Vi Redd

[Bright Moments]

I am interested in learning about this wonderful singer/alto sax player.

also can anybody help me find a copy of "bird call" or "lady soul" on cd?

much thanks!!

[Stefan Wood]

Vi Redd at Dusty Groove, just got released this week.

[Spontooneous]

Vi Redd at Dusty Groove, just got released this week.

The pseudonymous trumpet player is Carmell Jones, BTW -- but only one solo from him on the record.

The American Jazz Museum in Kansas City has a wonderful short film of Vi singing and playing.

[Adam]

Thanks for that reference! I was just interviewing Big Jay McNeely today (for the first time of several for a documentary I'm making on him), and he mentioned Vi Redd. She was daughter of Alma Hightower, a key music instructor in Los Angeles whom many people here learned from, including Jay. He really respects both.

By the way, no one currently knows of any footage of Big Jay (or indeed of Central Avenue) from his (and its) hey day in the late 1940s/early 1950s. None, literally. Any of you happen to know any other obscure sources.

[marcello]

Here's some of my photos:

[brownie]

Vi Redd in her feature number when she played with the Count Basie Orchestra:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cM3ALga80

That was filmed at the Antibes jazz festival on the French Riviera in 1968.

I attended that concert!

[Bright Moments]

wow what great responses! I love this place!!!

GREAT pictures!!!!

unfortunatly da bastids report bird call as: "Temporarily Out Of Stock" so my search continues!

marcello - who are the other ladies in those pics? is the pianist marian mcpartland?

[Big Beat Steve]

Not wanting to pour too much water into the wine, but some time ago I sought out "Bird Call" myself, found an LP in a local secondhand record store but decided to give it a listen in the store first. Instrumental-wise quite interesting but - sorry to say - her singing not only left me unimpressed but decidely marred the record for me so I decided to pass it up at the not quite so cheap price tag for this record (later repress/reissue of the original with B/W cover).

Tastes may vary and one man's meat is another one's poison, of course (which is a fact of life and GOT to be accepted), but that one just turned out not to be my cup of tea.

Edited December 24, 2010 by Big Beat Steve

[Stereojack]

marcello - who are the other ladies in those pics? is the pianist marian mcpartland?

Marian McPartland (piano)

Mary Osborne (guitar)

Dottie Dodgion (drums)

There was a record (recorded live, I think) by this group in the late 70's. These pictures were probably taken at the concert.

[mikeweil]

This album

[marcello]

They were taken on June 29 - 30, 1977.

The bass player is Lynn Milano.

It was a real treat to see and hear Mary Osborne and Vi Redd!

[Peter Friedman]

They were taken on June 29 - 30, 1977.

The bass player is Lynn Milano.

It was a real treat to see and hear Mary Osborne and Vi Redd!

Marcello, Were these from the gig at the Roundtowner Motel in Rochester, NY?

I lived in Rochester at that time and heard this all women's group one evening at

the Roundtowner Motel. The music was very good.

[marcello]

Yes, Peter.

I knew you had to be there.

They were there for at least two nights.

Happy Holidays!

[JSngry]

Is that grass, shag carpet, or just what exactly are they standing on?

[Spontooneous]

Not wanting to pour too much water into the wine, but some time ago I sought out "Bird Call" myself, found an LP in a local secondhand record store but decided to give it a listen in the store first. Instrumental-wise quite interesting but - sorry to say - her singing not only left me unimpressed but decidely marred the record for me so I decided to pass it up at the not quite so cheap price tag for this record (later repress/reissue of the original with B/W cover).

Tastes may vary and one man's meat is another one's poison, of course (which is a fact of life and GOT to be accepted), but that one just turned out not to be my cup of tea.

I hear ya. I was underwhelmed by this record too. The performance on film at the American Jazz Museum beats anything on "Bird Calls" hands-down for me.

[paul secor]

Amazon.com lists Bird Call as available on December 28: http://www.amazon.com/Bird-Call-Vi-Redd/dp/B0046K0U32/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1293225812&sr=1-1

[epistrophy007]

Great to see that there's (finally) a new reissue of 'Bird Call'...Have seen that album/cd many times on ebay reaching prices like almost 100$, and as interesting as it is, no cd with 30min. music on it is worth a 100$...

I know a store here in town that has at least 5 pieces of her 2nd album...Maybe I'll buy it one day...The tunes on that one are less appealing (for me...)

j.

[JSngry]

Bird Call is fine with me. Nothing profound, just a good club-in-the-hood set of jazzertainment.

[marcello]

Is that grass, shag carpet, or just what exactly are they standing on?

That's authentic, 70's style shag!

There may be some Naugahyde lurking in there too!

[romualdo]

You can order this from CD japan (only 951 yen)

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/search3.html?q=vi+redd&media=&r=any&step=20&order=score

Edited December 26, 2010 by romualdo

[Bright Moments]

You can order this from CD japan (only 951 yen)

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/search3.html?q=vi+redd&media=&r=any&step=20&order=score

looked like a good deal until i found out that shipping was 25 bucks!

[bertrand]

Forget the rug - what is up with Mary's pants

Bertrand.

[romualdo]

You can order this from CD japan (only 951 yen)

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/search3.html?q=vi+redd&media=&r=any&step=20&order=score

looked like a good deal until i found out that shipping was 25 bucks!

should have considered that as a factor for those in the USA/Europe

Shipping rates here to Australia are very reasonable

Have been buying from this crowd for the last 3-4 years

[marcello]

Forget the rug - what is up with Mary's pants

Bertrand.

Maybe you'll like these pants better!