wigwise Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 (edited) He made some great recordings for Bethlehem in the 50's and Xanadu in the 70's. Charles Mingus called him "The World's Greatest Jazz Flutist". He has always had the respect of his peers, but is not well known. I was just curious what people think of him and his playing. He's still around today and plays at various clubs around Los Angeles. Recently he played on Terry Gibb's "52ND & BROADWAY: SONGS OF THE BEBOP ERA". Edited February 16, 2006 by wigwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 I like Most quite a bit -- those Xanadu albums in particular all have fine rhythm sections that Most really locks into -- but at times there's a little voice in my head that somewhat inarticulately has doubts about one aspect of how he plays. The nearest I can come to explaining it is that unlike most flute players, not to mention players of other wind instruments, Sam gives me the feeling that -- conceptually at least, though perhaps not in terms of actual execution -- he isn't "blowing" but is instead almost whistling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stereojack Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Tragically underrecognized! A really exceptional flute player, and a fine clarinetist also. Love the Bethlehem and the Xanadu records. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allan Songer Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 He gigs around LA on a REGULAR basis. I've heard him live dozens and dozens of times--dude can PLAY!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbo Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 A great guy. I only wish he'd pull out his tenor more often. Now let's see if he shows up to play my wedding, like he promised...whenever the day comes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigwise Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 (edited) conceptually at least, though perhaps not in terms of actual execution -- he isn't "blowing" but is instead almost whistling. That's an interesting observation Larry. What he actually does is more like humming (he has a tune called "The Humming Blues" on his Xanadu release titled "Flute Flight"). This technique came about at an early age as a result of, as Sam says, "trying not to make too much noise" while practicing in his parents house. Sam can scat and sing pretty well too. Not to mention his command of the clarinet, tenor, alto and baritone saxophones. Edited February 16, 2006 by wigwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Yes, I remember that track from "Flute Flight," and what he does in general is more like humming or a kind of scat-singing than like whistling. What bothers me a bit sometimes is that it seems like what he does is conceived more or less apart from the instrument and then laid on top of it. On the other hand, he sure has an agile, hip musical imagination. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 he totally will-- he played my friend's wedding a few years ago. He sounds like paul desmond on the alto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garthsj Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 (edited) conceptually at least, though perhaps not in terms of actual execution -- he isn't "blowing" but is instead almost whistling. That's an interesting observation Larry. What he actually does is more like humming (he has a tune called "The Humming Blues" on his Xanadu release titled "Flute Flight"). This technique came about at an early age as a result of, as Sam says, "trying not to make too much noise" while practicing in his parents house. Sam can scat and sing pretty well too. Not to mention his command of the clarinet, tenor, alto and baritone saxophones. This is an interesting observation ... in fact, Sam Most was the originator of the "vocalization" technique later used by Sahib Shihab, Jeremy Steig, and Yusef Lateef. When I was doing my radio show and mentioned this fact, I was "attacked" by a large number of my listeners, who were usually very friendly. I believe that the discographical record (no pun intended) will back me up, however. Sam is recently featured very prominently on a lovely album by bassist Paul Gormley, "DROP ME OFF IN HARLEM: The music of Duke Ellington orchestra" on Talking Dog Music. (Also with Larry Koonse on guitar, and Paul Kriebich on drums). Highly recommended. I should also add that he plays some wonderful early Guiffre-like clarinet on this album. Edited February 16, 2006 by garthsj Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Interesting thread! The only Most I have is this one, with Herbie Mann and Joe Puma: I like it a lot! Sure, it's lightweight, but if you want flute, this is very nice to play! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 That one is really good! Sam Most plays clarinet, not flute here. Very interesting sextet date (with Doug Mettome, Davey Schildkraut, Bob Dorough, Tommy Potter, Paul Motian) plus large ensemble date (with Frank Rehak, Dick Meldonian and others added, also Pettiford replacing Potter) all playing Bob Dorough's arrangements of tunes like 'Strictly Confidential', 'Serpent's Tooth', 'Confirmation', etc.. Fresh Sound reissued this during their vinyl days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigwise Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 On his web site (which I manage), I've assembled his complete discography as a leader (for those interested). It's a pity; he has a number of tracks (at least 2-3 albums worth) that he recorded with Carl Saunders, playing a variety of instruments, which will probably never see the light of day. In the last year or so, he also did some things with Daniel May, who knows what will happen to that. I spoke with him yesterday and he told me that Bob Dorough called him a few weeks back asking for permission to use his name on a reissue of recordings they did many years ago. http://www.sammost.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baryshnikov Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 His really kicking version of Jungle Kitten is a real floor shaker for British jazz dancers, always goes down a storm, paul uk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigwise Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 His really kicking version of Jungle Kitten is a real floor shaker for British jazz dancers, always goes down a storm, paul uk. It also fetches quite a few dollars on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.com/Funk-45-Sam-Most-Jungl...1QQcmdZViewItem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted February 16, 2006 Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 He made some great recordings for Bethlehem in the 50's and Xanadu in the 70's. Charles Mingus called him "The World's Greatest Jazz Flutist". He has always had the respect of his peers, but is not well known. I was just curious what people think of him and his playing. He's still around today and plays at various clubs around Los Angeles. Recently he played on Terry Gibb's "52ND & BROADWAY: SONGS OF THE BEBOP ERA". so where can we get his cds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wigwise Posted February 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted February 16, 2006 (edited) so where can we get his cds? Good question. Here's the aforementioned CD with Bob Dorough: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001YNKH...5Fencoding=UTF8 A few of the Bethlehem recordings (“Musically Yours” & “Sam Most Plays Bird Bud Miles and Monk”) are available on Amazon and CD Universe. As for the Xanadu stuff, forget about it. From what I've been told, Don Schlitten currently has no plans to reissue them. Who knows what the future may hold... Here is a CD Sam did with Richard Simon: http://www.ufo-bass.com/cd.htm Edited February 17, 2006 by wigwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazz Kat Posted February 17, 2006 Report Share Posted February 17, 2006 I love his sound on Mundell Lowe's Transit West album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.