romualdo Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Any love out there for Charles Brackeen? Hasn't recorded for a while now - is he still active? Would love to get my hands on a copy (CD preferably) of Rhythm X (Strata East) - was released in Japan (Bomba) in the early/mid 90's & also through Strata East (when?) - I never see it second hand Jonathan Horwich should reissue this on his International Phonograph label - maybe I should add this to that thread (if I can find it again) Just ordered some CD's from Nobusiness Records (Lithuania) - I mentioned Brackeen in my email & this was the reply from Danas Mikalilionis "I am planing to release Evan Parker trio next March, also will be putting out a double CD and vinyl of Melodic Art-Tet where Charles Brackeen played together with Ahmed Abdullah back in 70s. He has recently been discovered by his fellow musicians, so who knows, maybe he'll start playing again" Has the Melodic Art-Tet been previously released on vinyl or will this be a first? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmce Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 I have heard precious little of his playing, just a cut on the Silkheart sampler, but I'd love to hear more. An interesting guy. Patrol eBay or Dusty Groove for Rhythm X. I've seen multiple copies turn up both places recently for less than $20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Last I heard (several years now), Charles was still living in Los Angeles, but had stopped playing. He and Billy Higgins were apparently very close, and had continued to play together (privately only?) over the years, but Billy's passing was rather devastating to him. Seems like some or all of this was summarized in a SIGNAL TO NOISE article some years back focusing on Dennis Gonzalez's attempts to reconnect with Brackeen. Don;t sleep on BANNAR or any of the Silkhearts, for that matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 (edited) In addition to his own releases on Silkheart, Brackeen is also featured favorably on a few of Dennis Gonzalez' recordings on the same label as well with Paul Motian on ECM in the seventies. I have heard some live stuff by the Melodic Art-Tet, but I do not know if anything by that group has ever been officially released. Edited June 8, 2012 by relyles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fNJ6-5IyCs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 the two great ones on Silkheart are: Worshippers Come Nigh: Charles Brackeen tenor saxophone Olu Dara cornet Fred Hopkins bass Andrew Cyrille drums Dennis Gonzalez Sextet: Dennis Gonzalez trumpet, pocket-trumpet, fluegelhorn, pao de chuva, Pakistani bells, kalimba, vocal Ahmed Abdullah trumpet, fluegelhorn, balafon Charles Brackeen tenor sax, conga Douglas Ewart alto sax, bass clarinet Malachi Favors bass, vocal Alvin Fielder drums, percussion the opening 15 minute title track on this one is one of the great jazz performances ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 The Silkhearts are highly recommended, stunning music not to be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Now listening to: Paul Motian Trio Postaula, Bremen (Germany) September 13, 1977 Charles Brackeen ts,ss David Izenzon b Paul Motian dr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete C Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Has the Melodic Art-Tet been previously released on vinyl or will this be a first? As far as I know this is a first. Ahmed Abdullah, when you moved to Brooklyn in 1970, what was it like for jazz in Brooklyn at that time? Ahmed Abdullah: ... In the 1970s many of the musicians lived around Williamsburg, around Broadway and Bedford. Rashied Ali had a group there called the Melodic Art-Tet, and the group actually consisted of [saxophonist] Charles Brackeen, [bassist] Ronnie Boykins, and Roger Blank, and we used to rehearse at Rashied Ali‘s place; he had a loft in Brooklyn. This was before he got his loft in Soho that became Ali’s Alley in the mid-70s. http://jazztimes.com/articles/27324-sista-s-place-a-jazz-cultural-beachhead-in-brooklyn-part-one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Brackeen was homeless recently, I know that much. I wanted to connect with him but it seemed nearly impossible to do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjazzg Posted June 8, 2012 Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 (edited) Brackeen was homeless recently, I know that much. I wanted to connect with him but it seemed nearly impossible to do so. that's very sad indeed. Sad when anyone find themselves in such a situation but seemingly more so here even though the only connection I have with him is greatly enjoying his music since first hearing the Silkhearts Edited June 8, 2012 by mjazzg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
romualdo Posted June 8, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 8, 2012 Brackeen was homeless recently, I know that much. I wanted to connect with him but it seemed nearly impossible to do so. What a pity National treasures relegated to the bin Upsets (& angers) me whenever I read this sort of outcome but alas I'm not familiar with the details of his story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 9, 2012 Report Share Posted June 9, 2012 Mental health issues, from what I understand. I was dissuaded from trying to interview him by some of his former collaborators. Said he wasn't really together enough to talk. Too bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.