The vibes thread

[sheldonm]

Not necessarily my favorites, but fun to listen to anyway!

Billy Wooten: played on a few of the Grant Green recordings in the late sixties. I met him about a month ago, very interesting guy.

Buddy Montgomery: Wes's brother, very good vibe and piano player

Terry Gibbs: Great!

[Brownian Motion]

I haven't seen Red Norvo's name here, but he played vibes for the latter half of his career, if I'm not mistaken. Haygood Hardy played nice vibes with Herbie Mann on "Live at the Village Gate (Vanguard?); I think Hardy left jazz for more lucrative fields of music. Joe Roland was an excellent vibist--whatever happened to him? And Tyree Glenn could wail on vibes; he made at least one album on which he played nothing but.

[chris olivarez]

Red Norvo was part of that killer trio with Tal Farlow and Mingus something that I must check out in the future.

[relyles]

In addition to those already mentioned, Bryan Carrott is a player I always enjoy listening to. I also don't think Joe Locke has been mentioned - he has done some wonderful things on his on and with Eddie Henderson.

Hutcherson is my personal al time favorite, but I also really like Steve Nelson and Khan Jamal. I am a big fan of the vibes and their are probably others that I am not mentioning.

[.:.impossible]

I love the vibraphone. That album Joe mentions sounds very cool! I don't really have any additional recommendations, but there are thousands of solo, duo, trio, etc classical/modern classical vibraphone recordings that I have not yet heard. For whatever reason, I've been hesitant for the past few years. I have a decent sized catalog from Steve Weiss Music, I think.

Gregg Bendian is one percussionist that I intend to explore further. I know his name and his playing through recordings with Cecil Taylor(drum kit), the Cline brothers(INTERZONE-vibraphone) , and modern classical works with other percussionists and mallets players.

I would also love to hear an album under John McIntire's name (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, production for Stereolab and many others), focusing on his mallet work, drumming, and electronics prowess. Sam Prekop's solo album was so great, I'm still waiting for a follow-up! I think an album from John would be wonderful.

[Dmitry]

Now listening to the Joe Roland cd on Bethlehem, bizarely re-titled as Vibe Players Of Bethlehem, Volume 2. One of the less interesting re-issue jobs by Bethlehem, pretty lame liner notes, no personel listed, no recording dates, etc. But the music is as they say, FINE. I'm really digging this one a lot!

It was a major discovery for me. I never heard of Joe Roland before.

What was the original title of this LP?

Any details on his career? This guy totally slipped under my radar.

[kinuta]

Now listening to the Joe Roland cd on Bethlehem, bizarely re-titled as Vibe Players Of Bethlehem, Volume 2. One of the less interesting re-issue jobs by Bethlehem, pretty lame liner notes, no personel listed, no recording dates, etc. But the music is as they say, FINE. I'm really digging this one a lot!

It was a major discovery for me. I never heard of Joe Roland before.

What was the original title of this LP?

Any details on his career? This guy totally slipped under my radar.

I've got that cd and agree it's a good'un. Interesting note is that it features Freddie Redd.

Have a listen to Teddy Charles 'Flying Home-Salute To Hamp' on Bethlehem. I think you'd like that if you haven't already got it. I like the nice warm mastering of those Japanese Bethlehems, they all sound really great like the old Blue Note Works series.

[Dmitry]

Thank, Kinuta. I'll keep an eye out for the Teddy Charles disc.

Got the personnel for the Joe Roland session -

Joe Roland (vib)

Dick Garcia (g)

Freddie Redd (p)

Dante Martucci (b)

Ron Jefferson (d)

This guy was good!!! I wonder what happened to him.

[kinuta]

Thank, Kinuta. I'll keep an eye out for the Teddy Charles disc.

Got the personnel for the Joe Roland session -

Joe Roland (vib)

Dick Garcia (g)

Freddie Redd (p)

Dante Martucci (b)

Ron Jefferson (d)

This guy was good!!! I wonder what happened to him.

He did another session on Savoy that I think I have copy of somewhere. I'll have a look for it and let you know.

[Dmitry]

What is the proper title for this Joe Roland session on Bethlehem? It can't possibly be called the "Vibe Players Of Bethlehem, Volume 2" ...

[brownie]

What is the proper title for this Joe Roland session on Bethlehem? It can't possibly be called the "Vibe Players Of Bethlehem, Volume 2" ...

I have the Fresh Sound vinyl reissue of this Bethlehem with the original cover. The session with Freddie Redd and Dick Garcia.

The title of the album is plain 'Joe Roland'.

[kinuta]

I've found the aforementioned Joe Roland on Savoy.

