time]]'' || [[Island Records|Island]] || on "Who Would You Have Me Love" with [[Hinda Hicks]] | | 1999 || [[Guy Sigsworth]] || O.S.T. ''[[G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time]]'' || [[Island Records|Island]] || on "Who Would You Have Me Love" with [[Hinda Hicks]] | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 1999 || David Toop || ''Hot Pants Idol'' <ref>{{Discogs release|297319|Hot Pants Idol|type=album}}</ref> || Barooni (Nl) || on "Wing Beats", trumpet and [[harmonizer]], co-composer | + | | 1999 || David Toop || ''Hot Pants Idol'' || Barooni (Nl) || on "Wing Beats", trumpet and [[harmonizer]], co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
| 2000 || [[Hal Willner]] || O.S.T. ''[[The Million Dollar Hotel (soundtrack)|The Million Dollar Hotel: Music from the Motion Picture]]'' || [[Interscope Records|Interscope]] || on "Never Let Me Go" and "Amsterdam Blue (Cortege)", co-composer and track production | | 2000 || [[Hal Willner]] || O.S.T. ''[[The Million Dollar Hotel (soundtrack)|The Million Dollar Hotel: Music from the Motion Picture]]'' || [[Interscope Records|Interscope]] || on "Never Let Me Go" and "Amsterdam Blue (Cortege)", co-composer and track production | ||
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| 2000 || Mandalay || ''[[Instinct (Mandalay album)|Instinct]]'' || V2 || on "Not Seventeen", "Don't Invent Me" and "It's Enough Now" | | 2000 || Mandalay || ''[[Instinct (Mandalay album)|Instinct]]'' || V2 || on "Not Seventeen", "Don't Invent Me" and "It's Enough Now" | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2000 || Nick Wood || ''Sound Virus'' <ref>{{Discogs release|6383581|Sound Virus|type=album}}</ref> || [[Victor Recording Company|Victor]] (Jp) || on "Confined to Ice" | + | | 2000 || Nick Wood || ''Sound Virus'' || [[Victor Recording Company|Victor]] (Jp) || on "Confined to Ice" |
|- | |- | ||
| 2001 || Ani DiFranco || ''[[Revelling/Reckoning]]'' || Righteous Babe || on "Revelling" | | 2001 || Ani DiFranco || ''[[Revelling/Reckoning]]'' || Righteous Babe || on "Revelling" | ||
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| 2001 || [[Howie B.]] || ''Folk.'' || Polydor || on "Tap Dancer", co-composer | | 2001 || [[Howie B.]] || ''Folk.'' || Polydor || on "Tap Dancer", co-composer | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2001 || Rick Cox || ''Maria Falling Away'' <ref>{{Discogs release|707100|Maria Falling Away|type=album}}</ref> || Cold Blue || on "Long Distance", composer | + | | 2001 || Rick Cox || ''Maria Falling Away'' || Cold Blue || on "Long Distance", composer |
|- | |- | ||
| 2002 || [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]] || ''[[Details (album)|Details]]'' || Island || on "Flicks", "The Dumbing Down of Love" and "Old Piano" | | 2002 || [[Frou Frou (band)|Frou Frou]] || ''[[Details (album)|Details]]'' || Island || on "Flicks", "The Dumbing Down of Love" and "Old Piano" | ||
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| 2003 || [[Ibrahim Ferrer]] || ''Buenos Hermanos'' || [[World Circuit (record label)|World Circuit]]/[[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]] || on "Fuiste Cruel" and "Boliviana"; album produced by Ry Cooder | | 2003 || [[Ibrahim Ferrer]] || ''Buenos Hermanos'' || [[World Circuit (record label)|World Circuit]]/[[Nonesuch Records|Nonesuch]] || on "Fuiste Cruel" and "Boliviana"; album produced by Ry Cooder | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2004 || [[Lightwave (band)|Lightwave]] (with [[Paul Haslinger]]) || ''Bleue comme une orange'' <ref>{{Discogs release|873877|Bleue comme une orange|type=album}}</ref> || Signature || on "Huang/Hong" and "Deep Steel Dubh" | + | | 2004 || [[Lightwave (band)|Lightwave]] (with [[Paul Haslinger]]) || ''Bleue comme une orange'' || Signature || on "Huang/Hong" and "Deep Steel Dubh" |
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2004 || Alexkid || ''Mint'' <ref>{{Discogs release|182583|Mint|type=album}}</ref> || [[Play It Again, Sam (Label)|PIAS]] || on "Mint", co-composer | + | | 2004 || Alexkid || ''Mint'' || [[Play It Again, Sam (Label)|PIAS]] || on "Mint", co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
