Soul Stream Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 By some odd twist of last minute fate, I was in a room with just McCoy Tyner and myself after his show tonight. Wow. And I started off the evening watching bad t.v., not even knowing he was in town playing. How any of this happened I have no idea. Quote
bertrand Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 I met Lou Donaldson tonight; he was hanging out at the East Coast Jazz Festival (I could not see his gig with Dr. Lonnie Smith, alas. Among other things, the cover was $65). Lou confirmed what I had already heard him say before: 'My Little Suede Shoes' is a Cal Massey composition. Bertrand. Quote
Soul Stream Posted February 19, 2005 Author Report Posted February 19, 2005 McCoy Tyner was everything you'd hoped he be as a person. And the show...unbelievable. He played "Moment's Notice" and he incorporated every style of jazz piano at some point from James P Johnson and Art Tatum to free elements, classical all within his own concept. That single song may have been the best single jazz performance I've ever seen live. Quote
kh1958 Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 From about 1983-93, I was able to see McCoy live about a dozen or more times. He's one of my favorites and is absolutely great live. But since 1993, I haven't had the opportunity. A terrible drought. Quote
Jazz Kat Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 Wow, you guys are lucky. The only Jazz musician I met was Chuck Mangione. I actually played with him on stage when I was eight also.. IT was pretty cool. Just me, he even let me solo on Feels So Good. (I played trumpet at the time) Prett exciting. Quote
robviti Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 (edited) The only Jazz musician I met was Chuck Mangione. I actually played with him on stage when I was eight... i'm very sorry. i trust your parents were able to get you in to see a therapist soon after this traumatic event. B-) Edited February 19, 2005 by jazzshrink Quote
marcello Posted February 19, 2005 Report Posted February 19, 2005 The only Jazz musician I met was Chuck Mangione. I actually played with him on stage when I was eight... i'm very sorry. i trust your parents were able to get you in to see a therapist soon after this traumatic event. B-) During the eary 70's Chuck had a great little Youth Big Band in Rochester. He gave a lot of kids the oportunity to play with each other and guest artists at the same time nuture a love for the music. If you ever heard the Mangione of the 60's you would know he could play. Art Blakey didn't hire him for 2 years because he was a wimp. Also those big band rtecords have wonderful writing and melodies. Having said that, if I ever hear "Feel so Good" again it will be one time too many! Quote
Soul Stream Posted February 20, 2005 Author Report Posted February 20, 2005 (edited) please...let's not be a McCoy threadkiller and derail this into a Chuck Mangione thread!!!! (I'm only half kidding, but that means I'm also half serious) Edited February 20, 2005 by Soul Stream Quote
AfricaBrass Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Man... I'm happy for you guys! That must have been nice meeting those guys. I'm glad to hear that McCoy is a class act. I've been a BIG fan of his since I got into jazz. Quote
marcello Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 please...let's not be a McCoy threadkiller and derail this into a Chuck Mangione thread!!!! (I'm only half kidding, but that means I'm also half serious) O.K....back to McCoy! In 1976 I produced a concert a concert, in Rochester, with him as the only act. He had just released "Focal Point" and the band had Ron Bridgewater, Eric Gravatt, Charles Fambrough Joe Ford and Guglielmo Franco. When I went to pick up the band at the airport, the only band mambers to get off the plane were Gravatt and Fambrough. Joe Ford decided to go to Buffalo first (his home town to pick up his wife and kid ) and would drive to the gig from there. McCoy, Bridgewater and Franco all missed their flight. After frantic calls to Whittemore, I found out that the others got on another flight but McCoy was still missing. This is a 3pm and the concert is scheduled for 8 pm. As soon as I get Gravatt and Fambrough into a car for the ride to the hotel, Gravatt lights up a huge joint and tells me to be cool while Fambrough laughs is ass off. Gravatt is the most surly person I had ever seen while smoking dope! He got nasty and salty. At 7pm, still no word about McCoy as I arrive at the hotel to pick up the others. I knock on Gravatt's door many times before he opens it (naked, with another HUGE joint in his mouth ) whereupon he goes back to facing a music stand that holds sheets of paper with large Chinese or Japanese writing figures that he studies while he practices with his Num-Chucks and never says a word to me. After a coulple of minutes a frutile questions to like " Shall we go?" and "Is everyone here?' and not getting any response, I go to Fambrough's room hoping that he will at least laugh at me again! Fambrough comes with me to Gravatt's room and shakes him out of his trance, and he dresses. Bridgewater and Franco have not checked into their rooms but I hope they find the concert hall on their own, not to mention Ford, coming from Buffalo. McCoy, I hope, at least finds Rochester. Once again, Gravatt lights up more inspriation in the car and snarles; Fambrough