medjuck Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 In the documentary "The Last of the Blue Devils" Count Basie says he'd just like to be remembered as a nice guy. I was reminded of that reading the interview with Bob Cranshaw who certainly seems to be a nice guy and the story he tells of Milt Hinton's generosity is pretty mind-boggling. Given that many of our musical heroes appear to be less than stellar in other aspects of their lives which jazz musicians do you know or know of who seem to be genuinely nice guys? I'll start. (Obviously Miles doesn't make the cut even though I love his music.): Count Basie, Bob Crenshaw and Milt Hinton (see above). John Coltrane. There's a documentary in which Elvin Jones describes Trane as a saint. He says it with such reverence it made me love Elvin too. Gil Evans (though I've read that his mellowness was the result of a lot of weed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leeway Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 I'm restricting myself to only those I've met a number of times: Ken Vandermark, Nate Wooley, Mary Halvorson, Evan Parker, Mat Maneri, Jooklo Duo (Virginia Genta and David Vanzan). The late Roy Campbell was always very friendly when I saw him. I only met Anthony Braxton once where I could talk with him briefly, and he struck me as exceptionally nice, both in his discussion with me and witnessing his interaction with others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 The nicest musicians I've met include the following: Hamid Drake, Joe Maneri, Han Bennink, Michael Moore, Ellery Eskelin, Marty Ehrlich, Reggie Workman, Cooper-Moore, Randy Peterson and Evan Parker Of course I'm biased regarding Tony Malaby and Mat Maneri.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Ptah Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 The nicest musician I have met is Richard Davis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Hank and Elvin Jones come immediately to mind. Herbie Hancock, Andrew Hill and Sam Rivers too. I often wonder if I caught them on a good day but on reflection I think that all of the above were/are genuine nice guys. Bill Holman and Cedar Walton were also genuinely friendly during chats so they probably belong on the list too. Edited May 31, 2014 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indestructible! Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Grachan Moncur III was an extremely nice man to me on the few occasions in which I was fortunate to meet with him. Joseph Jarman as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted May 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 I can't believe that I left out Pops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 There's a documentary in which Elvin Jones describes Trane as a saint. He says it with such reverence it made me love Elvin too. In my short chat with Elvin he spoke with awe/reverence of working with Coltrane too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 There's a lot of nice guys in this music, but Joe LaBarbera is a Prince. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 I've met relatively few jazz musicians but Les McCann, when I did meet him a few years ago, fully lived up to the way he projects through his music.Junior Mance I haven't met but to see him at work you just know he's a really nice guy. And Chuck Nessa has confirmed that (though I think he was damning him with faint praise )MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Oh, another guy I met - in Newark - was tenor player Jesse Morrison. He was really very nice, as well as being astounded that someone from England had even heard of him!Gloria Coleman was in his band at that gig and I talked to her afterwards. She was very nice, too. And amazingly competent at folding up her little keyboard onto a shopping trolley I met Lloyd Wilson in Newark, too. He was with the Prysock Brothers. Had a nice chat with him and found out that he comes from the same home town as me in southern England.MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 The nicest musician I have met is Richard Davis. I will meet and see him live for the first time tonightI have to add a special mention to both Fred Anderson and Edward "Kidd" Jordan I will never forget Mr. Anderson making sure I got a cab ride back to the hotel in a blizzard in 1999 from the Velvet Lounge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjzee Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Bob Cranshaw is a nice guy. Back in 1975, when I was head of my college's jazz concert commission, we booked Sonny Rollins. During the afternoon, after set-up and sound check, Bob asked if I wanted to take a walk with him and show him the campus. We walked and talked for maybe a half hour. He asked me questions about myself, told me about his family, said he lived on Long Island, and said I was always welcome to come visit him. He was really nice to me, a college sophomore, and I think it must extend to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Brown Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Over the years I met or talked to many jazz musicians who seemed to be really "nice guys". The warmest and friendliest of them all was Clifford Brown. Others who were very open and friendly were Pee Wee Russell, Henry Red Allen, Tommy Flanagan, Ray Bryant, Tommy Potter, Marian McPartland, Lee Konitz, Donald Byrd, Earl Warren, Sir Charles Thompson, Ralph Sutton, Johnny Guarnieri, Harry Sweets Edison, Johnny Griffin, Ralph Sutton, Jaki Byard, Buddy DeFranco, Sammy Price, Terry Gibbs, Scott Hamilton, and Eddie Lockjaw Davis. Oh, and I mustn't forget B.B.King who turned out to be not only a nice guy but a huge jazz fan. I met B.B. in a record store where he was buying everything from Louis Jordan to John Coltrane. I remember helping him find some fairly obscure Ellington albums. Edited May 31, 2014 by Don Brown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Nicest ones I met in person and had chats with:John TchicaiRhoda ScottIrène Schweizeralso the entire Convergence Quartet (hey Alex, I see you're in this thread right now!