| 2005 || [[Paul Haslinger]] || O.S.T. ''[[Sleeper Cell (TV series)|Sleeper Cell]]'' (TV series) || Rhythmbank || on "Memento Mori" with [[Sussan Deyhim]], co-composer | | 2005 || [[Paul Haslinger]] || O.S.T. ''[[Sleeper Cell (TV series)|Sleeper Cell]]'' (TV series) || Rhythmbank || on "Memento Mori" with [[Sussan Deyhim]], co-composer | ||
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| 2005 || Ry Cooder || ''[[Chávez Ravine (album)|Chávez Ravine]]'' || Nonesuch/Perro Verde || on "Don't Call Me Red" | | 2005 || Ry Cooder || ''[[Chávez Ravine (album)|Chávez Ravine]]'' || Nonesuch/Perro Verde || on "Don't Call Me Red" | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2006 || [[Hadouk Trio]] || ''Utopies'' <ref>{{Discogs release|825059|Utopies|type=album}}</ref> || [[Naïve Records|Naïve]] || on last three tracks, co-composer | + | | 2006 || [[Hadouk Trio]] || ''Utopies'' || [[Naïve Records|Naïve]] || on last three tracks, co-composer |
|- | |- | ||
| 2007 || Paul Haslinger || O.S.T. ''[[Sleeper Cell: American Terror]]'' || [[Lakeshore Records|Lakeshore]] || (not specified) | | 2007 || Paul Haslinger || O.S.T. ''[[Sleeper Cell: American Terror]]'' || [[Lakeshore Records|Lakeshore]] || (not specified) | ||
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| 2007 || [[Harry Gregson-Williams]] || O.S.T. ''[[The Number 23]]'' || New Line || featured as soloist | | 2007 || [[Harry Gregson-Williams]] || O.S.T. ''[[The Number 23]]'' || New Line || featured as soloist | ||
|- | |- | ||
- | | 2007 || Michael Fahres || ''The Tubes'' <ref>{{Discogs release|1282401|The Tubes|type=album}}</ref> || Cold Blue || on "The Tubes (1994/2003)" with [[Mark Atkins (musician)|Mark Atkins]] | + | | 2007 || Michael Fahres || ''The Tubes'' || Cold Blue || on "The Tubes (1994/2003)" with [[Mark Atkins (musician)|Mark Atkins]] |
|- | |- | ||
| 2008 || [[Jan Bang]] and [[Erik Honoré]] as Punkt || ''Live Remixes Vol. 1'' || [[Jazzland Recordings|Jazzland]] || on tracks "III" and "VI", co-composer | | 2008 || [[Jan Bang]] and [[Erik Honoré]] as Punkt || ''Live Remixes Vol. 1'' || [[Jazzland Recordings|Jazzland]] || on tracks "III" and "VI", co-composer | ||
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== See also == | == See also == | ||
- | {{Portal|United States|Music}} | + | |
* [[David Sylvian]] | * [[David Sylvian]] | ||
* [[Erik Truffaz]] | * [[Erik Truffaz]] | ||
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* [[Michael Brook]] | * [[Michael Brook]] | ||
* [[Talking Heads]] | * [[Talking Heads]] | ||
- | + | * [[World music]] | |
- | ==References== | + | * [[Fourth word]] |
- | {{Reflist|2}} | + | |
- | + | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||
* Mark Prendergast, ''The Ambient Century''. New York and London, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2000, {{ISBN|978-0747557326}} | * Mark Prendergast, ''The Ambient Century''. New York and London, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2000, {{ISBN|978-0747557326}} |
Current revision
"I listened to a lot of live music and bought a heap of records. One of the most important was by a musician I'd never heard of - a trumpeter called Jon Hassell. It was called Vernal Equinox."--"The debt I owe to Jon Hassell" (2007) by Brian Eno |
Related e |
Featured: |
Jon Hassell (March 22, 1937 – June 26, 2021) was an American composer and trumpet player active since the 1960s. He was best known for developing the concept of "Fourth World" music, which describes a "unified primitive/futurist sound" combining elements of various world ethnic traditions with modern electronic techniques. The concept was first articulated on Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics, his 1980 collaboration with Brian Eno. He had also worked with artists such as the Theatre of Eternal Music, Talking Heads, Farafina, Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, Ani DiFranco, Techno Animal, Ry Cooder, Moritz von Oswald, and Carl Craig.
