Jazz for aficionados
Alexatpos, here's one that was forgotten and one who was considered to be in line to be a star ahead of Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and even Stan Getz (Lester Young disciples). He was one of the first swing tenor players to go the bebop route and was a very colorful character who led a very interesting and varied life. He disappeared from the scene to pursue, among other interests, race car driving (!). I will never forget, in 1979, while I was a student at the U of Miami, this old hippie in a pony tail who enrolled in music classes at the Frost School; he caused quite a sensation among the young students. Eager had spent the last several years as a truck driver in Florida and had decided to make a comeback after many years of not touching the saxophone. In the third clip we can hear Billy Bauer who you brought to our attention: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4JAUyaBvuEI https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QYXCfB6bJNA https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UlQxKMHM3Ps |
Frogman, this next clip says it all... [url]https://youtu.be/UPw-3e_pzqU[/url] ...already I suspect that with so much music from 50's and 60's man can find time to explore more modern sounds of jazz, and now, you of all people, are pointing in opposite direction... |
Frogman's Steps Ahead post reminded me of this Mike Nock's recording with Mike Brecker, Al Foster and George Mraz . Not the music I would post off the record, but….. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQeiZvxEZkQ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zrcmn1bwknw |
Alex, https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-6XwSWjwbvM Glad I'm not the only one here ☺️. No "pulling back" intended; and, I certainly hope you are not "done" with your posts about obscure players. Sometimes the simplest things have much truth in them: "there are only two kinds of music, good music and the other kind". If you go back to the early days of the thread you'll see how often I posted music that was pre-50/60s and met a lot of resistance and lack of interest. I have often thought the most interesting way to approach these discussions would be from a historical point of view and look at great examples of ALL time periods in the music. I hope that your comment "you of all people" was said in jest since it couldn't be more obvious by now that I don't think any time period is inherently "better" than another. As you will notice I followed with a clip of 'Steps Ahead". As far as I am concerned the clip of Benny Goodman/Lionel Hampton is every bit as "hip" as the "Steps Ahead"; if the quality of the music, not the genre, is the criterion for judging. Some of the most interesting jazz from the 60's was recorded by Lennie Tristano and his disciples Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh and others. Compositions and improvisation that were harmonically very interesting with unexpected twists and turns. Much of it had a West Coast vibe to my ear, but it was very much a product of the New York scene. Again, Billy Bauer can be heard on this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RK4U0Q3LbWE |
Frogman,some people in audience might say something like this.... [url]https://youtu.be/NpYEJx7PkWE[/url] I am posting 'obscure' music because I see that people who are already involved here, know very much about jazz in general, and I guess they are familiar with furthter exploring of music of some author that they like. So, I thought, there is no point in posting the more obvius ones. However, it seems that West Coast jazz is perhaps an unsearched area, so my next posts will go in that direction, untill somebody says enough... Will start with this two links, certainly very well known names First, Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh, album is simpy called by their names, together with B. Bauer and O.Pettiford [url]https://youtu.be/AQRgEj3AWPU[/url] Second one, few years later, from 1961.Teddy Edwards Quartet. Album is called 'Good Gravy' [url]https://youtu.be/qnyWftdb3DY[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/SBc1nm3JIko[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/Y8lNm8fO204[/url] |
Alex, great posts! That Lee Konitz record is a classic. And Teddy Edwards sounds fantastic. Love his tone and reminds me of Hank Mobley in his sense of swing. As far as I'm concerned you decide when there's enough West Coast. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uDAvmIyW2VI btw, I just discovered that we no longer have to frame the link with [URL]'[/URL] |
Jazz, it's truly amazing how we have so many memories attached to the same record, from about the same time. My girl friends friend, Loretta, used to give lawn parties where she bar b qued, prepared fine side dishes, and invited some of the most interesting people. At that time we were all drinking "Cold Duck" wine, and our favorite record was "Cold Duck Time". This record puts those times into vivid focus. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ago8dP4fFA[/url] Enjoy the music. |
This tune takes me back to Chicago. The name of the tune is "Harlem Nocturne". For the sake of my scenario, let's call it "Chicago Nocturne", or "Chicago Night". Picture this; I'm in the back seat of a sky blue, and white two tone, 56 Bel Aire chevy convertible, with an arm full of beautiful young girl (teenagers in love), and we're gazing up at the Chicago Skyline, (one of the most fantastic in the world) while cruising Lake Shore Drive in mid summer, with a cool breeze blowing off of Lake Michigan; that's about as close to heaven as I ever have been or ever will be. Pick your favorite version of "Harlem Nocturne", or take all three. [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6J2hSOq31k[/url] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_ziYBiMiq0[/url] [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfWbRWTfKFg[/url] Enjoy the music. |
