Jump to content

Tina Brooks


1ngram

Recommended Posts

  • Replies 170
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

In the notes to the Mosaic box ( I don't remember who wrote them) the author described his impression that Brooks seemed intimidated by the fast company Alfred Lion gave him, and that Morgan and Clark, in particular audibly showed him where the hammer hang - I thought, too, that it sounded like that. Please have a look at the commentary to that session if you want more -  as I said I sold the box set. Maybe I have a photocopy of the liner notes, but no idea where they could be stored.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you! He speculates that the veteran players may have tried to protect their turf but certainly does not give specific examples and I don't hear it. Would love some examples.

Lee does seem to have taken credit for Nutville on the Monday Night at Birdland date, although it is not clear that Brooks is the composer (no copyright). Curtis Fuller was asked, and he seemed to think it was a take-off on Sonny Red's Bluesville. Hmm...

Edited by bertrand
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, mikeweil said:

I had the Mosaic but sold it after buying CDs of the three later albums. I never liked Minor Move for the attitude Morgan et al. displayed towards newcomer Brooks.

 

5 hours ago, mikeweil said:

In the notes to the Mosaic box ( I don't remember who wrote them) the author described his impression that Brooks seemed intimidated by the fast company Alfred Lion gave him, and that Morgan and Clark, in particular audibly showed him where the hammer hang - I thought, too, that it sounded like that. Please have a look at the commentary to that session if you want more -  as I said I sold the box set. Maybe I have a photocopy of the liner notes, but no idea where they could be stored.

 

5 minutes ago, Brad said:

I have the book. It was written by Robert Palmer. Here are the relevant excerpts.

i-V6xBZXF-M.jpg

i-bFjCGPw-M.jpg

To me that's a case of projection/presumption by Palmer. "Intimidated" could also mean "not so sure of himself" or simply "not quite ready". It doesn't mean Morgan or Clark went out to make him look bad or treated him poorly (how does one do that?). Lee was on fire - and the album is better for it. 

I get why Alfred didn't put it out at the time. He wanted the right presentation for someone he probably hoped would move some records and make some noise. 

The record is still fine as it is and I am glad to have it.  Lee teared it up. Doesn't mean he was hating on Tina Brooks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

 

 

To me that's a case of projection/presumption by Palmer. "Intimidated" could also mean "not so sure of himself" or simply "not quite ready". It doesn't mean Morgan or Clark went out to make him look bad or treated him poorly (how does one do that?). Lee was on fire - and the album is better for it. 

I get why Alfred didn't put it out at the time. He wanted the right presentation for someone he probably hoped would move some records and make some noise. 

The record is still fine as it is and I am glad to have it.  Lee teared it up. Doesn't mean he was hating on Tina Brooks.

I also thought Palmer was projecting. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I thought it did not come out at the time due to phasing problems with the drums, same as Witch Doctor. RVG had a little trouble with getting Blakey's drums right.

Anyone else heard this story? I doubt I am making it up. Phasing is perhaps not the right word.

Edited by bertrand
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 3.4.2021 at 1:39 AM, bertrand said:

I thought it did not come out at the time due to phasing problems with the drums, same as Witch Doctor. RVG had a little trouble with getting Blakey's drums right.

Anyone else heard this story? I doubt I am making it up. Phasing is perhaps not the right word.

The ride cymbal sounded distorted, as if the level was set a bit high.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I wonder if technical issues such as this were sometimes the reason dates were not issued. Maybe Alfred annotated the logs with this type of info, maybe not. If there was tension in the studio because the veterans were trying to put the newbie in his place, Alfred might well have held back the session because of that. He would have been present to witness it, but I was not of course.

 

The only session for which we know why it was not issued is Redd's Blues. Freddie and Alfred had a big fight in the studio, partially as a result of the last minute addition of Benny Bailey without proper rehearsal time. Freddie is the source of information for this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, bertrand said:

 

 

The only session for which we know why it was not issued is Redd's Blues. Freddie and Alfred had a big fight in the studio, partially as a result of the last minute addition of Benny Bailey without proper rehearsal time. Freddie is the source of information for this.

Freddie told you about the fight but what did he think of the record when it did come out, so many years later?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...

A very late reply to mjazzg's comment about the best sounding version of Tina Brooks's "Minor Move". The Blue Note Works TOCJ--1616 CD sounds fine, and the one alternate take is on TOCJ-1601. I put together a CDr of everything in session order and gave it a spin today.

Everyone plays well, and one can't have enough Sonny Clark, but the session doesn't happen, and I won't be playing it again soon. I wouldn't have issued it. There are plenty of good recordings by the participants. For Brooks, "True Blue" is where it's at, and the September 1, 1960 session, with "Street Singer", is excellent.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

Brooks has been described as being "effete," "slight," or "effeminate" and I wonder if his sexual orientation had something to do with being hired for jobs or given more attention by Blue Note at the time. I have a hunch that Brooks was gay, and while in today's jazz world it wouldn't matter so much, there was a time where it definitely would have. Anybody else catch this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, clifford_thornton said:

Brooks has been described as being "effete," "slight," or "effeminate" and I wonder if his sexual orientation had something to do with being hired for jobs or given more attention by Blue Note at the time. I have a hunch that Brooks was gay, and while in today's jazz world it wouldn't matter so much, there was a time where it definitely would have. Anybody else catch this?

Doris from Theme for Doris was identified in the Mosaic booklet as his girlfriend, IIRC.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

True Blue is a great record. Back to the Tracks (partially Street Singer/ J's Bag I think) for Jackie alone is awesome, and the other two Connie's are sweet. Glad to have all the BN's. I really don't care if Tina (whoever) is gay or straight, this is simply great music. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...