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Some of the nicest musicians I've met and chatted with for sure: Ingrid Jensen, Steve Davis, Jim Rotondi, Pat Metheny, Ben Williams, Antonio Sanchez (he is hilarious too), Carl Allen, Vincent Herring, Marc Mommaas, Houston Person, Jack DeJohnette. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Art Farmer......Jimmy Woode......Mal Waldron..... Edited May 31, 2014 by soulpope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) Barry Harris, Curley Russell, Bob Neloms; Charlie Haden was extremely nice to me when I was a wee boy of 16; Bill Triglia was always nice after he first yelled at me; Dick Katz, wonderful man; Sonny Rollins, the two times I've spent with him, was extremely nice. Dudu Pukwana smiled at me and giggled a little, but he was very personable. And of course, those times when I talk to myself I am always cordial and willing to answer any and all questions. and should mention Jeff Crompton and RJ Spangler, some of the nicest people in the world. Her on Organissimo we tend to take our own for granted. And I'll add, just because there's someone on here (can't remember who) who gets annoyed whenever I say it, that I never enter my house without first checking to make sure that Jack DeJohnette is not behind the door waiting to kill me. Edited May 31, 2014 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeBop Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 (edited) James Moody, Slam Stewart. And Cedar Walton. John Handy was nice to me too; could have been that we had something in common, but he could have just been a nice guy. Edited May 31, 2014 by BeBop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 ah, Moody was a wonderful man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Reynolds Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Another beautiful guy is Joe McPhee. My wife and I sat next to him for Han Bennink's 70th birthday concert @ Columbia University. He could not have been more gracious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Some very nice jazz musicians I never met so can not include them (Dave Brubeck...) Barry Harris Bob Neloms Han Bennink Michael Moore Don Raffell Steve Bohannon Albert Stinson Berend van den Berg Clarence Becton David Austin Hans Mantel Harvey Robb Jay Corre Larry Porter Nick Kirgo Nolan Indecks Norman Rosen Irv Rocklin Richard Saunders Robert Duis Seth Asarnow Walter Lampe Norman Williams David Parker Sam Cady and some people (or names) I just can not recall just now I like the idea of this thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 Some musicians I've spoken to over the years who seemed really nice--Charles Moffett Sr., Benny Carter, Jason Moran, Dannie Richmond, Buddy Guy, Zane Massey, Bern Nix, and Charles McPherson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duaneiac Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 At the top of my list would be Dave and Iola Brubeck. I never met either of them although I got to see each of them at concerts (Dave performing, Iola in the audience). They seemed like truly nice, caring, down to earth, first class folks. Of the musicians I've had the opportunity to meet, I'd say. Clark Terry (who should be listed in the dictionary under "nice guy") Hank Jones Bob Dorough Karrin Allyson Jimmy Scott Bobby Hutcherson Dr. Lonnie Smith Smith Dobson Louie Bellson Bud Shank Hugh Masekela Some who I never met, but their stage presence sure suggests them to be nice guys/gals: Billy Higgins Pat Metheny Joshua Redman Dianne Reeves Benny Green Kenny Burrell Stefon Harris Gene Harris John Pizzarelli Charles Brown Taylor Eigsti Jessica Williams oh, and Keith Jarrett -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Lark Ascending Posted May 31, 2014 Report Share Posted May 31, 2014 I don't know many musicians. Two who I have met and chatted with: Alex Hawkins (of this board) - hugely talented and highly original in his music. Yet absolutely no airs and graces. Both times I've spoken with him his sheer love of music has come across. Just like in his posts he is so keen to promote other musicians he loves. Pete Bullock - won't be known by many but he was the keyboard (and other instruments) player in the Albion Band in their greatest incarnation - the one that produced 'Rise Up Like The Sun' and 'Lark Rise to Candleford'. The travelling proved too much and he went into music teaching. Ended up as head of music in the school where I work. Again, unassuming and modest but full of great tales of life on the road. His students loved him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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