MartyJazz

I have this Hawk in Brussels in '62 on a Shanachie commercial videotape titled "Tenor Legends" that has the second half devoted to a Dexter Gordon appearance at the Club Montmartre in '69. I am in the process of converting all my jazz videos, commercial and bootleg, to DVD so I recently saw this particular Hawk program and I agree it is excellent.

A complete version with Feather and Wilson beforehand and the performance by Bird and Diz (BTW, it's Charlie Smith on drums, not Joe Harris) is on the VHS and DVD of "Celebrating Bird: The Life of Charlie Parker", a nice addition to any visual library of jazz.

It will be the same group discussed above in this thread, i.e. a quartet with Javon Jackson, Nat Reeves and Carl Allen

My brother and I came in late for the Meet the Musicians segment so your point Dan about this group not being a regular working band is well taken as I did not hear that it was assembled primarily for this gig and the upcoming one in West Palm Beach (tix are only $25). And I should have mentioned Nat Reeves' contribution to the group. But overall I'll stick by my assessment of who I felt were the stronger players in the group. Overall, I'm glad I went and it was a shame that the event wasn't a sellout, it being a relatively small theater and the non South Florida Jazz member ticket price being only $30.

Got to see the show last night and while it was an enjoyable evening, it certainly was not a very challenging listening experience as the group basically performed a mainstream hard bop and standard repertoire. Not that this is a bad thing but I see no reason whatsoever to go out and cop a CD by the group when most, if not all of the pieces performed have been issued in excellent versions by JJ's acknowledged hard bop group influences as well as such tenor giants as Coltrane & Rollins. When I first heard JJ on record (actually CD), I thought he had a more pronounced Joe Henderson influence but I could not detect that strain at all last night. In fact, while I don't want to be negative, Jackson's playing for me lacked the fire and imagination I associate with other modern saxophonists who share similar influences but are more intense and compelling in their playing. The real enjoyment for me came from the excellent comping and solo work from Benny Green - he can really take care of business. Also, Carl Allen has to be the most relaxed appearing yet hard swinging drummer I've ever had the pleasure to see. (I saw Allen back in the late '80s working with a George Coleman quartet but his playing appeared to be more rudimentary back then). From memory, the tunes performed for the two sets included: "Good Bait" (Dameron), "Whisper Not" (Golson), "It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got that Swing" (Rollins' phrasing of the melody from the Max Roach recording employed here), "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Lazy Bird" (Coltrane), "Bolivia" (Walton), "Body and Soul", "Theme from Mr. Lucky", "My Shining Hour" and "Bags' Groove" as an encore, the latter Milt Jackson blues serving as a tribute, strangely believe it, to the recently departed Jackie McLean. The group will also appear at "The Harriet" at City Place in West Palm Beach this coming Tuesday evening, May 23rd.

Tomorrow night at the Museum of Modern Art, Las Olas Blvd. A "meet the musician" segment at 7:30 PM followed by a concert at 8. Tix $30 ($25 for "South Florida Jazz" members). See ya. http://www.southfloridajazz.org/jazz/ Date is actually May 20th, sorry.

Hey, I caught Trane at the Vanguard in December '66 with a young woman I was trying to impress, having only just become familiar with Trane's recordings of "Star Dust" (Prestige) and "Coltrane's Sound" (Atlantic). Needless to say what I witnessed that night with Trane's band of Pharoah, Alice, JG and Ali, was an aural assault that I think I have finally recovered from. The date kept darting looks at me with a face that could only be interpreted as "I thought that you liked me, why are you doing this to me?" So Jack, I know from whence you come first hand. I deluded myself at the time thinking that one day I'll come to understand and love very late Trane - never happened.

What's wrong with programming a disc of baritone players? There have been some very great ones and while I've yet to listen to Tooter's BFT - will rectify that shortly - I'm looking forward, (but not confidently) to this disc. No need to rain on Tooter's baritone parade.

If you go to Dusty Groove, the cost in dollars & shipping to the U.S. is $18 in change as opposed to $30+ with the above link. Dusty Groove link for available Harkit CDs

I haven't heard this musician in years. I recall a good friend playing me a tape of what I believe must be this tenor player, except he went by the nickname "Sleepy", as in Sleepy Matsumoto. Would love to hear this disc, so perhaps I'll cop it also. Thanks for the rec.

Well, I know that a filmed version of "The Connection" in which the musicians, including Jackie, act and play is currently available on DVD. I have four VHS tapes, three that feature Jackie and one in which he appears with a group of all stars: - "Jackie McLean on Mars", a wonderful documentary of Jackie made sometime in the early '80s - Mal Waldron-Jackie McLean - "All Alone" (55 mins.), a Tokyo studio perfomance in '86 of a quartet that included Herbie Lewis and Eddie Moore - Jackie McLean Quintet featuring Rene McLean - "Dynasty" (57 mins.), live performance in Nov '88 - "Tribute to Charlie Parker" (France, 1989, 57 mins.) in which Jackie appears in a variety of settings that include Dizzy, Phil Woods, Stan Getz, Milt Jackson, Hank Jones, Percy Heath and Max Roach. There is one especially memorable performance of "Cherokee" that features a front line of Jackie with Phil Woods. Tape being as unreliable in the long run, I've only recently begun the long process of transferring many of my VHS tapes to DVD.