Joltin' Joe Savoy Jazz SV-0215

1 Gene's Stew

2 Spice

3 Garrity's Flight

4 Indian Summer

5 Half Nelson

6 Love Is Just A Plaything

7 Music House

8 Joyce's Choice

9 I've Got The World On A String

10 Stephanie's Dance

11 Sally Is Gone

12 Deedee's Dance

1 2 7 8

Joe Roland (vib)

Wade Legge (p)

Dauti Martucci (b)

Ron Jefferson(d)

Oct 17 1954

3 4 9 10

Joe Roland (v)

Freddie Redd (p)

Oscar Pettiford (b)

Ron Jefferson (d)

May 10 1954

5 6 11 12

Joe Roland (v)

Paula Castle (voc)

Joe Puma (g)

Ish Ugarte (b)

Harold Granowsky (ds)

Sid Kassimir (vc)

Mike Bartun (va)

Gus Oberstein (vn)

Jules Modin (vn)

Jan 17 1950

Unfortunately the liners are missing so I can't give you any further info'.

I think this is technically listed as available on a couple of sites but I wouldn't bet on it. I've never seen it anywhere in Tokyo shops.

ps The Toshiba/EMI Japanese version of the Bethlehem is called just plain ' Joe Roland'.

Edited March 21, 2006 by kinuta

[Fer Urbina]

Now listening to the Joe Roland cd on Bethlehem, bizarely re-titled as Vibe Players Of Bethlehem, Volume 2. One of the less interesting re-issue jobs by Bethlehem, pretty lame liner notes, no personel listed, no recording dates, etc. But the music is as they say, FINE. I'm really digging this one a lot!

It was a major discovery for me. I never heard of Joe Roland before.

What was the original title of this LP?

Any details on his career? This guy totally slipped under my radar.

If I'm correct Roland played in George Shearing's Quintet of the early fifties. The "Volume 2" of the title in your reissue I think it's a follow up to Teddy Charles' "Salute to Hamp" (which would be Vol. 1)

One of surprises in the Savoy album is the string quartet in Half Nelson. I'm not a specialist in "with strings" albums, but IMHO this is a very decent job in a jazz setting (in 1950).

Has anyone listened to Phil Kraus' LPs for Golden Crest? Any good?

F

[.:.impossible]

Volume One is a great disc when I'm in the mood for it. More "swinging" than the majority of Charles' music. I like the whole vibe of the disc. Some nice horn arrangements. I'm not as familiar with the California 50s scene as many of you, but this seems to be a fine specimine.

[clifford_thornton]

I would also love to hear an album under John McIntire's name (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, production for Stereolab and many others), focusing on his mallet work, drumming, and electronics prowess. Sam Prekop's solo album was so great, I'm still waiting for a follow-up! I think an album from John would be wonderful.

Maybe, but I think I can figure out _exactly_ what a McEntire solo record would sound like. Feel like I've probably already heard it!

Can't say I minded him with Bastro or Bitch Magnet, though!

[BruceH]

Lately I've gone on a Bobby Hutcherson tear, though, and I'm really loving his stuff...

Something of the sort seems to be happening to me now. I can't get enough of his stuff---this was probably brought on by seeing him live with McCoy Tyner's group in February. He kicked ass, but never stopped being musical. What a showman!

[.:.impossible]

I would also love to hear an album under John McIntire's name (Tortoise, The Sea and Cake, production for Stereolab and many others), focusing on his mallet work, drumming, and electronics prowess. Sam Prekop's solo album was so great, I'm still waiting for a follow-up! I think an album from John would be wonderful.

Maybe, but I think I can figure out _exactly_ what a McEntire solo record would sound like. Feel like I've probably already heard it!

Can't say I minded him with Bastro or Bitch Magnet, though!

Yeah, me neither. That post was a long time ago, it seems... I'd still be interested in hearing this though.

[mikeweil]

If I'm correct Roland played in George Shearing's Quintet of the early fifties.

Yep - 1951 and 1952. Cal Tjader was his successor.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I started off seriously listening to jazz with the MJQ but Milt didn't really make that much of an impression on me - except occasionally on the title track of "Pyramid". I think that band didn't give him enough blues.

Recently, I've got much more into him. Over the years, I bought a few of the albums he made with Soul Jazz musicians like Cannonball, Ray Charles, Wes and Stanley Turrentine; then his own "Plenty plenty soul". That convinced me that Milt was another guy like Stitt - a first rate bopper OF COURSE, but one who was actually very, very much at home in a soul jazz context, in which he got a lot of opportunity to play really very funky stuff, and enjoyed it greatly.

But the album of his I really like best is "Soul Believer", which is his vocal album. God! Could that man sing! So beautiful. Such a wonderful feeling to it.

I also like Johnny Lytle a very great deal, who's been mentioned here, and have most of his albums.

But the guy I really love is the great Freddie McCoy. Freddie was the first jazz musician to pick up on the work of James Brown in the mid-sixties. No one seems to recognise the importance of this. His Prestige recordings are totally greeeassssy. And totally lyrical at the same time. And none are available on CD.