Contents |
Life and career
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, United States, Hassell received his master's degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. During this time he became involved in European serial music, especially the work of Karlheinz Stockhausen, and so after finishing his studies at Eastman, he enrolled in the Cologne Course for New Music (founded and directed by Stockhausen) for two years. Hassell returned to the U.S. in 1967, where he met Terry Riley in Buffalo, New York and performed on the first recording of Riley's seminal work In C in 1968. He pursued his Ph.D. in musicology in Buffalo and performed in La Monte Young's Theatre of Eternal Music in New York City, contributing to the 1974 LP Dream House 78' 17".
On his return to Buffalo in the early 1970s, Hassell was introduced to the music of Indian Pandit Pran Nath, a specialist in the Kiranic style of singing. Hassell, Young, Marian Zazeela, and Riley went together to India to study with Nath. His work with Nath awoke his appetite for traditional musics of the world, and on the album Vernal Equinox, he used his trumpet (treated with various electronic effects) to imitate the vocal techniques to which Nath had exposed him. He stated:
- "From 1973 up until then I was totally immersed in playing raga on the trumpet. I wanted the physical dexterity to be able to come into a room and be able to do something that nobody else in the world could do. My aim was to make a music that was vertically integrated in such a way that at any cross-sectional moment you were not able to pick a single element out as being from a particular country or genre of music."
In 1980, he collaborated with Brian Eno on the album Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics and appeared on the Eno-produced Talking Heads album Remain in Light. The same year Hassell also performed solo at the Mudd Club. His 1981 release, Dream Theory in Malaya, led to a performance at the first World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) Festival, organized by Peter Gabriel. He performed and co-wrote tracks on David Sylvian's first solo album Brilliant Trees, and its instrumental follow-up Words with the Shaman. In the late 1980s, Hassell contributed to Gabriel's Passion, the soundtrack album for Martin Scorsese's film, The Last Temptation of Christ. Hassell and Pete Scaturro composed the electronic theme music for the television show The Practice. In 1989, Hassell contributed to the Tears for Fears album The Seeds of Love.
Jon died from natural causes on June 26, 2021.
Style
Hassell coined the term "Fourth World" to describe his work on "a unified primitive/futuristic sound combining features of world ethnic styles with advanced electronic techniques." He used extensive electronic processing of his trumpet playing. In addition to nonwestern traditional musics, critics have noted the influence of Miles Davis on Hassell's style, particularly Davis' use of electronics, modal harmony, and understated lyricism. Both on record and during live performances, Hassell made use of western instruments—keyboards, bass, electric guitar, and percussion—to create modal, hypnotic grooves, over which he played microtonally-inflected trumpet phrases in the style of Nath's Kiranic vocals.
Discography
- As leader or co-leader
- Vernal Equinox (Lovely Music, 1977)
- Earthquake Island (Tomato 1978)
- Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics (Editions EG, 1980), with Brian Eno
- Dream Theory in Malaya: Fourth World Volume Two (Editions EG, 1981)
- Aka/Darbari/Java: Magic Realism (Editions EG, 1983)
- Power Spot (ECM, 1986)
- The Surgeon of the Nightsky Restores Dead Things by the Power of Sound (Intuition, 1987), live recordings
- Flash of the Spirit (Intuition/EMI Electrola, 1988), with Farafina
- City: Works of Fiction (Opal/Warner Bros., 1990; expanded edition on All Saints, 2014)
- Dressing for Pleasure (Warner, 1994), with Bluescreen
- Sulla Strada (Materiali Sonori, 1995), with I Magazzini
- The Vertical Collection (Sketches) (Earshot, 1997), with Peter Freeman as Bluescreen Project
- Fascinoma (Water Lily Acoustics, 1999)
- Hollow Bamboo (Water Lily Acoustics, 2000), with Ry Cooder, Ronu Majumdar and Abhijit Banerjee
- Maarifa Street: Magic Realism Volume Two (Label Bleu, 2005)
- Last Night the Moon Came Dropping Its Clothes in the Street (ECM, 2009)
- Listening to Pictures (Pentimento Volume One) (Ndeya, 2018)
- Seeing Through Sound (Pentimento Volume Two) (Ndeya, 2020)
- Single tracks on compilations and remixes
- "Map of Dusk" on compilation Myths 3: La nouvelle serenité (Sub Rosa, 1987),
- "Pygmy Dance" on compilation Ai Confini / Interzone (New Tone, 1993), recorded live in Italy 1988
- "Streetfaxx" and remixes by 808 State on EP Voiceprint (Blind from the Facts) (Opal, 1990; reissued on All Saints, 1993 and 2006)
- Personals, maxi-single with remixes of "Personals" and "G-Spot" by MC 900 Ft Jesus and Organized Konfusion (Warner, 1994)
- "Then and Now (Berchidda)" on compilation Then and Now (Time in Jazz 1998 | 2007) (Tàjrà It., 2008), live recording from 2001 in Italy with John Beasley, Rick Cox
- As sideman and guest appearances
On almost all recordings Jon Hassell played trumpet (sometimes merely 'used' as sound color). In cases where he plays keyboards or electronics it is mentioned in the last column; the same applies to the credits as composer (or producer).