Do you own a copy in better condition? I bet so! About 15 years ago or so, I brokered a transaction for a friend of mine who received $500 for a mint condition of this Adlib McLean debut record. My friend's long gone now, but had he lived, this price might have done him in!

Have just seen this thread and would like to add that my wife and I (newly married at the time, having just returned from our honeymoon), stood in line and did get to see this concert and yes, it was outdoors at the Museum of Modern Art. Fortunately, Charles McPherson was in line right with us and we got into a very good conversation, the details of which I cannot at all recall at this point in time. (Why have I never kept a diary?!!). Anyway, I do recall the audience as being quite appreciative while I have to admit I did yearn for a more structured program - something I know my wife definitely would have welcomed - that would have inevitably occurred had there been a rhythm section, or even just a drummer, present. Of course, the completist in me did cop the LP of the event, which I admit I never listen to.

Time for a flatulence joke (with political overtones): Two Israelis are in an elevator when the doors open and a Palestinian gets on. After the doors close, the Palestinian farts loudly. The doors open again and the Palestinian gets off. One Jew looks at the other, wipes his brow and says, "Thank God! Must have been a dud!"

Have a terrific one.

Thanks so much Brownie for a challenging and very enjoyable set. Now if I can only find my copy of the BFT #34 so I can listen to it again with the answers in front of me. I'm lately afflicted with "sometimers" - sometimes I remember things, sometimes I don't.

OK, here goes: 1) Nondescript big band playing a late ‘50s-early ‘60s chart. West coast alto, but then unmistakably it’s Big Ben for a very nice tenor solo. 2) Violinist is evocative of Stephane Grappelli until he does one wild descending run at the close of his solo that I don’t normally associate with SG’s playing. But this does remind me of a Grappelli-Diz Disley collaboration. Otherwise, no guesses, e.g., flute, etc. 3) Sounds like Rahsaan on manzello. Is he doubling on tenor also? Can’t tell ‘cause nothing much is being done on the more prevalent reed instrument. Of course the tune has been usually been done as a torch vocal by Ivy Anderson, Lena Horne, etc. 4) This standard is done in a ponderously trite manner that I associate with Oscar Peterson. Definitely not a piano style I can appreciate. 5) Ah, more like it. “Runnin’” as per my first somewhat mysterious reference in this thread. Frank is very identifiable and of course, the trumpet player blazed before departing at a ridiculously young age. 6) I have no idea who is doing this recital of the Billie Holiday protest piece. 7) Ah Evan. I won’t ID this one because it appears to be a gimme. To others reading here, we doubled with the wives and checked this guy out in a fabulous concert earlier this year. Great virtuoso vibes player. 8) Can’t even begin here. Too nebulous and undistinguished for me. 9) Rocking tenor reminds me of Arnett Cobb. Wouldn’t bet on it though because tenor-organ combos are not by bag. Big Al? 10) No guesses here. Not my thing. 11) This has got to be from the “Bird” film soundtrack wherein they overdubbed lots of extraneous applause over a Bird flight on “Lester Leaps In” probably taken from the Rockland Ballroom tape. Bird is fantastic, can do without all that noise however. 12) Surprised you used this track as another cut from this album was played two BFTs ago. Anyway, recognized the two Mingus expatriots on this Soul Note issue immediately. Good rollicking piece. 13) Used to hear him say “Bright Moments” many times at the Village Vanguard back in the early and mid ‘70s. Tremendous performer that was a treat to witness live especially when he put the three horns in his mouth. Thanks Evan. Nice going.

Got mine yesterday and listened to a few tracks in the car today. Will post my thoughts soon enough. As you can see, I'm "runnin'" alot lately.

I have a few words for you: "All the Things You Could be by Now if You Weren't such a Didactic M*th*rF*ck*r" P.S. "Stormy Weather" is a tremendous track.

He just has a highly individualistic and poetic way of stating truths that most of us believe.

Not issued originally on Blue Note, but reissued ON a Blue Note CD is an excellent Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers session - RITUAL. Similarly, Jackie is featured on Kenny Dorham's MATADOR/INTA SOMETHIN', 2 dates that were combined on a reissued CD under the Blue Note label.

I was fortunate to catch him quite a few times, most memorably at the "new" 5-Spot on St. Marks Place in '74, at Essex Community College in Newark around '89 (in which Oliver Lake was one of the enthusiastic members of an inexplicably sparse audience), and most terrifically at Lincoln Center in August '90 in a fabulous concert he dedicated to the memory of the late Walter Davis, Jr. He was very special in so many ways - his sound, his tremendous musicality and the feeling of comeraderie he engendered with the audience. Just a beautiful all around person.

Another great light extinguished. This one is really crushing. First on the playlist today, "Subdued".

Ironic, since I would think one was more likely to hear "the sound of surprise" (WB's original apt description of jazz) from an outstanding Blakey group than the MJQ.

Mal Waldron: ONE ENTRANCE, MANY EXITS (Palo Alto) with Joe Henderson, David Friesen and Billy Higgins.