laughs. I ask them if they have heard from McCoy or Whittemore? Gravatt grunts out the McCoy has been a leader for a long time, will make the gig and for me to shut up about him and leave him alone. At the hall, Ford, Bridgewater and Franco are there. All but McCoy. At 8pm, concert time, I have 1500 people outside of the hall because I don't want to let them in and take their money if I have to cancel. I only hold out untill 8:30 because of the crowd but then at 8:45.... here comes McCoy! He made alternate travel plans and rented a car at the airport which he drove straight to the hall. We do a sound check in front of the house that McCoy turned into a mini concert, bless his heart, and then we took a short break before the real show, that began at 9:30. He was great! The band was great! Even Gravatt was great! McCoy play trio, duo with Ford, duo with Fambrough and with the Quintet. They played two very long sets and he really gave everyone their moneys worth, and then some. He was a real gentleman; very quiet and focused. He meditated between sets and after the last one. It actualy took him some time to come down after the music was over. He was in a trance afterward with a wide eyed look that told you his was in a different place. I've seen him since then with his trio but it sure wasn't the same as that night! I think it was one of those very special nights, for all. The last I heard of Eric Gravatt, he was a prison guard. I bet he loves his job. Quote
Guest ariceffron Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 why does bird get credit for the song theN?? Quote
Soul Stream Posted February 20, 2005 Author Report Posted February 20, 2005 GREAT story Marcello! Thanks, makes me appreciate the man even that much more. He is all about the music, and that's such a rare thing. No matter what the era. Quote
mikeweil Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Truly great story - now I know how Gravatt came to play like he did - plain crazy! I mean - his duo with McCoy on Focal Point is beyond anything I could imagine ... Quote
bertrand Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 (edited) Aric, I asked Lou the same question - he said 'that's the 64 dollar question'. Marcello, Guess what - Gravatt retired from the prison guard job; he's back playing with McCoy! I saw them at Blues Alley in October and spoke to Eric for a while. He was charming and lucid, and even gave me his card. Bertrand. Edited February 20, 2005 by bertrand Quote
Free For All Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Wow, you guys are lucky. The only Jazz musician I met was Chuck Mangione. I actually played with him on stage when I was eight also.. IT was pretty cool. Just me, he even let me solo on Feels So Good. (I played trumpet at the time) Prett exciting. Wow, I'll bet your chops were already better than his. How bad did you cut him? B-) Sorry SS. Couldn't resist. Quote
Daniel A Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Terrific story, Marcello! I realize I've been away from Organissimo for too long... Quote
marcello Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Guess what - Gravatt retired from the prison guard job; he's back playing with McCoy! I saw them at Blues Alley in October and spoke to Eric for a while. He was charming and lucid, and even gave me his card. Bertrand. Miracles do happen! He must have worked out his issues. Great, exciting drummer. I'm gald he is back to music with McCoy. I never liked that drummer he had for about 10 years ( was it Aaron Scott?, I've tried to forget). Does he still keep his cymbals high and at that extreme angle? No wonder he practiced with those Num-Chucks! Quote
Jazz Kat Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Wow, you guys are lucky. The only Jazz musician I met was Chuck Mangione. I actually played with him on stage when I was eight also.. IT was pretty cool. Just me, he even let me solo on Feels So Good. (I played trumpet at the time) Prett exciting. Wow, I'll bet your chops were already better than his. How bad did you cut him? B-) Sorry SS. Couldn't resist. Like some have said, Art Blakey didn't hire him because he was a wimp. During his days at Eastan he has said he was so stuborn, that he wouldn't play, teach, or listen to anything that wasn't bop. That obviously changed, but bback to McCoy b4 you guys start yelling. Quote
JSngry Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Hey, JazzKat - don't let the razzing bug you. Mangione's sort of an ongoing joke these days (even on King of the Hill!) but anybody who knows thier stuff will recognize that Mangione had a respectable track record prior to his commercial success. And anybody who's ever been there as a young player knows the importance that an experience such as yours has to fanning the flames of the desire to keep playing and to get better. Eight years old, eh? That must've been a HUGE thrill! LOVE the McCoy story, Marcello! Mike - YOU LUCKY DOG! to all! Quote
Jazz Kat Posted February 20, 2005 Report Posted February 20, 2005 Yeah it was. It was at the Blue Note in NYC where kids could come up and play. And when all the kids did go up, I played drums, on the drummer's lap. Then later on for the ocnclusion when he played Feels So Good, I started playing trumpet to the song at my seat so he told me to come up with him, and I did it. I was the only kid on the stage. Quote
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