Soul Stream Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Just wanted to put a note on the Board about a friend of mine. Totally unknown jazz organist who paid dues from the 70's on in the San Antonio/Austin area. One of the regional greats who never recorded and was not known outside of the area. His name was Bill Tanner. I met Bill when I asked an older musician around town who I could turn to to learn about playing jazz organ the traditional way...pedals, left hand bass, settings...just to see how it's done. He told me to find Bill Tanner as he was "the" guy in town in the 70's/80's but had since gone off the scene more or less. Well, I found Bill and he really had a ball. He had a B3 and two 122's hooked up and jamming in his living room. Lived alone, but had raised a family and was college educated and a sophisticated cat. Could also sing his ass off. Very hip. Anyway, I had lost touch with Bill in the last few years but had assumed he was still around. Till the other night at my gig a fellow musician told me Bill had passed away several years back. It really blew me away. Great cat who taught me alot. Sad he never recorded. Played in the Jimmy Smith style and was a peer of Leon Spencer Jr. who we would call on occassion when Bill got in the mood. Bill could play. 'nuff said and he will be missed by at least one person who's life he touched in a postive way. This is for all the cats who are falling away from us in these years. Unknowns who stuck it out through thick and thin...and they kept playing music because they loved it. Even if it was in obscurity... 2,000 miles away from the closest NYC jazz club. Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Sorry to hear abut your buddy. One note: You can be pretty obscure. Even in a NYC jazz club. Quote
fasstrack Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Sorry to hear abut your buddy. One note: You can be pretty obscure. Even in a NYC jazz club. Ha. Phil Woods told me "keep the music happening. Someone's always listening"..... Quote
fasstrack Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 I can relate. I worked some with a guy named Bobby Forrester before he died at 54 a few years back. No big name but enough among musicians and singers to always be working. His main gig for years was as Ruth Brown's MD (on piano and organ) Great musician and person. I know some guys that haven't gotten over it yet. I myself haven't found an organist that can fill his shoes. Organists of that school and caliber are pretty rare (as are people like Bobby). I miss him. Go out and dedicate a tune to your buddy. He'd appreciate it. Feel better. Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Good advice. I remember Bobby Forrester. I didn't know him, but I did hear him and thought he was a fine player. Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 I can relate. I worked some with a guy named Bobby Forrester before he died at 54 a few years back. No big name but enough among musicians and singers to always be working. His main gig for years was as Ruth Brown's MD (on piano and organ) Great musician and person. I know some guys that haven't gotten over it yet. I myself haven't found an organist that can fill his shoes. Organists of that school and caliber are pretty rare (as are people like Bobby). I miss him. Go out and dedicate a tune to your buddy. He'd appreciate it. Feel better. Yeah, Bobby Forrester was really "THE" guy in NYC as far as gigging organists went from what I heard. Never got to see him, but heard much about him and was really lamented by musicians he played with. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 I've always felt that jazz fans in particular give too much attention to "the greats" and too little to the working men and women who play all over the place, perhaps making a couple of records. To blues, R&B and soul fans, this is a strange attitude. "The greats" have always been a second or third priority for me. MG Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Sorry to hear about the loss, Mike. God bless your friend for keeping the flame alive by showing you the ropes. That's how it has to happen, not from some textbook or bullshit class at the local college. Bobby Forrester was a really soulful player. I enjoy all the recordings he's on that I own. There is something to say for that style and it goes beyond the notes he's playing. I believe many of the newer cats can hang as far as the technical aspects are concerned, but they lack the "feel" to me. Quote
fasstrack Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Sorry to hear about the loss, Mike. God bless your friend for keeping the flame alive by showing you the ropes. That's how it has to happen, not from some textbook or bullshit class at the local college. Bobby Forrester was a really soulful player. I enjoy all the recordings he's on that I own. There is something to say for that style and it goes beyond the notes he's playing. I believe many of the newer cats can hang as far as the technical aspects are concerned, but they lack the "feel" to me. Huge (also insert tip of cap icon) The last sentence was Bobby's chief complaint. Only he didn't merely complain, he lived and played by that creed. Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Which album was that SS? MG Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Which album was that SS? MG It's called "Going Wess"...you can get it on Amazon. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 (edited) Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Which album was that SS? MG It's called "Going Wess"...you can get it on Amazon. Thanks very much SS. Now on order; $3 cheaper at CDUniverse. MG Edited July 5, 2006 by The Magnificent Goldberg Quote
DukeCity Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Which album was that SS? MG It's called "Going Wess"...you can get it on Amazon. Thanks very much SS. Now on order; $3 cheaper at CDUniverse. MG Going Wess is also available on emusic.com ($2.20 if you have the larger subscription ) Hopefully the loss of these unsung heroes helps us to appreciate the cats who are still with us. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Hopefully the loss of these unsung heroes helps us to appreciate the cats who are still with us. Right, right. MG Quote
Joe G Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Mike, thanks for sharing that little bit about Mr. Tanner. I guess it goes to show that few, if any of us, are completely "unsung and unknown". Quote
fasstrack Posted July 5, 2006 Report Posted July 5, 2006 Also sorry to hear of your loss, Mike, and anyone interested in Bobby Forrester, you can find copies of his last recording, Organic Chemistry through Ebay Stores, and I imagine, Amazon as well. Forrester and David "Bubba" Brooks" (Tina's brother) jam at length on a bunch of standards. Forrester sounds great on this. Another big "thumbs up" for this CD as well. Really showcases Bobby and what he was all about. Also, the recording he did with Frank Wess and Tootsie Bean is a killer. Yes. Indeed. 'Undecided' is a MF on this. (William Ash is on guitar, BTW). Quote
Soul Stream Posted July 5, 2006 Author Report Posted July 5, 2006 Mike, thanks for sharing that little bit about Mr. Tanner. I guess it goes to show that few, if any of us, are completely "unsung and unknown". I guess the saddest part to me is that he went totally unrecorded. A real shame as he had a unique way of playing. Skylark was his favorite song. Quote
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