Memory Flashes for Jon Hassell
12.09.21
Jon Hassell pushed beyond the boundaries to change the way we experience sound. As the originator of Fourth World music, the trumpet player and composer conjured shapeshifting sonic forms that floated at the edge of consciousness. His nuanced, dreamlike landscapes were sacred spaces where sensuality reigned supreme and the ear served as a path to the beating heart.
Jon Hassell passed from this earthly plane on June 26, 2021 but his music resonates in the recorded body of work he left behind and echoes through output of the many artists he influenced. Jon was always supportive of dublab and we are honored to pay tribute to his radiant spirit through offerings of remembrance by his family, friends, collaborators and admirers in this radio program produced by Frosty.
Contributors in order of appearance:
Brian Eno
Adam Rudolph
Jeff Rona
Taska Cleveland
Spencer Doran (Visible Cloaks)
Matt Werth (RVNG Intl.)
Arnaud Mercier
Rick Cox
Terry Riley
Jan Bang
Alexis Georgopoulos (Arp)
Jung Hee Choi
La Monte Young
Hugh Marsh
Matthew Jones (Ndeya Records)
Frosty
Tracklist:
Jon Hassell – Moons of Titan
Jon Hassell – Vernal Equinox
Jon Hassell – Caracas Night September 11, 1975
Jon Hassell – Mombasa
“Mo Boma (Berceuse)” from Anthologie De La Musique Des Pygmées Aka Centrafrique on Ocora
Jon Hassell – Darbari Extension II
Jon Hassell / Peter Freeman – PowerMalay
Jon Hassell and Brian Eno – Chemistry
Jon Hassell & Rick Cox’s unreleased processed recordings of Shirley Horn’s “You’re My Thrill” slowed to a crawl using the Ircam TS
– ShirleySloReWnd
– ShirleyPno2
– Shirley Coda Thought TS 6x
Jon Hassell – Nature Boy
Jon Hassell and Brian Eno – Ba-Benzélé
Jan Bang – Exile From Paradise (Live at Punkt)
Jon Hassell – Dabari Extension I
The Theatre of Eternal Music – Map of 49’s Dream The Two Systems of Eleven Sets of Galactic Intervals Ornamental Lightyears Tracery (recorded April 25, 1975 Dream Festival, Dia Art Foundation, 141 Wooster Street, New York, N.Y. ~ DREAM HOUSE)
Jon Hassell – Timeless
Ravel – Gaspard de la nuit, M. 55 – II. Le gibet
Flyer art by Arien Walizadeh
Our deepest gratitude goes out to everyone who participated in this project both through recorded comments and loving encouragement. We invite you to continue exploring Jon Hassell’s world through his recorded music, including the sublime string of releases published through his Ndeya Records imprint.
Jon was an expressive human on many levels and his writing is especially impactful. The recently published volume of writings Atmospherics is a collection of text vignettes that provide a portal into his unique way of looking at the inner and outer world.
“In trying to fully understand anyone, or anything, I’ve always wanted to get a feel for the physical and psychic landscape of the time: what kind of light was in the room or in the forest, what sounds and smells were in the air, what families and friends looked like, whether there were animals and children around, what were they eating, what was funny, what was sexy, what was sad—in other words, the “atmospherics” of a situation.”
