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Joe

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Posts posted by Joe

  2. What happened to Larry Young in 62-63??

    in Artists

    Posted

    From a musical standpoint, the "Trane" influence really only shows itself through McCoy Tyner. Larry's concept is so built upon stacked fourths that it's hard to pinpoint much else that is different.

    And Young did begin his musical career as a pianist. Time for me to revisit Woody Shaw's CASSANDRANITE and Nathan Davis' HAPPY GIRL, which probably feature the best documentary evidence of what he sounded like as a piano player during this period.

    I have to say Young does not sound all that Jimmy Smith-like to me. Maybe a little bit on TESTIFYIN', but certainly not on YOUNG BLUES. I'm thinking speicifically of the version of "Nica's Dream" on that record, which has led me to believe that Young had listened quite a bit to another pianist / organist... Shirley Scott.

  3. Andrew Hill - Passing Ships

    in Re-issues

    Posted · Edited by Joe

    Another oddball impression - parts of it - maybe just the overall feel - remind me of "Mode for Joe".

    The session I kept thinking of was Sonny Criss's SONNY'S DREAM: BIRTH OF THE NEW COOL, with arrangements by Horace Tapscott. Partly this is due to similarities in Hill's and Tapscott's use of bass clef instruments, partly to some similar rhythmic devices. That said, Hill's scores are much more active and asymmetrical than Tapscott's... Another interesting thing to consider is that this session was recorded right on the cusp of the 1970's, and that several of the musicians involved -- Farrell, White, Priester, Johnson, even Shaw to a certain extent -- would go on to have important careers in "fusion".

    So far, I like PASSING SHIPS OK, but I'm not ready to proclaim it much more than "intriguing" at this point.

  5. Andrew Hill - Passing Ships

    in Re-issues

    Posted

    Frankly, all of what's been released of GRASS ROOTS & beyond BN Hill seems to have this more restrained rhythm section (and more) thing going on. Whether or not that was by design I can't say, and sometimes it works for me better (ONE FOR ONE & LIFT EVERY VOICE) than others (DWD & the originally released GRASS ROOTS), but in the end I think it hinders the fullest realization of the implications of the tunes (and those tunes are overflowing with implications).

    I would have to agree with this assessment. And that is also why BLACK FIRE is sitll my favorite Hill session. I don't think Roy Haynes conribution to that record has ever been appreciated to the extent it should.

  9. The Chicago music scene in the 60s/70s

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted · Edited by Joe

    Was pianist King Fleming part of the Muhal rehearsal band / pre-AACM circle? I seem to recall reading something about this somewherer (Davis' OUTCATS), but my memory could be faulty.

    In any event, Fleming's Argo date MISTY NIGHT is certainly interesting, and I love to have more information on him.

    Ditto the post-Mingus Clarence "Gene" Shaw.

  11. Mistakes in covers, booklets...

    in Recommendations

    Posted

    The Denon Japan Savoy CD re-issues from the early and mid-90's (purplish-blue inlay cards) are a veritable cornucopia of such gaffes and mis-translations, especially in the realm of composer credits. I wish I could think of some specific examples right off the top of my head, but, dang, it seems like every re-issue was screwed-up in some way, I can hardly pick JUST one...

  16. "The Blues" series on PBS

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted

    Yep, the Wenders film was a little goofy, a little gushy -- a fan film, no question about it.

    But I'll watch ANYTHING with live footage of Skip James in it. Spell-binding.

    I would have liked more of Blind Willie Johnson, a figure of extreme personal importance to me (to think he walked the same streets of Dallas that I have...), but I suppose that's OK, I have the records, which are majestic despite the limitations of the medium. However, I do think the J.B. Lenoir sections were superb, and a more than fitting tribute to an artist who certainly deserves to be better known. Jimmy Reed with a social conscience...

    The best contemporary interpretations for me were turned out by Cassandra Wilson, Los Lobos, the Blood Ulmer / Vernon Reid / Eagle Eye thing (would like to have heard more from that gathering), Garland Jeffreys, and Lou Reed, who sounded like shit but got the spirit right. But its hard to say when all you get are bits and bites of performances. Its just too bad Sonny Sharrock isn't still alive; I'd much rather have heard him pay tribute to Bind Wille than Marc Ribot.

  19. "The Blues" series on PBS

    in Miscellaneous Music

    Posted

    Well, having watched episode 1, I think it would be a mistake to judge this series too harshly. Scorsese's "piece" is not a documentary per se; its just a non-fiction, non-narrative film. Yes, it was slightly disjointed, but I do feel that it was at least an honest expression of the various participants' experience of the music.

    And, as good as the Johnny Shinces footage was, I most enjoyed watching Son House. Damn!

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