Lee's Tunisian Permutations

[johnagrandy]

Almost totally randomly, today I listened back-to-back to the historic Blakey "A Night In Tunisia" live date and then the same tune from Unforgettable Lee !. I was kind of tripped out to hear the same licks , revised and re-ordered , on both of Lee's solos (the former is better, in my opinion, despite Lee's chops being somewhat inferior). This reminded me of all those alt takes where Fats does the same kind of thing. But I didn't know Lee did this much ...

Does anyone have the full roster of Lee "Tunisia" recordings on the tip of their brain? Did he permute on every single one?

Edited January 10, 2006 by johnagrandy

[Free For All]

I'll have to check out the solo on "The Cooker". I've always loved that solo, there's one bridge he does in one breath (or so it seems), but I'm not sure if it's derivative of other versions. That was his nearly his first BN, right? Was there an earlier recorded solo?

"Lee's Tunisian Permutations"- great thread title, John!

[johnagrandy]

I think we'll have to find a serious Lee afficionado to figure this one out ...

Here's all the "Night" recordings listed on

http://www014.upp.so-net.ne.jp/lee/lee/leedisco.htm

Of course it's probably Diz on the solo on the first 4 ...

SESSION 005 1956-11-?? Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra

SESSION 017 1957-06-14 Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra

SESSION 017 1957-06-14 Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra

SESSION 018 1957-07-06 Dizzy Gillespie And His Orchestra

SESSION 024 1957-09-29 Lee Morgan Quintet

(1) [The Cooker/Lee Morgan] (Blue Note BLP-1578)

(2) [Lee Morgan Memorial Album] (Blue Note LA-224-G)

(3) [The Complete Blue Note Lee Morgan Fifties Sessions] (Mosaic MD4-162)

(4) [blue Trails - The Rare Tracks] (Blue Note [Japan] Toshiba EMI TOCJ-1601)

SESSION 034 1958-11-19 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 038 1958-12-21 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 047 1959-07-04 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 051 1959-11-05 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 055 1959-11-15 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 056 1959-11-23 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 057 1959-11-29 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 059 1959-12-18 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 066 1960-04-23 Art Blakey - Buddy Rich

SESSION 072 1960-08-07 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 073 1960-08-14 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(2) [A Night In Tunisia/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Blue Note BST-84049, CD: B2-84049)

SESSION 079 1960-12-08 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(1) [Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers Lausanne 1960, Part I] (TCB02022)

(1) [Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers Lausanne 1960, 2nd set] (TCB02062)

SESSION 080 1960-12-06 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(1) [Live In Stockholm 1960/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Dragon DRLP-137)

(2) [A Jazz Hour With Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Blues March] (SPA JHR 73539)

SESSION 081 1961-01-02 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(1) [A Day With Art Blakey 1961/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Baybridge [Japan] UPS-2148-9)

(2) [A Jazz Hour With Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers - Blues March] (SPA JHR 73539)

SESSION 082 1961-01-11 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(1) [TOKYO 1961/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Somethin' Else [Japan] CJ32-5503)

(2) [TOKYO 1961/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Toshiba EMI [Japan] Video: TT80-1271, LO80-1120)

SESSION 086 1961-05-06 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

SESSION 087 1961-05-13 Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers

(1) [Paris Jazz Concert/Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers] (Europe1 710373/374)

Actually, this can't be the complete list ... can it ?

Edited January 10, 2006 by johnagrandy

[couw]

Besides the early Gillespie big band recordings, there are live/radio recordings of this tune with Lee in Blakey's band from the late 50s/early 60s. Some of which have been released on various labels. The Paris Champs-Elysées 1958 (Fontana/JiP) and Olympia 1961 (RTE Laserlight) are freely available.

edit: johnagrandy beat me to it.

Edited January 10, 2006 by couw

[johnagrandy]

I'll have to check out the solo on "The Cooker". I've always loved that solo, there's one bridge he does in one breath (or so it seems), but I'm not sure if it's derivative of other versions. That was his nearly his first BN, right? Was there an earlier recorded solo?

"Lee's Tunisian Permutations"- great thread title, John!

