david weiss

I've never been a great fan of Hino. His style, harmonic sense etc never really did it for me but every time I go to Japan and hit the record stores, I always purchase a Hino LP or two from the late '60s and '70s that I never have seen before. Usually they get a couple of listens and then get sold on ebay (Hi-Nology had this fate). I appreciate the effort and musicianship but the records as a whole never seem to quite come off. There's another one of the Tact label called Alone Together that I liked though but more for the band, Steve Grossman, Harold Mabern, Richard Davis and a Japanese drummer (let's see if I can invoke the wrath of Mr. Nessa). It's a very loose, fun date with some great Grossman. There is also this one date that came out on Inner City when I was in high school that I saw everywhere for a buck called Way Dance with John Scofield, Ron Carter and Tony Williams. It's been a while since I've listened to that ( I was a fusion kid, I bought it because of Tony Williams, I loved Believe It and was looking for more of the same) and I think I also have the Galper date mentioned earlier, that's a good date. Like I said above, he made tons of records for Japanese labels from the late '60s on, I sure most of them are on CD in Japan but it's a crap shoot and probably an expensive one at that. The drummer on Alone Together is Motohiko Hino, his brother?

OK folks, we did record an album for Blue Note last week. Billy Harper, Craig Handy, Howard Johnson, Bill Saxton, Stanley Cowell, Rober Glasper, Cecil McBee and Victor Lewis were among the participants. I think it will be great but I'm biased of course. Looks like it will be a February release. I'll keep you posted.

I saw this gig. I was on Christmas vacation from school and this was one of many gigs I saw. Lodi Carr is a singer and it was really her gig. I think she is still around but I don't know how much she performs these days. I remember Ron Carter and Al Harewood playing on the gig, don't remember who was on piano. Hank sounded great, his sound was huge but he didn't have the greatest control over the horn. The sound was more a result of overblowing perhaps then contol of the instrument. I loved it regardless. It's the one and only time I saw him play. He seemed a bit cranky and was engaged in conversation with Tommy Turrentine for most of the break, so I didn't try to meet him. I was talking about this gig once and the person I was talking to (I don't recall who it was now) told me they had a tape of it. I don't want to hear it, it would probably diminish my memory of that night.

He's performs quite regularly at Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange, NJ, I don't know about the golf thing though it's certainly possible

Up....This Week!!!

How do you get a job like that, David? MG I had done some work for Blue Note in the past, especially some Lee related stuff (I co-produced the Live at the Lighthouse box and the Standards CD with Bob Belden, who bought me in on both projects) but in this instance, it was just a matter of running into Michael Cuscuna at the Blue Note offices and the topic came up in discussion and he said that he was re-issuing the Six Sense and was thinking of using some of the tunes from this session as bonus cuts and would I be interested in going through the session and seeing what I thought was suitable. After regretfully turning him down, he twisted my arm and talked me into it...kidding, I jumped at the chance. I think in my mind, I was sticking to the standard at the time which was only the strongest stuff should be included and that's what I think I did. If that standard has changed then on another go around I guess they could include more, which would suck I guess for the people who already own it. The download thing makes sense to me, there is a lot I've heard that this would make perfect sense for, hopefully someday down the road this will happen.

Not sure, but I think that Craig Harris was already aboard. Would've loved to have heard that band w/Joseph Bowie! I seem to recall Bowie being a little tentative but that was compared to seeing him regularly with Defunct at the time (that was the other band I was checking out all the time, they were everywhere then) where he was quite in the forefront to say the least....

I saw what was announced as their first public performance, in Chicago, at the Underground Jazz Festival, summer of 1981. But since the first About Time side came out in 1982, it sounds like they had been together and performing before that gig? I might have seen them as early as the Fall of 1980 but am certain I started seeing them on a regular basis in late 1980 and early 1981. The venues varied but not your regular places, lofts, some small clubs etc...maybe Chicago was their first gig outside New York? Do you remember who played trombone?

Personally, I think Threadgill's RCA/Novus cds are some of the best music he made. Think of Rag, Bush And All! Threadgill's sextett was THE band around New York just as I was getting into jazz in my late high school years. I saw them quite often at various venues. The horns were Threadgill, Olu Dara and Joseph Bowie. I think Bowie was gone by the first recording. I also think the band was working around New York for at least two years before they made they're first record. My favorites are still the first two About Time records as I was already familiar with the material and chomping at the bit for their release, as the personel changed, I was slightly less enthusiastic but there was still a lot of great music on those records. I think I saw them at Caravan of Dreams while I was at North Texas, I can't remember who was in the band then but remember Dara being gone.

