Clunky Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Sad news, saw him just once with a Danish Big Band. Will spin some Brookmeyer tomorrow. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeCity Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 He left a lot of fine music behind and was a character indeed. Arguably, with occasional detours, he got better and better as a composer and a player. The length and the beauty of the melodies he improvised on "Jim Hall/Bob Brookmeyer at the Northsea Jazz Festival (Challenge) from 1979, is quite something. Heard him live about five years ago with the DePaul University Jazz Band, playing his pieces, and he was in great form. The Northsea album BTW is the perfect response to Andre Hodeir's semi-putdown of Brookmeyer in "Jazz Its Evolution in Essence" back in 1956: "These two young soloists [Chet Baker and Brookmeyer] have a conception of jazz that is much like his [Gerry Mulligan's]. It is based on a use of modern material (sonority, attack, various harmonic elements) in a resolutely traditional context.... The most debatable part of this conception is the resulting rhythmic vocabulary. Brookmeyer in particular seems to have a fondness for certain syncopated formulas and frankly corny accentuations that jazzmen had eliminated during the classical period [i.e. the 1930s]; he doesn't hesitate to use them side by side with a legato style of phrasing based on eighth notes. Few will deny that the result is asymmetry, a kind of hybrid.... When a writer who is qualified to speak on the subject says that Brookmeyer, in 'Open Country,' 'uses the lilt of 1930 Broadway songs with considerable wit,' how are we to imagine that he means this as praise rather than condemnation?" Yes, early Brookmeyer did seem to be the riding on a buckboard at times from a rhythmic point of view -- at times in a rather self-conscious ole-timey manner, at times I would guess not that way but just because -- but that went away eventually, while the "Broadway" strain that Hodeir speaks of just became extended into (at best) near endless mutating melodies. Both as a player and writer in later years, Brookmetyer seemed me to to be jazz's Sibelius, which is plenty OK in my book, though Hodeir might thank that the final condemenation. Very saddened to hear this news today. I actually dig the self-consciously ole-timey rhythmic phrasing; particularly in his big band writing. Combining that phrasing with those mutating melodies and the more modern harmonic stuff supporting them, makes for happy listening! Rest well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedwork Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 (edited) a sad "Hello & Goodbye" to a master composer. that one remains my favorite and always puts a smile on my face. amazing... Edited December 17, 2011 by thedwork Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 R.I.P. A great trombonist, composer and arranger. Love Bob's ABC Blues for Thad and Mel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colinmce Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 ubu said it: the range of his activities is breathtaking. One of the greats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B. Goren. Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 RIP Mr. Brookmeyer. Some of his recordings will find their way to my CD player today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christiern Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 R.I.P. I tangled with him online, but he was exemplary both on his horn and with his pen. I recall several "tangles" occurring in another forum, many moons ago. The details have escaped me, but Bob could get a bit feisty. I do recall feeling that he might have over-reacted, but justifiably so. About fifty years ago, I came very close to producing an album with Bob and Nancy Harrow, but I was unable to generate the interest and funds. Makes me think of all the recording projects that might have been, and others—including a couple of my own—that actually came to pass, but shouldn't have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 When I started listening to jazz, the nasal sound of Brookmeyer's trombone was one of my early passions. Heard him with the Gerry Mulligan quartet back in 1954 during the Paris festival at the Salle Pleyel. Loved his sound and music ever since. His passing is very sad news! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Wheel Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 A truly great arranger who modern composers owe a gigantic debt to. IMO he was one of the main founders of that New York sound that came to define a whole school of guys like Jim McNeely, while also passing the Gil Evans torch to Maria Schneider and others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head Man Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 I've just received an e-mail from Artistshare giving me this very sad news. I've probably been listening to Bob for as long as I've been listening to jazz.....a very long time. What a bummer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Forgot to mention his great collaborations with Stan Getz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Adaptable indeed! Everything from piano duos with Bill Evans to scoring for, and playing valve trombone with, big bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztrain Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 RIP. Traditionalism Revisited will get played later. Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Adaptable indeed! Everything from piano duos with Bill Evans to scoring for, and playing valve trombone with, big bands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Adaptable indeed! Everything from piano duos with Bill Evans to scoring for, and playing valve trombone with, big bands. Absolutely ! To me he was the epitome of the ideal 'mainstream' musician - along with Clark Terry. The Verve albums are definitely worth checking out - 'Gloomy Sunday' and '7xWilder', which I will put on the system a bit later. Crazy that that one has never been reissued on CD ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JETman Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Adaptable indeed! Everything from piano duos with Bill Evans to scoring for, and playing valve trombone with, big bands. Absolutely ! To me he was the epitome of the ideal 'mainstream' musician - along with Clark Terry. The Verve albums are definitely worth checking out - 'Gloomy Sunday' and '7xWilder', which I will put on the system a bit later. Crazy that that one has never been reissued on CD ! It was by our Andorran friends! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 It was by our Andorran friends! They did? That one must have passed me by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 It's tucked away on this: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmonahan Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Sad news. I was never that fond of the more recent "third-streamy" stuff, but the Terry-Brookmeyer group remains one of my absolute favorites. Such joy and passion in that group. RIP. gregmo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzkrow Posted December 17, 2011 Report Share Posted December 17, 2011 Hears him play last year in LA at the LA Jazz Institute-with a big band of local "A" quality players. A Brilliant set-orchestral music that swung. I will miss him... RIP... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 (edited) Bob Brookmeyer obit by John Fordham in the Guardian Obit Edited December 20, 2011 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted December 20, 2011 Report Share Posted December 20, 2011 Sad news. I was just listening last week to the VIK record and thinking of how enjoyable it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasstrack Posted January 12, 2012 Report Share Posted January 12, 2012 R.I.P. .... beauty and sophistication .... that's what he sounded like to me. Thank you, I would add intelligence and purpose to those descriptors, b/c not only was he a composer and master of the orchestra, but his playing was compositional, much like that of the man whose shoes he stepped into leading what's now the Vanguard Orchestra, Thad Jones. Listening to the Mosaic Select I am reminded as to just how adaptable a musician Bob Brookmeyer was - I'm sure that he would have been able to contribute effectively in just about any context possible, from the 'trad' end to the near-free. Adaptable indeed! Everything from piano duos with Bill Evans to scoring for, and playing valve trombone with, big bands. Absolutely ! To me he was the epitome of the ideal 'mainstream' musician - along with Clark Terry. The Verve albums are definitely worth checking out - 'Gloomy Sunday' and '7xWilder', which I will put on the system a bit later. Crazy that that one has never been reissued on CD ! Also try (I think it's called) the Dual Role of Bob Brookmeyer, where he plays bone and piano. The other featured performer is the great Jimmy Raney. There's also Street Swingers (also called Hot Buttered Noodling) also doubling on piano and valve bone. With Raney, Jim Hall, Osie Johnson, and Bill Crow. Both wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted January 13, 2012 Report Share Posted January 13, 2012 ... and there is his piano duet LP with Bill Evans! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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