undergroundagent Posted January 8, 2004 Report Share Posted January 8, 2004 (edited) Can anyone comment on his dates as a leader in the sixties (i.e. House of David), and even his lone date from the 50s with Ray Charles? He strikes me as somewhat of an unknown in soul jazz circles, though from what little I've heard from him, he's very soulful. Edited January 8, 2004 by undergroundagent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold_Z Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Well...I don't think he's an unknown. On the contrary, I think he's pretty well known to the serious jazz fan and VERY well known to musicians. I love the recordings you referenced. particularly the Ray Charles Presents Fathead album. There's a couple of classics there. The ones that first come to mind are HARD TIMES and WIERD BEARD. ....and then there's the solos on Ray Charles' records...MAN!! Pick about anything he solos on and it's an out and out gas. YES INDEED, SWANEE RIVER ROCK, TELL THE TRUTH...on and on. These are really seminal records and following the trail can lead you into places and sounds you may not know existed...and it's a trail that never ends and is as rewarding and satisfying and revealing as any musical tangent you can go on. Fathead is the real deal to the max. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 Fathead's an archetype. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 He's playing his best and making his best recordings now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrome Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 I've got "Blue Head" a live concert disc from Candid w/Clifford Jordan, from 1989 ... absolutely cooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted January 9, 2004 Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 David Newman is one of my favorite jazz musicians, and I've seen him in many settings, mostly at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth--he played there a couple of times in a quartet with Ellis Marsalis on piano, once in an organ trio with Leon Spencer, in a quintet with Roy Hargrove, with James Clay and Cornell Dupree, in various quartets, and I've seen him in concert with Marchel Ivory--he's always an utterly superb combination of sophisticated, soulful hard bop, and the blues. He's great and underappreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
undergroundagent Posted January 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2004 (edited) I ordered "House of David" and have a line on "Fathead: Ray Charles Presents...". I look forward to hearing them. Edited January 9, 2004 by undergroundagent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldonm Posted January 11, 2004 Report Share Posted January 11, 2004 I'm going to see Fathead tomorrow in Chicago . I would agree that he is playing some of his best music at this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted January 11, 2004 Report Share Posted January 11, 2004 I have enjoyed his recent recordings on High Note. These are three really good ones. Chillin', Davey Blue, and Keep the Spirits Singing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danasgoodstuff Posted January 11, 2004 Report Share Posted January 11, 2004 If you can find the OOP 32 Jazz 4lp on 2cd package, go for it! Ditto their Hank Crawford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheldonm Posted January 12, 2004 Report Share Posted January 12, 2004 Fathead: Ray Charles Present has been re-issued on CD. I picked up a copy of this Sunday when I went to see Fathead perform (Along with his new Highnote CD that's not in stores yet). The show was great with David is fine form; he played a tune by Bird, a couple off the new disc and several others. Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
montg Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I thought I'd bump this thread up, looking for recommendations for FH Newman's Atlantic sessions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I certainly wouldn't call him "unknown" either. If you can possibly find a used copy of the 32 Jazz "It's Mister Fathead" 2-CD album, that should fit the bill nicely. It compiles four albums onto two discs: 1.Fathead/Ray Charles Present David Newman, 2.Straight Ahead, 3.Fathead Comes On, 4.House Of David Straight Ahead also is a quartet with Fathead and Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers. and Charlie Persip! (Nice! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Friedman Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I thought I'd bump this thread up, looking for recommendations for FH Newman's Atlantic sessions. These two Atlantic CDs from 1986 and 1988 are in my view among his best recordings. Heads Up Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted October 3, 2008 Report Share Posted October 3, 2008 I picked up this two-fer cheap at a Half Price book store and enjoyed the heck out of it: http://www.amazon.com/Bigger-Better-Facets...237&sr=1-10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted October 4, 2008 Report Share Posted October 4, 2008 I certainly wouldn't call him "unknown" either. If you can possibly find a used copy of the 32 Jazz "It's Mister Fathead" 2-CD album, that should fit the bill nicely. It compiles four albums onto two discs: 1.Fathead/Ray Charles Present David Newman, 2.Straight Ahead, 3.Fathead Comes On, 4.House Of David Straight Ahead also is a quartet with Fathead and Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers. and Charlie Persip! (Nice! ) Strong recommendation on the 32 Jazz twofer. It's a very strong set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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