Film soundtracks are labeled "O.S.T." (original sound track) preceding the film title. Artists and labels are linked by first appearance only.
Date | Leading artist or band | Album title | Label | Track titles and notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Terry Riley | In C | Columbia | ensemble member |
1974 | Francesco Guccini | Stanze di vita quotidiana | Columbia | ensemble member |
1974 | La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela | Dream House 78' 17" | Shandar | ensemble member (quartet) on one of two extensive tracks |
1980 | Talking Heads | Remain in Light | Sire | on "Houses in Motion" |
1982 | Brian Eno | Ambient 4: On Land | Editions EG | on "Shadow" |
1984 | David Sylvian | Brilliant Trees | Virgin | on "Weathered Wall" and "Brilliant Trees", co-composer |
1985 | David Sylvian | Alchemy: An Index of Possibilities | Virgin | on "Words with the Shaman Part 1 3", co-composer |
1985 | Peter Gabriel | O.S.T. Birdy | Virgin/Charisma | ensemble member |
1987 | Lloyd Cole and the Commotions | Mainstream | Polydor | on "Big Snake" |
1989 | Alice | Il sole nella pioggia | EMI | on "Il sole nella pioggia" and "Le baccanti", pre-sampled trumpet sounds activated by keyboard on "Visioni" |
1989 | Peter Gabriel | O.S.T. Passion (Music for The Last Temptation of Christ) | Real World/Geffen/Virgin | on "Passion" |
1989 | Tears for Fears | The Seeds of Love | Fontana | on "Standing on the Corner of the Third World" and "Famous Last Words" |
1991 | Marc Beacco | The Crocodile Smile | Polydor/Nova | on "Funeral for a Flower", co-composer |
1991 | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses avec Hector Zazou | Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses avec Hector Zazou | Philips/Phonogram | on "Anima", "In la piazza" and "Notte", co-composer |
1993 | Ry Cooder | O.S.T. Trespass | Sire/Warner | ensemble with Jim Keltner |
1994 | Stina Nordenstam | And She Closed Her Eyes | Telegram/East West | on "Crime" and "I See You Again" |
1995 | Techno Animal | Re-Entry | Virgin | on "Flight of the Hermaphrodite" and "Needle Park", co-composer |
1996 | David Toop | Pink Noir | Virgin | on "Slow Loris Versus Poison Snail", co-composer |
1997 | Jackson Browne | The Next Voice You Hear: The Best of Jackson Browne | Elektra | on "The Next Voice You Hear" produced by T-Bone Burnett |
1997 | k.d. lang | Drag | Warner | on "Hain't It Funny?" |
1997 | Holly Cole | Dark Dear Heart | Alert | on "All the Pretty Little Horses" |
1997 | Ry Cooder | O.S.T. The End of Violence | Outpost | featured trumpet soloist |
1998 | Ry Cooder | O.S.T. Primary Colors | Outpost | on "Wide Sky", co-composer |
1998 | The Insects & Richard Grassby-Lewis featuring Jon Hassell | O.S.T. Love and Death on Long Island | OceanDeep | featured soloist |
1998 | Mandalay | Empathy | V2 | on "It's Enough Now", "This Time Last Year" and "Beautiful" |
1998 | Ani DiFranco | Little Plastic Castle | Righteous Babe | on (probably one track) |
1999 | Guy Sigsworth | O.S.T. G:MT – Greenwich Mean Time | Island | on "Who Would You Have Me Love" with Hinda Hicks |