Alex there's no way I can get enough West Coast. Since this thread began "West Coast" is the only genre we haven't explored. My West Coast records went with the wind, or something like that, because they mysteriously disappeared. Back when West Coast was hot, I recall me and a friend going to movies just for the soundtrack. Some of the very best jazz of that genre was attached to movies; if only I could remember the movie; I think there's a surfer movie that has a good soundtrack. You're doing fine, keep up the good work. |
Orpheus, about that surf movie,with west coast jazz,was it this one? [url]https://youtu.be/u6AlNXW9IcU[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/Yn58HLNbyaE[/url] Music from Bud Shank |
Shelly Manne, you got him. How about "Speak Low". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOokrsEAJ6Q Enjoy the music. |
"Speak Low" 1943 is a popular song composed by Kurt Weill, with lyrics by Ogden Nash. It was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker in the Broadway musical One Touch of Venus 1943. The 1944 hit single was by Guy Lombardo and his orchestra, with vocal by Billy Leach. Barbra Streisand recorded a David Foster arrangement of "Speak Low" for her album Back to Broadway 1993 The tune is a jazz standard that has been widely recorded, both by vocal artists from Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett to The Miracles and Dee Dee Bridgewater, and such instrumentalists as Bill Evans, Sonny Clark with John Coltrane, Roy Hargrove, Woody Shaw, and Brian Bromberg. Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass recorded this in 1983 (on CD Speak Love). Al Caiola's 1961 version reached #105 on Cashbox magazine's "Looking Ahead" survey. The opening line "Speak low when you speak, love" is a play of words on a line in William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (1600), in which Don Pedro says "Speak low if you speak love." "Speak Low" is featured in the German film Phoenix 2014 film. This has been one of my favorite tunes for ages, and I just learned this today. We're all going to get smart together. Enjoy the music. |
Sorry, ran across this looking for west coast. Had to post. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHicOTweC5o |
Jafant, if you dont have them already, this five albums of Shelly Manne and his Men I consider 'as must have'. I guess they were posted before, but as you mentioned the guy, man cant go wrong by posting this music. [ur]https://youtu.be/fCaN2irGItA[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/f7n0fEf2qRY[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/PE7J-k1N-A4[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/GKcibuqpm8Y[/url] [url]https://youtu.be/J1gyMu7CM50[/url] |
Thanks for the Phil Woods clip, Acman3. Interesting rhythm section; very good, and with a unique feel. Some may disagree, but just as Latin players playing straight ahead jazz sound a little different than American jazz musicians, I suppose it would be the same for Japanese or any other nationality. This is not a racist thing at all, but a simple observation and as it should be, given the differences in the various cultures. Subtle, but it's there. I liked the intro and how it borrowed from Miles' "Milestones". O-10, "Harlem Nocturne" is one of my favorite tunes and is to every alto player what a tune like "Body and Soul" is to every tenor player. Very evocative melody. I need to try and find out who the alto player is on the Duke version; doesn't sound like Johnny Hodges. Alex, thanks for those Shelley Manne clips. Great stuff. Richie Kamuca was a very nice player who is not a heard very often. |
While I couldn't find out who played the alto sax solo with Duke Ellington on "Harlem Nocturne", I did find St. Louis Blues played by Johnny Hodges. All of us can compare the two, and vote whether or not Johnny Hodges did the solo with the Duke. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NJcTWZYS20 Enjoy the music. |
O-10, I love these YouTube mysteries. The alto player just doesn’t sound like Hodges to me. In fact, the band doesn’t sound like Duke’s band to me; especially the baritone saxophone which doesn’t have that wonderful huge sound that Harry Carney had. So, like you, I set out to get to the bottom of it. First of all, "Harlem Nocturne" was written by Earle Hagen for the Ray Noble orchestra as a tribute to Johnny Hodges and the Ellington sound; which explains why another orchestra might try to sound like Duke’s band. Still, close but no cigar. Eventhough it is often erroneously assumed that it is actually an Ellington tune, there is practically nothing written about a Duke recording of HN, although there are a couple of references to Duke having recorded it; but, no details. Strange. While I will, for now, stick to what my ears tell me, I could be wrong. But, I found this; check this out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrk2YLGKXg And this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j3sFkxSh62k Exact same recording, both times, as the one credited to Duke in your post; this time by the Ted Heath orchestra. Fee-fi-fo-fum! One last comment re the alto player on the recording. The very last note of the tune: no way! That is not a Johnny Hodges vibrato. I don’t think the recording in your post is by Duke at all. Thanks for the opportunity to do a little sleuthing. The tune was detective Mike Hammer’s theme, after all😉 |
