Musicians With Largest Recording

[Brownian Motion]

Hmmmm...I'll have to think about this one.

[GA Russell]

Anybody remember Don Shirley?

[ejp626]

Anybody remember Don Shirley?

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Curiously enough, I ran across Orpheus in the Underworld/Improvisations by Don Shirley but just wasn't sure if I wanted to buy it. Perhaps I was correct in not pulling the trigger. Any thoughts on this one?

[Stereojack]

Let's see, does this mean musicians who have way more recordings than their talent deserves?

Oscar Peterson

[Chuck Nessa]

Let's see, does this mean musicians who have way more recordings than their talent deserves?

Oscar Peterson

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Got your back Jack!

[RDK]

I'm sure someone would nominate Miles and Braxton if they get the chance.

Gotta say, Braxton may be the dude with the greatest talent who's made the most number of recordings that I don't like.

Otherwise, I'm right there with you re: OP & WM

[JSngry]

If by "talent" we're talking pure instrumental/vocal performing skills, what did Jimmy Lunceford show us in these regards?

Of course, he had a whole 'nother talent - that of organization and leadership - and it was nothing to take lightly.

[Pete B]

Jonah Jones.

[Brownian Motion]

Jonah Jones.

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A bold pick. A good pick.

[BruceH]

Anybody mention Kenny G?

[Stereojack]

Jonah Jones.

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A bold pick. A good pick.

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Jonah Jones was a fine trumpet player with a solid pedigree as a veteran of great swing bands led by Stuff Smith and Cab Calloway, to name two. In the late 1950's he had a hit album entitled "Muted Jazz" that took off, and he milked the formula for years to come, and sold a whole lot of records. Although he made a string of forgettable formulaic records, I don't think he fits the spirit of this thread. At the end of his career, when the gravy train had finally stopped, he made a solid mainstream album for Chiaroscuro that showed that he still had the goods.

My 2 cents

[Spontooneous]

What Stereojack said. Jonah could really play, when he wanted to.

[Pete B]

I don't dispute Jonah's talent, but I think my answer applies to the topic. I couldn't think of a better example, Peterson already having been taken. I like the Kenny G pick - it works better than mine - except I have trouble accepting him as a jazzman!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Romeo Penque - he must be on thousands of albums. I think he actually took a flute solo on the Deodato/Donato album, but it wasn't anything special (like the rest of the album).

MG

[JSngry]

Penque's niche was that of the all-purpose woodwind doubler (he even played oboe/english horn), not jazz soloist. Need a guy to play 3-4, maybe even 5 axes on a session date, somebody who could play the parts with the necessary interpretation(s)? He was your guy, or one of them. Seems like every album I have him on, he's doubling (or more!). Saved the contractors the expense of hiring an extra guy (or two), and put money in his pocket as well from all the doubling fees he collected. Win/win!

Judging by all the sessions he did, I suspect that he was one helluva reader as well as a fine section player - then as now, time is money in the studio, and if he didn't have the skills to get it right ASAP, he'd not have gotten the calls. That's a talent unto itself!

[Chuck Nessa]

Penque's niche was that of the all-purpose woodwind doubler (he even played oboe/english horn), not jazz soloist. Need a guy to play 3-4, maybe even 5 axes on a session date, somebody who could play the parts with the necessary interpretation(s)? He was your guy, or one of them. Seems like every album I have him on, he's doubling (or more!). Saved the contractors the expense of hiring an extra guy (or two), and put money in his pocket as well from all the doubling fees he collected. Win/win!

Judging by all the sessions he did, I suspect that he was one helluva reader as well as a fine section player - then as now, time is money in the studio, and if he didn't have the skills to get it right ASAP, he'd not have gotten the calls. That's a talent unto itself!

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Different folks have different goals. Love 'em all and rip those you don't personally care for.

[JSngry]

Hell, I don't even like playing alto and bari, much less flute and clarinet. Dabbled in oboe and bassoon long enough to say "Fuck THIS" . So a guy like Penque gets my respect. No love, but plenty of respect.