The Bass Flute

[Dave James]

I'm pretty much on record as not being a fan of the flute. There are a couple of players I can handle in small doses but when it comes to jazz, I think it's an instrument that's best left on the cutting room floor. Having said that, I find I'm still intrigued by the gutteral, almost netherworldly sound of the contrabass flute. I think in my entire collection I have one CD that features this instrument and then only on a couple of cuts. It's a fairly recent release from James Spaulding on High Note called "Escapade".

Then, while perusing Alan Lankin's Jazzmatazz website today, I noticed an October 7th release by an artist with whom I'm not familiar by the name of Chip Shelton. His new CD is called "Flute Bass-Ics" so I assume it's at least in part populated by the instrument in question. The album features Stephen Scott, Ron Carter and Lewis Nash. A nice lineup. I have two questions. First, does anyone know anything about Mr. Sheldon in general and this album in particular? Second, any recommendations of other albums that feature the bass flute?

Thanks.

Up over and out.

[Shrdlu]

This is not very specific, but Hank Mancini was partial to the flute, and I seem to remember the bass being used in some of his scores.

I do know that Joe Farrell played it on the Jobim album "Tide", as it was overdubbed on the track "Takatanga", and this overdub was left out when Universal recently reissued the album as a 24 bit CD (they must have used a pre-overdub tape). This fault carried over to the Japanese mini-LP version, which was sonically the same as the domestic CD. To hear this elusive performance, you would need either the LP (used LPs are not rare - see gemm.com) or the earlier Japanese CD, a copy of which I got from Tower about 18 months ago. I hope that this is not frustrating for you.

[Late]

Robert Dick is a classically trained "jazz" (meaning improvising) flautist, who plays the entire gamut of flutes, including the contrabass (which is actually held like a saxophone). A good recording of his is entiteld Aurealis, and this session certainly contains netherworldly sounds. It's a trio recording of flute, piano, and bass. Intense at times, and not always "jazzy," but authentic improvised music nonetheless. With ears open, this music will suck you right in. The contrabass is freaky! (Bass, alto, and standard flutes are also played; piccolo is too, but very sparingly.)

[Rooster_Ties]

Yup, Robert Dick was the first name I thought of too. He has a dics made up mostly of Hendrix tunes (really!!) - with quite a bit of contrabass flute. Don't have the specifics handy. I'll try to look them up a bit later tonight. Gotta run...

Edit: OK, here's the specifics...

Robert Dick (AMG bio): Third Stone From the Sun (New World Records, 1993)

Nearly all Hendrix covers, plus a couple Hendrix-inspired originals. BUT, don't let the "Hendrix" thing give you a false impression that you know what this music sounds like. He uses Jimi's compositions as a jumping-off-point for some pretty wild improvisations - often with multiple flutes (overdubs), and (if I recall - it's been years since I've heard this) any number of the tracks would only be recognized by some diehard Hendrix fans, who really know their material (harmonically speaking). If I remember right, my favorite tune on the disc was " Pali Gap", originally an obscure Hendrix tune from the original "Rainbow Bridge" soundtrack.

Quite a good disc. Take a chance, if you find it cheap.

Edited October 14, 2003 by Rooster_Ties

[maren]

I'm pretty much on record as not being a fan of the flute. 

Usually my sentiments exactly (and I played the thing in junior high).

But recently I was listening to a radio tribute to Mongo Santamaria, and one cut in particular had the most INCREDIBLE flute solo -- I kept thinking "is he ever going to make that sound I HATE? Am I going to end up disappointed?" -- but he never did! and I never was! -- he being Rolando Lozano, playing a WOODEN flute. It was from a 1994 CD called At the Blackhawk (Fantasy #24734: "these 1962 recordings originally appeared on two LPs called Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo")

and I'm pretty sure that particular cut was "Descarga at the Black Hawk" -- when my cash flow improves I'll be looking for it.

[Rooster_Ties]

Although he hasn't ever played bass flute (or at least not that I'm aware of), I'll go on record as saying that my favorite 'current' flute player (meaning somebody playing today) is probably Gary Thomas. His main axe is tenor sax, but he doubles on flute - and I've loved nearly everything I've ever heard from him on flute.

Edited October 14, 2003 by Rooster_Ties

[Dmitry]

It's a tough one.

I recommend these albums on which bass flute is more or less prominently featured -

Henry Threadgill / Rag, Bush And All

Jimmy Giuffre / Quasar

[Guy Berger]

Check out Thomas Chapin's Sky Piece. He plays bass flute on the title track and maybe a few other tunes (it might be the more common type on the others), and it's absolutely haunting. I think you can download the track free at amazon.com.

Guy

[Dmitry]

Check out Thomas Chapin's Sky Piece. He plays bass flute on the title track and maybe a few other tunes (it might be the more common type on the others), and it's absolutely haunting. I think you can download the track free at amazon.com.

Guy

Guy is absolutely correct.

Sky Piece is amazing !

[Shrdlu]

Some more bass flute!

After someone reported that there's a new Japanese CD of "The Individualism of Gil Evans", I played my (U.S.) copy again, and "The Barbara Song" has some bass flute. The total personnel is listed (although there is some uncertainty about who was on those Gil sessions) but it does not say who is on flute. Those studio woodwind guys that Gil used to use in the 50s and 60s could all play about 10 instruments!