Dave Pike RIP

[clifford_thornton]

I like them just fine.

[JSngry]

 

I mean, I get that this is "following" Gary Burton, but I never really dug Gary Burton THAT much, whereas Pike seems to have those roots that I like. OTOH, like him or not, Burton's voice was his own, for sure. But that's more about respect than it is like. Respect Burton a whole lot, just don't like him that much, I'll give him props from home. Pike Set, I might have gone to a bar where they were playing, hung out all night, have that kind of a good time.

I guess there was this whole jazz-rock/psychedlic/amped vibe thing going on at the time that I'm still finding out about, who was that guy from Indy with the 19th Whole or whatever it was? And the Boston group that did the Hoagy Carmichael kid-song thing? all this stuff in the aftermath of Burton. Even Roy Ayers coming out of Herbie Mann, different flavor, but still aiming young. Who knew?

[clifford_thornton]

Stark Reality was the Boston band. 

The Nineteenth Whole was led by vibist Billy Wooten.

[JSngry]

God, I love people who can remember at will.

[Peter Friedman]

These are two other Dave Pike recordings I like.

[GA Russell]

I am not familiar with Google Play, but I learned today that they currently offer this album for free.

[clifford_thornton]

These are two other Dave Pike recordings I like.

 

I like Ineke's drumming. Haven't heard this one however.

[mikeweil]

The Dave Pike Set was considered one of the hippest bands over here during the time of their existence, and was the starting point for guitarist Volker Kriegel's career. I found their pop-tinged approach a little corny, typically German, as far as the groove was considered, but they were the very first jazz group here to play Zappa tunes. The cover design tells the story. Psychedelic pop was stealing the "progressive" image from jazz. Remember this was the time of free improvising experimental rock bands, too, Embryo and the like - the Dave Pike Set was the jazz branch of that. Sometimes a little too close to cocktail music.

I, too think, that Dave Pike was a bepopper at heart, and that his LPs on Columbia and Riverside of the early 1960's are the best, along with the one CD with Cedar Walton on Criss Cross. 

But was also great in a Latin jazz context, his own LPs in that genre and the work with Herbie Mann tells this part of the story. I prefer rhythmic vibes players, and he was one of them.

[HutchFan]

These are two other Dave Pike recordings I like.

 

I like Ineke's drumming. Haven't heard this one however.

I haven't heard Bluebird either. But that's a killer Dutch rhythm section. The records that they made with Dick Vennik are excellent.

I guess I should check this one out.  

[clifford_thornton]

The only Vennik-de Graaff LP I have is Minor Moods from Past and Present, which I think is the first one. Nice hand-screened thin cover with mimeographed inserts. I'd like to get that one on BASF as well, but it's tough to find in clean condition.

[HutchFan]

Of the De Graaff/Vennik Quartet, I only have Modal Soul, which was released on Timeless-Muse here in the US. I really, really like it. 

I've also heard several tracks from Point of No Return (Universe Productions) on YT, and they're mighty impressive too.

There's another Timeless LP, Cloud People, which I'd like to hear. But I've never even seen it. Same with the BASF LP. Very rare stuff, apparently.

 

[clifford_thornton]

Universe had some interesting releases. I'd forgotten that the De Graaff-Vennik Quartet had a record on that label too.