Actually, I was given the assignment of picking the bonus tracks from this session to add to The Sixth Sense. I think I stand behind my decision, I thought everything else was just a bit off. The tune The Chief is killer and would have loved to included this but I just didn't think the performance was up to snuff.

Up for one last shot..... Adam, thanks for the photos, I'd post them but don't know how to do these things. You're welcome to if you like. Glad you enjoyed it and I'll stay away from the cake..... The Turning Gate is an original of mine. There is this little 4 note augmented chord note progression from Joy Ryder that I began toying with and came up with a whole new tune.

Up Starts tomorrow, personel as follows Jeremy Pelt (March 15), Keyon Harrold (March 22), Ingrid Jensen (March 29), Taylor Haskins- Trumpets Myron Walden- Alto Sax Jimmy Greene (March 22), Craig Handy (March 15 and 29), Bill McHenry- Tenor Saxes Norbert Stachel- Baritone Sax, Josh Roseman, Joe Fiedler- Trombones, Xavier Davis- Piano, Dwayne Burno- bass, EJ Strickland- Drums Material includes The All Seeing Eye, Genesis, Pandora Awakened, Diana, Mr. Jin and Fall Hope to see you there

The workshops are usually every Tuesday on West 65th Street (behind Lincoln Center), I can't remember the exact address. When that place is unavailible, it's moved to University of the Streets. University of the Streets also has weekend jams sessions run by a great alto saxophonist Jimmy Vass (who's played with Andrew Hill and Charles Mingus among others) and I've seen Braith there many times over the years. I've never seen Barry's instructional videos but I have taken his classes many times (it's still the best bargain in town, $14 a class I believe) and all I can say is they are great. He really lays it out for you in a clear way and includes everything. I'm sure the videos would be just as valuable. I still go to a class every now and again.

This and your subsequent posts are dead on. Where is Lonehill based (I don't own any)? If it's Spain, it illegal in every way but if it's Andorra then their copyright law is 35 years. I've had many arguments with Jordi Pujol about this over the years. He claims that the Andorrans are cousins of his and it's their company (they are just trying to follow in his footsteps) and his distribution company just distributes them. When the Mingus rip-off of the Uptown CD came out, I told him to remove it from his web-site because though he didn't put it out himself I thought it was in poor taste to sell it. We've had discussions about the copyright laws as well. I said though it's legal doesn't make it right and he just says it's legal for him so he does it. The 50 year law is not all of Europe. I believe it's 40 years in Italy but I could be wrong about this. I can say this about Jordi at least. He puts a lot of work into his re-issues and box sets. Most I believe are legit, some perhaps a little grey but his sincerity and the love he puts into his projects is real. He would never do lame re-issues like Lonehill or do a straight rip-off like the Mingus. He would want to do his own superior (in his mind at least) version of whatever he releases. That said, he has no problem selling all this other stuff. As for buying it, you can say you are depriving musicians of some pennies and should perhaps feel a little guilt. You are putting money into the pockets of someone who is potentially ripping off musicians but we're not talking about big money here. The best chance of seeing this stuff is if all the labels decide to make everything availible for download or perhaps if they continue to licence stuff. Other than that, I doubt Sony is preparing the Dave Bailey dates, they haven't released some Freddie Hubbard stuff (like Super Blue) that was prepared for release a few years ago.

In the interest of pure self-promotion http://www.organissimo.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=25149

Well maybe I'm the one who should buy an ad here then.... Thanks for posting this Lazaro, I'm taking a break from writing the arrangements as we speak. Tunes done so far The All Seeing Eye, Genesis, Pandora Awakened, Diana, Mr. Jin. Up next Prometheus Unbound and Angola and perhaps Elegant People or Lusitanos, then who knows. I'd love to make this a regular Wednesday night engagement, I think it could be a good thing. Of course, all of your support would be greatly appreciated.

This is the first of what I hope is many weekends with similar themes I have put together for the club. The whole weekend is April 6 & 7 JOE CHAMBERS QUINTET Joe Chambers- Drums, Javon Jackson- Tenor Sax, Vincent Herring- Alto Sax, Joanne Brackeen- Piano Dwayne Burno- Bass April 8-9 GRACHAN MONCUR SEXTET Grachan Moncur III – Trombone, Billy Harper - Tenor Sax, Michael Blake- Alto Sax, John Hicks - Piano Calvin Hill – Bass, Richard Pearson - Drums Please support these, show that there is still an audience for these great musicians and perhaps I'll get to put together a few more. Thanks.

