six string Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Ok, so I only discovered Walt Dickerson about six years ago so don't laugh here but I'm curious about the pianist that played on several of his early albums, Austin Crowe. He really fit in well with Walt's superb playing/songs yet I had never heard of Crowe before this. I googled his name and got other people with his name but not the jazz pianist. Did he ever record under his own name or play a supporting role with others? It's like he made those albums with Dickerson and then "poof" he was gone. Was he abducted by aliens? Inquesitive minds need to know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 I've long wondered about Crowe as well. IIRC, the original notes to Dickerson's Prestige / New Jazz dates don't offer much background. WD, in a 2003 interview with Hank Shteamer, on Crowe (and, bonus!, John Dennis): http://darkforcesswing.blogspot.com/2007/06/in-full-1-walt-dickerson.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Walt Dickerson said: "Excellent pianist! Last I heard, Austin was in New York, playing classical music. Again, the scene, as it was then…Austin came from a very religious background also, so the scene did a lot to drive many great musicians away. He had a couple of things with Philly Joe Jones, and he came back and told me, "Never again, never again.” He was stranded in the Midwest, played two weeks of engagement and no way to get home. Some people can’t take those kinds of experiences, so I heard he was playing classical piano. I understood. He would say, "Any time you call me, I’ll be there.” As a matter of fact, years later, when he heard Shades Of Love, he told me, "I remember, Walt, how you used to turn your instrument in reverse and practice for hours.” It’s a challenge, something different. Yes, Austin, a wonderful pianist, a wonderful person…" from here: http://darkforcesswing.blogspot.de/2007/06/in-full-1-walt-dickerson.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztrain Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 From an interview with Andrew Cyrille (see here: http://www.oocities.org/bourbonstreet/9273/jforum.html "Walt was the leader and had written the material. In that band was Austin, Crowe, a pianist from Indianapolis who's very good excellent, in fact." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six string Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks guys! I knew I could count on this site for information. I look forward to reading these interviews when I have some time to really enjoy them (later tonight). Thanks again. Re:Crowe's difficult time with the jazz underbelly, I can totally understand where he's coming from. While I'm not a religious person I know that my mind and body would not be able to do that either, as much as I love the music. I'm happy to hear that he didn't stop playing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six string Posted March 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 That interview with Dickerson was long and full of interesting comments. It's a damn shame he never really got the recognition he desrved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niko Posted March 23, 2013 Report Share Posted March 23, 2013 was in a rush when i posted that link above, note that there are two interviews, one in the main post and another in the comments... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
six string Posted March 24, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2013 was in a rush when i posted that link above, note that there are two interviews, one in the main post and another in the comments... Yeah, I figured that out. Thanks for the link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xybert Posted May 8, 2017 Report Share Posted May 8, 2017 Bump. Have been listening to Crowe's albums with Walt Dickerson lately. It's astounding that these were apparently his only recordings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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