Joe Posted January 14, 2005 Report Share Posted January 14, 2005 This pianist / composer is mentioned admiringly if en passant by Francis Davis in an essay ("Circles, Whirls and Eights", 1987) about Borah Bergman, but I've never heard any other critic stand up and be counted on Knopf's work. Davis references "three excellent but overlooked albums [dating from] the late fifties". I'm just wondering if anyone here has heard these records -- I believe they were made for the Playback label, a label about which information is just as scarce -- and can discuss them. And, lo and behold, a Google search reveals that Knopf appears to still be active in the music... http://www.wsumc.org/Staff/paulknopf.html Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garthsj Posted January 15, 2005 Report Share Posted January 15, 2005 I owned two of those albums which I originally picked up in cut-out bins (Aaaaah! Those were the days!). The had interesting covers, and his piano playing was somewhere between Monk and Elmo Hope at their most "out." It certainly was "avant garde" for the period, but not Cecil Taylor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 15, 2005 Report Share Posted January 15, 2005 Is Richard Davis on those? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 (edited) Jim -- I've never heard Davis' name associated with Knopf's. Any more info? Edited January 19, 2005 by Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 19, 2005 Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Just that AMG lists Richard Davis as being on one of his early sides. Is this cat any kin to Alfred? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted January 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2005 Curioser and curioser... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted January 20, 2005 Report Share Posted January 20, 2005 Is this cat any kin to Alfred? That's what I'd like to know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chas Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 (edited) While it's true that many obscure artists are deservedly so , the meritorious deserve a place in jazz history . Paul Knopf is the kind of artist that makes crypto-jazzology both so rewarding and so important . Garth was right to list Monk and Hope as stylistic confreres , to which I would add Herbie Nichols . Paul told me that he heard Nichols at the Page Three club where Nichols was backing singers ; he even subbed for Nichols one night at the Metropole with Cootie Williams outfit . Paul hooked up with Richard Davis ( or " Richie Davis " as he is listed on the Knopf lps ) in the autumn of 1958 . Along with drummer Jim Olin they cut two trio dates that came out in 1959 . A third session with brass was recorded but never issued as no complete takes were laid down .Despite critical praise in Downbeat , Metronome and Playboy , Playback Records , run by rank amateurs , failed to promote the lps and thus Knopf was condemned to obscurity He emerged again on a self-produced trio lp in 1977 assisted by Jack Six and Joe Cocuzzo. All three Knopf trio dates are composed entirely of original compositions and are earnestly recommended to afficianados of jazz piano . Edited December 2, 2005 by Chas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nate Dorward Posted December 2, 2005 Report Share Posted December 2, 2005 Sounds like a candidate for a reissue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted December 24, 2011 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2011 Resurrected, on the off-chance any newer board members have additional info... would still love to hear these dates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HolgerFreimutSchrick Posted December 28, 2011 Report Share Posted December 28, 2011 new bio: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Knopf_%28Musiker%29 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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