Eastern Rebellion 5/4 Thing is December 10, 1975 New Jazz Composers Octet A Little Twist is October 18, 2000, I'm pretty sure of this, I don't have a copy of my own CD but I think we recorded this tune separate from the rest of the record while recording part of the album we did wih Freddie Hubbard. We had a little extra studio time and Joe Chambers in the studio who played the tune with us on the road so we went for it. The Freddie CD says the recording date is October 18, 2000 and I think this isn't even mentioned on the octet CD but I don't know for sure because like I said, I don't have a copy at the moment.

I'd have to agree with Rollins, Grimes and LaRoca but the one I've always wanted to see was "It's Time" Jackie McLean, Charles Tolliver, Herbie Hancock, Cecil McBee and Roy Haynes. Roy Haynes came to hear the Tolliver big band (with McBee on Bass) a while back and I remember thinking OK, three out of five but that's probably as close as it would get. "The All Seeing Eye" is still possible I guess except for the track with Alan Shorter.

It's both. The extra tune is Repetition (6:18) and there's an alternate take of it as well (6:22).

No, I'm actually from New York, born and raised in Queens. I've had a lot of associates though who went to Berkeley High, they've really produced a great number of fine musicians there, like Craig Handy and Benny Green.

Does "soon" mean 2006 ? Well, yes, ideally, we are trying but you never know for sure......I do understand your skepticism but all I can do is insure you a real effort is being made to get this stuff out, hopefully sooner than later.

This isn't true at all. He's talked to a few but has never sat down with anyone Yes, well put. I absolutely agree that most of the problem is long-term physical deterioration though of course there were other factors as well. I've said this many times. There wasn't a trumpeter who played longer, harder, faster and higher than Freddie so there really is no other example of how that much playing over such a long period of time can have on a trumpet player. I doubt anyone would have lasted as long. Freddie still has some very good nights though. Even at his best these days, it's a long way from what it was but I'd still rather listen to that than most trumpet players out here now. The phrasing and the complexity of the lines can still be astounding at times. My only hope as we continue to work together is that he gets more consistent with what he has left. That should be more than enough for most of us. Freddie did some tours with Dizzy toward the end of his life and Freddie said there were nights when he could hardly play but every once in a while he could still bring it and it was a joy to hear. Yes, this kind of thing probably didn't help much. Part of the problem was the his schedule would be so tight sometimes that he would literally step off a plane onto a stage at times and didn't have time to warm up. He definitely was over-worked and it caught up with him. As for Gleam, it's a mix of the best and worst of his Columbia years but it's well worth seeking out. The tunes are Put it in the Pocket, Ebony Moonbeams, Betcha By Golly Wow, Spirits of Trane, Kuntu, Midnight at the Oasis and Too High. I love most of it but as with Night of the Cookers, perhaps the percussion solos are a bit long at times.

Impact on Enja is a live date recorded at the Jazzclub Domicile in Munich on March 23. 1972. I haven't listened to it in a while but I remember it being a great date. It had lead sheets to Impact and Prayer for Peace on the back cover which I found very useful at the time. As for which Impact Towers carries, I guess it can go either way. Chances are Enja would have this out on CD and at this point the Strata-East Impact is out of print though I guess there might still be copies of the Charly issue of this still floating around (the licence expired a few years ago). We hope to have both big band CDs and the quintet date with Hancock et all (with bonus tracks) in print soon (and yes, I know you've heard that before but we are really working on it).

Pretty heavy week for music here even by New York standards. Here's the details for the Tolliver gig for those who are interested. Hope you can make it. The Charles Tolliver Big Band Charles Tolliver - Trumpet Billy Harper and Bill Saxton - Tenor sax Craig Handy and Todd Bashore - Alto sax Howard Johnson - Baritone sax David Guy, David Weiss, Chris Albert, Jimmy Owens- Trumpet Clark Gayton, Stafford Hunter, Aaron Johnson- Trombone John Hicks - Piano Cecil McBee - Bass Victor Lewis - Drums Wednesday, January 25 through Saturday January 28 at Birdland 315 West 44th Street (between 8th and 9th Aves) 212-581-3080 http://www.birdlandjazz.com/ Sets Nightly at 9:00 and 11:00 pm