If that discography is correct and complete, then looks like "The Cooker" was the first Lee on Blue Note. Unfortunately I don't have it ... but that's probably the place to start to understand the genesis of those breathtaking licks. Although I seem to remember reading somewhere that Diz would have Lee take solos ... ???

Edited January 10, 2006 by johnagrandy

[johnagrandy]

I'll have to check out the solo on "The Cooker". I've always loved that solo, there's one bridge he does in one breath (or so it seems), but I'm not sure if it's derivative of other versions. That was his nearly his first BN, right? Was there an earlier recorded solo?

"Lee's Tunisian Permutations"- great thread title, John!

If that discography is correct and complete, then looks like "The Cooker" was the first Lee on Blue Note. Unfortunately I don't have it ... but that's probably the place to start to understand the genesis of those breathtaking licks. Although I seem to remember reading somewhere that Diz would have Lee take solos ... ???

"The Cooker" showed up in my mailbox today, and on Night there are only a few brief licks contained in the two aforementioned improvs later in Lee's career. This early version is at a much slower tempo. Lee's solo is absolutely remarkable (especially since he was 19 !) but can't be compared (for better or worse) with his uptempo fire on the later versions mentioned above -- in my opinion purely because of the tempo. Also, no cadenza on this version.

As Tunisia was Lee's showpiece number for many years, there's got to be bootlegs out there ......... anyone ???

I wonder if Jeff Hegelsen's can be bribed into transposing these three improvs. Apparently he transcribes trumpet improvs at full speed ... except for Woody where he has to slow it way way down.

Anyone know what kind of cookies Jeff favors?

[Free For All]

"The Cooker" showed up in my mailbox today, and on Night there are only a few brief licks contained in the two aforementioned improvs later in Lee's career. This early version is at a much slower tempo. Lee's solo is absolutely remarkable (especially since he was 19 !) but can't be compared (for better or worse) with his uptempo fire on the later versions mentioned above -- in my opinion purely because of the tempo. Also, no cadenza on this version.

The slower tempo is precisely what I like about this version. Lee really has time to build some great melodic ideas and he plays several great bridges! The slower tempo also allows the rhythm section to double up the feel (as they do during the piano solo).

It certainly has its own merits.

[johnagrandy]

"The Cooker" showed up in my mailbox today, and on Night there are only a few brief licks contained in the two aforementioned improvs later in Lee's career. This early version is at a much slower tempo. Lee's solo is absolutely remarkable (especially since he was 19 !) but can't be compared (for better or worse) with his uptempo fire on the later versions mentioned above -- in my opinion purely because of the tempo. Also, no cadenza on this version.

The slower tempo is precisely what I like about this version. Lee really has time to build some great melodic ideas and he plays several great bridges! The slower tempo also allows the rhythm section to double up the feel (as they do during the piano solo).

It certainly has its own merits.

It really is amazing. I keep on replaying it. Pepper, Bobby, Paul, Philly ... it's an absolute gem. Plus, Lee's tone at the best I've heard.

Yeah, I think that bridge at the end is one breath.

[johnagrandy]

Besides the early Gillespie big band recordings, there are live/radio recordings of this tune with Lee in Blakey's band from the late 50s/early 60s. Some of which have been released on various labels. The Paris Champs-Elysées 1958 (Fontana/JiP) and Olympia 1961 (RTE Laserlight) are freely available.

edit: johnagrandy beat me to it.

Ok, I just got the RTE Olympia May 13 1961 2 CD set ( the Laserlight version looked incomplete ) , and it does indeed have a Tunisia on it.

CD1

1. The Summit

2. Yama

3. Close Your Eyes

4. Dat Dere

5. Round About Midnight

6. So Tired

7. My Funny Valentine

CD2

1. It's Only A Paper Moon

2. Noise In The Attic

3. Moanin'

4. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

5. Blues March

6. Night In Tunisia

So, there are at least two live Lee recordings of Tunisia relatively easily available. And two in the studio.

I haven't gotten any further into the discography than that ..

... but master trumpet transcriber Jeff Helgesen says he might find time to transcribe all the versions that I'm send them to him as I get ahold of them. That would be a trip.