Late

“Yeah, some people didn’t even know that I was doing that [using both names]. Even to the days where I was doing Broadway and studio recordings and R&B shows [when I] came into New York and what have you. I was doing my avant-garde career simultaneously and people didn’t know that I was doing that. A couple of my peers would say ... Warren Smith, the percussionist, he came up and he said, ‘I keep hearing about this Abdul Wadud guy playing cello’–because I was using Ron DeVaughn during the classical stuff. He said, ‘Do you know this guy Abdul Wadud?’ I said, ‘Yeah, that’s me.’ He said, ‘Oh no man, that ain’t you.’ I said, ‘Yeah it is.’ It’s funny, I had a student when I was teaching and he said, ‘Can you teach me how to play like that Abdul Wadud?’ I said, ‘I am Abdul Wadud.’ He said, ‘No you’re not.’ I said, ‘Yes I am.’ I had to pull out these albums and what not to show him. He started laughing. He said, ‘Why are you teaching me classical style? I want to learn how to do the other stuff.’ I said, ‘Well, you can do both.’ — Abdul Wadud

Listening to that short musical excerpt on Instagram, it's clear how connected Hemphill and Wadud were. I hear their musical partnership on par with Ornette and Cherry's. Or John Carter and Bobby Bradford.

The first time I heard Wadud was on Julius Hemphill's Dogon A.D. I was around 25. That sound became permanently etched in my memory. If I remember correctly, there was a time, after leaving Oberlin, that Wadud took a fair number of classical gigs—and still went by Ron DeVaughn. Abdul Wadud for improvised music, but his birthname for the tux work.

Paquito sounds at times like a lost heir to Dolphy.

Thanks for posting. In Joe's dream group, he forgot to list a drummer! I've never really understood the connection critics make between Henderson and Getz. Their sound, to me, isn't similar—but I guess others hear it.

Dig Paquito guesting with McCoy in 1981. Paquito's solo begins at 12:43 into the video.

Dig Wadud as part of the Arthur Blythe Quartet in Berlin, 1980:

That is the Brignola CD I play the most. The Penguin Guide is also fond of it, if I recall correctly. Did Baritone Madness with Pepper Adams ever make it to CD?

And now, more than four years after this release was canceled, the "deluxe" edition, with 12 tracks over two discs, is scheduled for release again. Google Translate sez: "The only leader work that Coltrane recorded in 1957 and left on Blue Note, the eternal masterpiece "Blue Train". One of the most popular works in jazz history, but to commemorate the 65th anniversary of recording, the complete version "Blue Train: Complete Masters" which includes the latest remastered original album and 7 other takes. Release is decided. This is a historic excavation that this is the first time that 4 of the 7 other takes recorded have been recorded. The monaural version of the original album will also be released at the same time with the latest remastering. This release is part of Blue Note's recent reissue series, Tone Poet. Under the supervision of John Harley, a producer nicknamed "The Poet of Sound," virtuoso Kevin Gray carefully remastered from the original analog master. Coltrane was at the bottom of his life when Miles Davis Quintet was fired for heroin addiction in 1957. However, after a long-term co-starring with Thelonious Monk at Five Spot Cafe, he cut off heroin and began to perform passionately again. "Blue Train" is a rare work created by Coltrane who has achieved such a miracle revival, and it became an eternal masterpiece that remains in the history of jazz as well as an early masterpiece that he himself is deeply proud of. This excavation is likely to be a historic event that reveals the whole picture of such a masterpiece for the first time.

Raphe Malik died less than two years after he posted here (just once). He was 57. Listening to this Taylor album right now: I think Malik is excellent in this setting; of all the trumpet players who recorded with Taylor (though there weren't too many) I think Malik fit in the best. I've still never heard his own leader dates. His birthname was Laurence Mazel.

On vinyl and compact disc September 2nd:

Didn't know that—very interesting. Would be great to hear that.

Club Jamaica, En Vivo ~ 1961 Early Gato recordings, released on the Argentinian label RGS, due out September 10th.

Thanks for sharing! Von Freeman sounds great on those tracks. Reminds me in places of John Gilmore. Which gets me to thinking—I wonder what Von would've sounded like in Sun Ra's band. Or, rather, what would the band have sounded like with Von in it.

I wonder if the Blue Spirits session will have any other bonus tracks. This one is superior.

Isn't Thompson on the unreleased Wayne Shorter/McCoy Tyner Blue Note session? Or am I thinking of someone else.

Spinning this one again tonight. The range Dennis Brain had was amazing. Died like Jackson Pollock.

This album is being reissued in Japan this August. I was totally unaware of it. A good listen.

Anyone here pick up these vinyl releases?

I've never thought about how a soprano would fit on top of that record. Could/would work. Cecil Taylor seems like he actually might fit the bill, but then it would become a Cecil Taylor record. I wonder how he and Coltrane got on for that 1958 United Artists recording.

This is how I know Schwaller. I need to spin that disc again—been far too long. I remember his tenor being a highlight.