MG

[.:.impossible]

I'd love to hear some Freddie McCoy.

I don't know why, but I've always passed up on the Bobby Hutcherson Solo/Quartet album. I recently got a copy, after all this time. So far, I've listened to the solo stuff a few times through. Very dreamy. Everything is overdubbed, so it sounds like a percussion ensemble. He plays bass parts on marimba, some percussive punctuation on marimba and vibraphone, chords on vibraphone, and leads on vibraphone. Using overdubs, he is able to create a slow layered pillow of sounds. This stuff is ripe for sampling. Every once in a while, it sounds like he has a set of bells and/or chimes in the room as well. Very sparsely used, but to great effect.

This isn't a jazz record at all, until the quartet tunes, which make up the last four tracks of the album. Two familiar-sounding originals and two familiar standards featuring a tight rhythm section of McCoy Tyner, Herbie Lewis, and Billy Higgins. All recorded in 1981, this has been a welcomed surprise to me, considering I don't really like the majority of the 1970s recordings I have heard. These quartet tracks are more in the spirit of the sixties vibists in the quartet context. As you'd imagine, the originals are slightly darker and more adventurous than the standards, Old Devil Moon and My Foolish Heart. To me, aside from the occassional even more stripped down ensembles (vibes, bass, drums; vibes, bass), is the ideal pallette.

Does anyone else have this? I am really enjoying the overdub tracks and would love to discover more music like this.

sidenote: I see it is available at emusic.com.

[.:.impossible]

Joey D's Organic Groove with Bobby Hutcherson has been talked about elsewhere on the board, but since this topic is active today, I thought I'd post a big HELL YEAH! here to recommend this session to anyone so inclined. BLOWS away the Joey D/Terry Gibbs collaborations from the past few years.

This thing actually BURNS, and I'm not just insinuating that it is a difference in playing style between Gibbs and Hutch, I think it is a difference in vibe entirely. These two play entirely different styles of music. Put them in with the same instrumentation, the same organist, etc. and the end result is VERY different. I know this sucks, but I've never really felt all that much from Gibbs' approach. I can't put my finger on it.

Don't get me wrong, there are moments, but they do not sustain. THe way Organic Groove opens up with "The Tackle", well it just hits and you know these guys are going to burn throughout the entire record.

[.:.impossible]

A couple of recent acquisitions that may be of interest. First, LIKE MINDS on Concord. Gary Burton leader date with Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Roy Haynes. Probably a pretty decent selling album for Concord. One Gershwin tune, the rest are originals by Burton, Corea, and Metheny. Really great playing all around, but some exceptional moments here and there, as you can imagine. Look at the f'ing line-up. "Country Roads" is certainly a highlight.

Next, AVIAJA on Footprint. A gorgeous duet between Anders Jormin and Severi Pyysalo. My brother tracked down a copy for me from a guy named Bo Ejeby Forlag in Sweden. If you can, get your hands on this. Lots of technique, lots of soul. Nice melodies, and if you like bassists like Anders Jormin who don't relegate themselves to "bass lines", this is a very successful duet. Minimal overdubs (sparse arco arrangements). Other "small instruments" thrown in for good measure as well. This is going to get lots of play here. Severi is a very even-tempered player. This is my introduction to him. His discs are not easy to come by in the U.S.

I know there are more, but these are two from this week. Still looking for a lead on WALT DICKERSON 1976 on CD. Anyone? Hiroshi can't help...

[Soul Stream]

Joey D's Organic Groove with Bobby Hutcherson has been talked about elsewhere on the board, but since this topic is active today, I thought I'd post a big HELL YEAH! here to recommend this session to anyone so inclined. BLOWS away the Joey D/Terry Gibbs collaborations from the past few years.

This thing actually BURNS, and I'm not just insinuating that it is a difference in playing style between Gibbs and Hutch, I think it is a difference in vibe entirely. These two play entirely different styles of music. Put them in with the same instrumentation, the same organist, etc. and the end result is VERY different. I know this sucks, but I've never really felt all that much from Gibbs' approach. I can't put my finger on it.

Don't get me wrong, there are moments, but they do not sustain. THe way Organic Groove opens up with "The Tackle", well it just hits and you know these guys are going to burn throughout the entire record.

I enjoy the Gibbs project quite a bit as well. But, I think these are just great musicians from 2 different generations. The Hutcherson/Defrancesco project is just a one of a kind recording...not many are made though it's tried every time. Also, the Hutcherson project is obviously a much more collaborative effort. I think Gibbs is....I've got a strong group of musicians, let's have some fun in front of an audience. Where Organic Vibes is coming from a much more serious view.

I like them both...but Organic Vibes is one of the best organ records ever made, that's tough to compete with.

[mikeweil]

This has Buddy Montgomery on vibes all the way - he was so incredibly great on that instrument. Very underrated! Highly recommended!