Valdo Williams: "New Advanced Jazz" (Savoy, 1966)

[Eric]

Just spotted a used copy of this on Amazon for only $5.99, plus shipping.

seller must have wised up, it's now going for $44.00 ...

[Rooster_Ties]

Just spotted a used copy of this on Amazon for only $5.99, plus shipping.

seller must have wised up, it's now going for $44.00 ...

Nope, somebody bought the cheap one. There were three copies there earlier, two with $40+ prices, and one for $5.99 (which is now gone).

Somebody here got it. Who???

[AllenLowe]

I will call the NYC Valdo today and report back -

[JSngry]

Vere's Valdo?

[AllenLowe]

it'll be interesting to see if it's him and how he reacts - I used to do this a lot in the 1970s, calling musicians out of the NYC phone book to see if they were who I thought they were - made friends with Tommy Potter and Curley Russell this way, and also had a long and interesting (if scary) conversation with Lennie Tristano. Called Gene Quill, talked to him briefly, but he had just had his accident and was friendly but brain-damaged (from a fall) -

[Rooster_Ties]

Vere's Valdo?

[John B]

whoever that is, perhaps it would be best if their home address and phone # were not posted on a public bulletin board.

and, going back on topic, I agree: this is a fantastic album. I was lucky enough to buy a copy from another board member a few months back and really enjoy it.

Edited March 17, 2005 by John B

[jasonguthartz]

When I first listened to the Savoy CD a few years ago it didn't blow me away, but I should give it another spin.

It was interesting to see his name pop up again in the "Sightings" section of the Ayler Holy Ghost box: Aug. 30, 1964 @ unknown NYC coffeeshop - Williams (p), Ayler (ts), Alan Silva (b), unknown (d).

-Jason

[JSngry]

[AllenLowe]

I'm sure Valdo would be flattered - it's from Switchboard, anyway, to which some 20 million people have access - I have called several times but no answer - will work on it this week -

Edited March 27, 2005 by AllenLowe

[Rooster_Ties]

[Rooster_Ties]

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[Rooster_Ties]

Alan Silva

Interviewed by Dan Warburton November 8th - 22nd 2002

Q:  How did you meet up with Albert Ayler?

A:  I first met Albert in a club one night when I was working in a trio with a pianist called Valdo Williams and a drummer by the name of Splivvy. Valdo was a cocktail pianist, but he was the most advanced piano player I'd heard outside of Cecil Taylor. We did a lot of work together between 1962 and 1965. Ever hear Valdo's tune "Desert Fox"? One of the most interesting compositions I've ever seen - changing all the time, like "Giant Steps". Man, that was a great piece. We used to play in a strip club on West 4th Street, and across the street was an Irish bar, and behind this bar was a room where we would play cocktail bar music on the weekends. (A good gig that paid good money!)

[Rooster_Ties]

(SOURCE - scroll down)

[Rooster_Ties]

SOURCE (in full context, scoll down about half a page for specific Valdo Williams reference)

The 'Canadian All Stars' was the group that gave Fleming a taste of

International recognition, a quintet made up of Fleming, Al Baculis, clarinet,

Yvan Landry, vibes / piano, Hal Gaylor, bass and again drummer Billy Graham. On

Saturday, February 7, 1953 at 2 pm at the Chez Paree, that group opened a 'Jazz

Workshop' concert [one that headlined Charlie Parker] playing a six tune set

made up of Jumping With Symphony Sid, Taking A Chance On Love, Strike Up The

Band, The Things We Did Last Summer, Lover Come Back To Me and The Lady Is A

Tramp. Harold Smith and Abby Smollan, who both had connections with the record

industry, took an interest in the group and Smith produced a demo in 1955 that

he was successful in selling to Albert Marx', New York based, Discovery Records

and, with Landry switching to piano, Hello Young Lovers, Taking A Chance On

Love, Billy Boy, The Things We Did Last Summer, Fats Waller's Zonky plus Some

Folks Do, Winnipegosis and Sincerely Yours, credited to Baculis, were released

on a 10" lp. [both Smith and Smollan were members of the Emanon Jazz Society, an

important group that grew out of the New Jazz Society in 1951 and Smith also

recorded the Montreal trio of Valdo Williams, a wonderful pianist - but

Discovery never released that material.]

?????

Exact same text, BETTER SOURCE

Edited March 27, 2005 by Rooster_Ties

[Rooster_Ties]

Here's (probably??) another picture of Valdo. The caption reads...

"The Herb Johnson Band at Club Matane. Left to right: Herb Johnson, Valdo Williams, Al Jennings."

SOURCE (Concordia University Archives P088-02-12)

Edited March 27, 2005 by Rooster_Ties

[peterintoronto]

Did anyone ever get in touch with Valdo?

This is one of the gems of the purple-spined Savoy Japan pressings!

[Spontooneous]

Anybody share my feeling that the Savoy album sounds like Erroll Garner on acid?

[clifford_thornton]

Did anyone ever get in touch with Valdo?

I am under the impression that to do so would require a Ouija board.

(in other words, he's dead.)

[J.A.W.]

Did anyone ever get in touch with Valdo?

I am under the impression that to do so would require a Ouija board.

(in other words, he's dead.)

He was born in 1929, but when did he die?

[clifford_thornton]

I was told he had passed on by both Jackie McLean and Bill Dixon (both of whom worked with him), but as I don't have their notes in front of me, I don't have a year for you.

[JSngry]

Anybody share my feeling that the Savoy album sounds like Erroll Garner on acid?

Listening to it now. Often reminds me of Oscar Peterson in some unpleasant ways..but not always.

Must have been an interesting personality, though, to have the OP thing and that other thing going on at the same time.

INTERIOR CONFLICTS!!!! :g