Crouching Tiger, Hidden Jazz Orchestra

Master of the Flying Guillotine

    So, to answer your question, the name Flying Dragon Orchestra comes from my love of classic kung fu movies.  I think the parallels between kung fu and jazz music are many.  Both require years of focused training, apprenticeship and practice for mastery. One must truly live in the moment, and have complete control of the mind and body. The kung fu fighter and the jazz musician alike find themselves in unfamiliar situations, and must quickly react and acclimate in order to be successful.  Also, let's not forget the obvious need for good to triumph over evil, and to avoid the humiliation of defeat and/or death while restoring honor to your fallen master (mostly in the case of the jazz musician).   

    Also, I wanted a name which didn't give any preconceived, genre specific label to our sounds.  I didn't name the band the Tom Erickson Jazz Orchestra, because there are certain expectation after hearing a name like that which I wanted to avoid. I also tried to create a certain curiosity, where listeners come in with open minds as much as possible.  But I did still want people to know we make music, and hopefully the word orchestra lets folks know sound is involved without causing any serious expectations.  

    If you're looking for some good kung fu action, a few of my favorites are: King Boxer aka Five Fingers of Death, Five Deadly Venoms, Master of the Flying Guillotine, 5 Element Kung Fu, and more recently, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Kill Bill 1 + 2, Hero, Ong Bak.  

    Here is some more info for those interested in 5 Animal Kung Fu.  Shaolin monks use animal symbolism to define and classify their different Kung Fu styles. The five main animal styles are as follows: 

1) Shaolin Tiger Kung Fu: The Tiger is the lord of the land/realm. It is the king of the animals, king of the mountain. The Tigers natural, easy fluidity hides it's ferocious power and dominance. Armed with deadly claws, sharp and strong jaws, the Tiger style is one of simplicity, directness and power. Very simple, honest and direct strategies valuing truth, honor and justice above all. Dominating, controlling, powerful, frontal, larger than life, Tigers rely upon their size and the explosive force delivered by their short, thick muscles, clarity of mind, rightness and purity of spirit to achieve their needs and wants. 

2) Shaolin Panther Kung Fu: The Panther stylist chooses the time, the place, the conditions, the style, the everything. S/He is in command of any situation, not by brute power but by the breadth of their skills, abilities and cunning. It never does the expected unless that is the last thing you would expect. It is always well prepared, well informed and always surprising. It likes to use and even create confusion for use to it's own advantage. As a style is has the greatest amount of technical expertise, widest range of techniques used in the most impossible ways. It is always the attacker, never the attacked. Panthers are the most complex of the 4 Animals with the most varied and interesting strategies, habits and solutions. 

3) Shaolin Crane Kung Fu: The Crane stylist prefers a harmonious environment and would sooner walk away from a conflict than even consider partaking in it. The Crane Stylist is a dancer, the most beautiful mover of all the Shaolin animals. It's forms a beautiful, graceful and full of elegance. All though all movements, each turn and hop, each pause have a meaning, often a Crane stylists practice of form will look more like a dance. They are very light on their feet and can be mistaken for ballet dancers at the highest level. 

4) Shaolin Snake Kung Fu: The Snake is for wisdom, knowledge, experience, avoidance and tradition. It is a minimalistic style that would only act if everything was perfect or there is no other choice. No surpurflouse movements, action or thought. It is the animal that most relies on pressure points and is a perfectionistic, intense and impatient. 

5) Shaolin Dragon Kung Fu: The Dragon is a mythical animal representing all that is best. In context of the 5 Animal System it represents the mastery of the physical 4 and is not a sperate style in itself. When you are able to win without someone else losing, then you have achieved a Dragon solution. In the physical sense, all matters to do with direct chi & breath disruption are considered Dragon techniques. Anything that debilitates and stops an attacker without doing permeant damage or causing great pain is said to have Dragon tendencies! Dragons understand most everyone but only Dragons understand Dragons. 

*it is important to note that it is not my intention for the qualities of the dragon to be compared to my composing, nor do I pretend to have any high level of mastery in this area.  When summoning the qualities of the dragon, I'm referring to the musicians in the ensemble and their ability to improvise and create in the moment.

Comments

[Banana]

I was just surprised that you gave up Professor Pork and Beans?