Brad Posted April 25, 2018 Report Share Posted April 25, 2018 Below is a very thorough discographical essay written by Noal Cohen that appeared in Jazz Profiles (thanks to the Jazz Gazette for mentioning the article) about Herb Geller’s musical life in Europe, where he lived from 1962 on. I only have a handful of Geller’s recordings (all pre-1962) but always enjoyed his work. http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/2018/02/herb-geller-career-retrospective-by.html?m=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted April 25, 2018 Report Share Posted April 25, 2018 What? No mention of the Bert Kaempfert gig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted April 25, 2018 Report Share Posted April 25, 2018 (edited) He's on a Gil Evans concert DVD done in 1983. Edited April 26, 2018 by medjuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 Fire In The West Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 I regret to this day I haven't grasped one of the opportunities to attend one of his concerts here. He was present in many settings through the years, often as a featured "elder statesman of jazz" soloist. It would have been interesting seeing live (and not only through broadcasts) how he had evolved over time. My Herb Geller leader LPs are all early ones too and include his three EmArcys and the two Jubilees but of course I'd have liked to have them signed by him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 Back in 1999 he was featured extensively by LA Jazz Institute in a variety of settings. I remember seeing him featured on an ‘Art Pepper Plus 11’ recreation - and also ‘Birth of the Cool’. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 The first time I ever heard Mark Murphy was on this album. I still like his contribution here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunky Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 I spoke briefly to Herb once at the interval during a performance in the 90s. He was charm personified and happy signed a few CDs. He recorded some decent sessions for Hep and there's a fine date on Freshsound with Kenny Drew. As far as I can tell he was a really solid player throughout a varied career Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soulpope Posted April 26, 2018 Report Share Posted April 26, 2018 4 minutes ago, BFrank said: The first time I ever heard Mark Murphy was on this album. I still like his contribution here. Good one .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted April 27, 2018 Report Share Posted April 27, 2018 I had the German double LP issue, loved Murphy and Geller, but hated the rockish, unsensitive rhythm section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel A Posted April 27, 2018 Report Share Posted April 27, 2018 (edited) I think Alex Riel overplays, but on the whole I don't think they are so insensitive that it hurts. Rob Franken has a few decent solos, and Hans-Lucas Lindholm is a basist that doesn't try to unnecessarily draw the attention towards himself. What's more, the album has a general sound as no other recording I've heard. The woodwind/sax overdubs, the compositions and overall satisfying arrangements, Mark Murphy's singing and Geller's soloing make for an unique listening experience. Edited April 27, 2018 by Daniel A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 20 hours ago, Daniel A said: The woodwind/sax overdubs, the compositions and overall satisfying arrangements, Mark Murphy's singing and Geller's soloing make for an unique listening experience. I agree with you on all these points - I just couldn't bear that rhythm section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 There's a very cool video of Herb and Bill Evans (plus rhythm) rehearsing for a concert in Europe. I saw it over a friend's house so I don't know the name of it. Herb doubles on flute. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel A Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 (edited) Yes, they are actually doing a very nice Geller tune that is also on the aforementioned 'An American in Hamburg' album under a different title ("Stockenhagen", which was later to be "Space a la Mode"). The video is on YouTube, but split up in multiple parts. Right in the beginning of this part you get a glimpse of who I believe is Evans's then girlfriend Ellaine, behind Geller. She died the following year. Edited April 28, 2018 by Daniel A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 Yeah, that was Ellaine. She threw herself in front of a subway when BE decided he wanted to breed with with a healthy blonde, rather than a fellow junkie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted April 28, 2018 Report Share Posted April 28, 2018 On 4/27/2018 at 11:07 AM, Daniel A said: I think Alex Riel overplays, but on the whole I don't think they are so insensitive that it hurts. Rob Franken has a few decent solos, and Hans-Lucas Lindholm is a basist that doesn't try to unnecessarily draw the attention towards himself. What's more, the album has a general sound as no other recording I've heard. The woodwind/sax overdubs, the compositions and overall satisfying arrangements, Mark Murphy's singing and Geller's soloing make for an unique listening experience. 8 hours ago, mikeweil said: I agree with you on all these points - I just couldn't bear that rhythm section. I agree, too. I don't mind Riel's drumming, either. I think it's a little different and fits with the unique feel of the album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 On 4/26/2018 at 2:56 AM, Clunky said: and there's a fine date on Freshsound with Kenny Drew. As far as I can tell he was a really solid player throughout a varied career Thanks for the lead on that. Always love me some Kenny Drew so this was a no-brainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel A Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 (edited) Geller made a couple of fine recordings in Sweden during the 70s with Swedish pianist Nils Lindberg. They're on the Bluebell label. Apparently Geller had the alto sound Lindberg had been looking for since Swedish altoist Rolf Billberg's passing in the mid-60s. Fist choice: Saxes Galore from 1979 (sax section plus rhythm including Red Mitchell on bass): https://www.discogs.com/Nils-Lindberg-Saxes-Galore/release/6257770 Edited April 29, 2018 by Daniel A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted April 29, 2018 Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 Geller's strangest album was a musical he wrote about himself. It's got a Lenny Bruce routine in it, a song about Chet Baker, another one about Al Cohn(!), and another one about Bird. There's a very strange song about fusion that starts off with some really loud, obnoxious sounding distorted guitar riff, and then some lyrics about the market place and music, and then he trades fours with his soprano and the distorted guitar. Another song bemoans the fact that people don;t listen anymore to his 'favorite songs' written by Porter, Berlin, Jobim, etc... Some actress/singer plays his wife, Lorraine, and he writes some other songs having to do with art ("something that must be done") and jazz. The music and his playing are good, but did i mention that it's strange...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted April 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2018 I assume you’re referring to this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgcim Posted April 30, 2018 Report Share Posted April 30, 2018 21 hours ago, Brad said: I assume you’re referring to this one. Yeah, that's it. Maybe this will start a new trend; jazz musicians writing musicals about their lives. Imagine if Monk, Miles or Mingus had done this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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