Larry Kart Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Anyone have any thoughts about where his style of piano playing came from? Examples are not abundant -- "The Ivory Hunters" album with Bob and Bill Evans, a track or two on "Traditionalism Revisited," a track here or there with the Mulligan Sextet and Quartet, maybe t"The Street Swingers" with Jimmy Raney and Jim Hall, but I've never heard that one. The most representative example, unless I'm missing something, are the dates from 1954 and '55 on "The Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer" (Prestige) with Raney on one side (they're a very compatible pair; lovely Raney there) and Teddy Charles on the other. ('Ill check to see if any of those tracks are on You Tube.) My best guess is that one or more pianist from a prior era is at the root of Brookmeyer's conception -- my wild ass guess would be Jess Stacy, maybe someone half-forgotten like Herman Chittison or Clarence Profit -- and on top of that maybe a pinch of Monk or Jimmy Rowles. Other than that I have no clue, though I do find that the results have a certain impish charm --especially impish, even coy, on "Truckin'" from "Traditionalism Revisited," but then that tune just is coy. Likewise, he's rather coy at times on "The Ivory Hunters," but I'd guess that was because he felt a bit intimidated by, or in awe of, Evans' full-blown expertise circa 1957 and decided in response to, so to speak, play around the edges of Bill's work, -- and he plays there quite well I'd say. But his work on "The Dual Role" album is the place to go to scope out Bob's piano playing, I think. He certainly deserves credit for distinctiveness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Interestingly if I'm not mistaken Brookmeyer started off professionally playing piano, in bands led by Beneke and McKinney; his piano style may have been formed rather solidly before and at this time. Both these leaders were strong influences and influenced by the Glenn Miller band and bandmates. I wonder if Chummy MacGregor was an influence . . . would be interesting to make comparisons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted May 9, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 Some Brookmeyer on piano, plus one track ("Nobody's Heart") with a vocal, if you can call it that, by Nancy Overton, no doubt Hall Overton's wife. https://youtu.be/rpt5zAJivBg https://youtu.be/v-POvOcSwi4 https://youtu.be/v4NfW5oS5To https://youtu.be/z4nE1jvK7Fo https://youtu.be/aEr_1pnRktk https://youtu.be/8CeBtJG20W4 Chummy McGregor -- hmm. The man who wrote "Moon Dreams," which is achievement enough. Have no idea what his playing sounded like, though I do know that in "the Glenn Miller Story" he was played by Harry Morgan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzcorner Posted May 9, 2020 Report Share Posted May 9, 2020 42 minutes ago, Larry Kart said: Anyone have any thoughts about where his style of piano playing came from? Examples are not abundant Interesting topic. I'm a great Brookmyer fan and will check the recordings re his piano style. FYI I add my collection (not every record has him on piano however) 2617 CD Brookmeyer,Bob The modernity of Bob Brookmeyer 1954 Fresh Sound 499 vtb 1846 Brookmeyer,Bob The Dual Role of ... 1954 Prestige(OJC) 7066 tb 2645 Brookmeyer,Bob Bob Brookmeyer Quintet 1954/06 Vogue (jap) 216 vtb 2585 CD Brookmeyer,Bob Bobby Brookmeyer (feat. Al Cohn) 1956 RCA (BMG) 7432159132 vtb 709 CD Brookmeyer,Bob Brookmeyer Jazz 1956 RCA Victor 7432159152 vtb 30293 Brookmeyer,Bob Bobby Brookmeyer and his Orchestra 1956 RCA(Jazzline)-VIK 43558 vtb 686 Brookmeyer,Bob Tonights Music Today 1956 Storyville USA (jap) 6135 vtb 684 Brookmeyer,Bob WHOOEEEE (feat. Zoot Sims) 1956 Storyville USA (jap) 6004 vtb 846 Brookmeyer,Bob Traditionalism Revisited (jap. Liberty 8890) 1957 Pacific Jazz 1233 vtb 2405 CD Brookmeyer,Bob The Trombones Inc 1958 Lone Hill 0266 tb 845 Brookmeyer,Bob Street Swingers (feat. Jim Hall) 1958 Pacific Jazz 1239 g 1254 Brookmeyer,Bob Kansas City Revisited (The KC Seven) 1958 United Artists(FS) 5008 vtb 1257 Brookmeyer,Bob Double Barrelled Piano (Bill Evans) 1959 United Artists(jap) 3128 p 180 Brookmeyer,Bob Jazz is a Kick 1960 Trip(EMARCY) 5568 vtb 1402 Brookmeyer,Bob The Blues hot and cold 1960 Verve 821550-1 vtb 2245 Brookmeyer,Bob Portrait Of The Artist - Bob Brookmeyer 1960ies Atlantic 1320 vtb 812 Brookmeyer,Bob Night Watch(Side 1 Gerry Mulligan 4tet) 1961 United Artists 5085 vtb 2243 Brookmeyer,Bob Gloomy Sunday & other bright moments 1961 Verve 6-8455 vtb/arr 1626 Brookmeyer,Bob ...and friends(Getz/Burton/Carter a.o.) 1964-65 CBS/Sony 183 vtb 1961 CD Brookmeyer,Bob the power of positive swinging 1965 Mainstream 723 vtb 387 Brookmeyer,Bob Back again 1978 Sonet 778 vtb 509 Brookmeyer,Bob The Bob Brookmeyer small band 1979 Gryphon(2) 8085-6 vtb 1625 Brookmeyer,Bob through a looking glass 1981 Finesse 37488 vtb 510 Brookmeyer,Bob The Bob Brookmeyer Quartet 1987 Concord Jazz 312 vtb 30331 CD Brookmeyer,Bob ...& The Stockholm Jazzorchestra 1988 Dragon 169 vtb 2648 CD Brookmeyer,Bob Old Friends 1998 Storyville 8292 vtb 31219 CD Brookmeyer,Bob New Works - The New Art Orchestra 1999 Challenge 70066 vtb/ld 31274 CD Brookmeyer,Bob Jazz Bigband Graz Plays Bob Brookmeyer 2000 Mons Records 874-341 vtb/ld 31265 CD Brookmeyer,Bob Waltzing with Zoe- New Art Orchestra 2001 Challenge 70081 ld/v-tb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Didn’t Brookmeyer play piano on a few of Mulligan’s “Concert Band” sides? Super late, or I’d dig out my Mosaic liners to confirm. (Though admittedly, I can’t remember if he gets any solos.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted May 10, 2020 Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 Bob Brookmeyer's piano playing has long been something I very much have liked. This CD recorded in June 2000 gives us a full measure of his fine piano work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted May 10, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Peter Friedman said: Bob Brookmeyer's piano playing has long been something I very much have liked. This CD recorded in June 2000 gives us a full measure of his fine piano work. Thanks. I'll look for it. Dang -- it's OOP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
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.