Frogman, if there was a grand prize, you would win it. Although I knew it wasn't written by Duke Ellington, I thought the band was his because that's what it said. It's for sure I'm no big band expert, as my collection attests to that fact. Are the musical 'you tubes' getting as fake as the one's with an anaconda wrapped around an elephant or a lion. Since anacondas live in South America, and lions and elephants in Africa, we would have to have a jet setting anaconda. Thanks for the detective work, maybe Mike Hammer could use some help? Enjoy the music. |
Alex, I have a worn out record with Bud Shank Titled "Koto and Flute" that I haven't been able to find. This sounds as close to one of the tunes as I can get, but not nearly as good. Bud Shank blew some boss flute. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKYMEseTZxE This might be a little closer, but Bud Shank was on his A+ game when he recorded that because I wore the record out, and haven't been able to replace it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inRNgpqyWPw Here's Bud Shank with "Nature Boy" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4923bpN3Vo Enjoy the music |
Orpheus, very nice music, thank you. I have no records of japanese music, but I like what you have posted. As for Bud Shank, this looks like the sam line up, but another album? https://youtu.be/pvVEZ3N8P8Q I have neither, will try to find and buy them. Saw 'Koto and Flue' vinyl edition on Amazon...pity that aint no cd |
Alex, this is one dynamite tune. It happened to be on the juke box of my favorite lounge, and there is no telling how many quarters I put in that juke box to hear this. (juke boxes were the first high end) Music sounds so much better when shared with charming people while sipping on something cool. Gerry Mulligan is most certainly one of my favorite baritone saxophonist, and he burns this tune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syIgRlaUeow Enjoy the music. |
When I was quite young, there was a bar in town whose owner introduced juke box as a way to play music there. It was already modern one, with cd's. The owner must have thought that introducing juke box would be a good idea and that it would lead to a rise of profit, because instead of playing his music, the visitors would need to 'buy' a song. Everyone did, for a while... Than I have noticed, that among all the discs the juke box contained, was a concert album of Led Zeppelin (the same lp I had at home) on which is 26:50 min long version of 'Dazed and Confused' song. In a time when I liked the Zeppelins, I have listened that song maybe once or twice . For those of you who maybe dont know, after about 5 min, J.Page and the bend behind are becoming quite 'noise makers' and that lasts next 20 or so minuts. I am thinking should I put the link here...just a joke. So, from time to time, I would went there, payed 1.5usd and played that song. Would return aprox. 15 min later to see are there any guests there, usually I would not find any. Needless to say, there was always some song that could ruin the atmosphere and soon the juke box was out, free music was back in. I know that this story is childlish, but I cant resist smiling, every time that somebody mentions juke box, it comes on my mind. What is maybe funny to say, some 20 years later I have owned the bar in same area, and sometimes, when I wanted to close earlier I would simply put some jazz music. It worked better than Zeppelin, people would start to go for the door very soon. I am sorry to say, but for what ever reason that is young peoples reaction to jazz in majority of places. ( aldo I consider myself young too, I am 43) My favourite 'bouncer' track... 'I give them five minuts to finish the drinks'... https://youtu.be/FTshuTxrSvU |
Sometimes classified as a "West Coast" player, Stan Getz was much more than that and defied classification. Brilliant, and what a sound! https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g61l27gdXYQ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=az-NfhfL_-k "Let’s face it, we would all sound like that if we could" - John Coltrane Btw, Alex, I still like Led Zep; amazing band. |
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One of my pet peeves is for an instrumentalist or vocalist to mess with one of the standards, and not follow the script in regard to the emotions of the song. For a song to survive longer than I've been living, it must have something special about it; follow the script or leave it alone and write your song. I'll give you an example with this song, maybe you can think of others, I wont give examples of people who've messed up standards. "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise" is the way love affairs begin. A fellow walks out of his front door not expecting anything different from yesterday, and decides to knock on the door of a lady he works with. This day happen to be one out of a thousand, and when she open the door, their eyes meet and something happens. From one minute till the next, things are happening that seem to be beyond their control, and they windup where all lovers windup. That's the way it begins; "love", flaming in all it's glory. The passions that give love, are the same passions that kill love. Next comes "Jealousy"; as sure as night follows day. Mr. Miles Davis told us about that. Softly as in an evening sunset the light that gave you glory takes it all away. Once he or she is gone; "What am I going to do, I don't know if I want to go on living without her"! [url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9xS0raZ_M[/url] That's the story that song told, it was good enough for a short play. Enjoy the music |