1999 | David Toop | Hot Pants Idol | Barooni (Nl) | on "Wing Beats", trumpet and harmonizer, co-composer |
2000 | Hal Willner | O.S.T. The Million Dollar Hotel: Music from the Motion Picture | Interscope | on "Never Let Me Go" and "Amsterdam Blue (Cortege)", co-composer and track production |
2000 | k.d. lang | Invincible Summer | Warner | on "Simple" |
2000 | Mandalay | Instinct | V2 | on "Not Seventeen", "Don't Invent Me" and "It's Enough Now" |
2000 | Nick Wood | Sound Virus | Victor (Jp) | on "Confined to Ice" |
2001 | Ani DiFranco | Revelling/Reckoning | Righteous Babe | on "Revelling" |
2001 | Howie B. | Folk. | Polydor | on "Tap Dancer", co-composer |
2001 | Rick Cox | Maria Falling Away | Cold Blue | on "Long Distance", composer |
2002 | Frou Frou | Details | Island | on "Flicks", "The Dumbing Down of Love" and "Old Piano" |
2003 | Ibrahim Ferrer | Buenos Hermanos | World Circuit/Nonesuch | on "Fuiste Cruel" and "Boliviana"; album produced by Ry Cooder |
2004 | Lightwave (with Paul Haslinger) | Bleue comme une orange | Signature | on "Huang/Hong" and "Deep Steel Dubh" |
2004 | Alexkid | Mint | PIAS | on "Mint", co-composer |
2005 | Paul Haslinger | O.S.T. Sleeper Cell (TV series) | Rhythmbank | on "Memento Mori" with Sussan Deyhim, co-composer |
2005 | Ry Cooder | Chávez Ravine | Nonesuch/Perro Verde | on "Don't Call Me Red" |
2006 | Hadouk Trio | Utopies | Naïve | on last three tracks, co-composer |
2007 | Paul Haslinger | O.S.T. Sleeper Cell: American Terror | Lakeshore | (not specified) |
2007 | Ry Cooder | My Name Is Buddy | Nonesuch/Perro Verde | on "One Cat, One Vote, One Beer" |
2007 | Harry Gregson-Williams | O.S.T. The Number 23 | New Line | featured as soloist |
2007 | Michael Fahres | The Tubes | Cold Blue | on "The Tubes (1994/2003)" with Mark Atkins |
2008 | Jan Bang and Erik Honoré as Punkt | Live Remixes Vol. 1 | Jazzland | on tracks "III" and "VI", co-composer |
2008 | Ani DiFranco | Red Letter Year | Righteous Babe | on "Star Matter" |
2008 | k.d. lang | Watershed | Nonesuch | on "Upstream" |
2008 | Ry Cooder | I, Flathead | Nonesuch/Perro Verde | on "Flathead One More Time" |
2009 | Jon Balke & Amina Alaoui | Siwan | ECM | ensemble member, trumpet and electronics |
2010 | Jan Bang | …And Poppies from Kandahar | Samadhisound | on "Exile from Paradise", co-composer (also for another track, due to trumpet samples) |
2011 | Paul Haslinger | O.S.T Underworld: Rise of the Lycans | Lakeshore | featured musician |
2015 | Bassekou Kouyaté & Ngoni Ba | Ba Power | Glitterbeat (G) | on "Ayé Sira Bla = Make Way" |
2015 | Duncan Sheik | Legerdemain | Kobalt | on "Brutalized" and "No Happy End" |
2016 | Genre Peak (Martin Birke) | Your Sleekest Engine | Gonzo | on "Metanoia", trumpet samples and/or sampler |
See also
- David Sylvian
- Erik Truffaz
- Erik Honoré
- List of ambient music artists
- Michael Brook
- Talking Heads
- World music
- Fourth word
Bibliography
- Mark Prendergast, The Ambient Century. New York and London, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2000, Template:ISBN
- Jon Hassell, program notes from Vernal Equinox. Lovely Music, LML 1021, 1977.