Walter Bishop Jr. - Bish At The Bank: Live In Baltimore

[Dan Gould]

33 minutes ago, Peter Friedman said:

I have not been much of a fan of Walter Bishop Jr.'s recordings. There are many other pianists I prefer from the period in which Bish was on the scene. As a sideman I am always wishing for  a different piano player than Walter Bishop Jr.

 

Sounds like the evaluation of Mobley ("solid, but not indispensible") covers Bish pretty well?

I won't say he's an absolute favorite but I've never thought "wish it was someone else". When I get down to it, a recording of these people at that time, coming out at this time, is still exciting.

[Peter Friedman]

31 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

Sounds like the evaluation of Mobley ("solid, but not indispensible") covers Bish pretty well?

I won't say he's an absolute favorite but I've never thought "wish it was someone else". When I get down to it, a recording of these people at that time, coming out at this time, is still exciting.

No Dan, I have a strong positive opinion about Hank Mobley. In my personal "rating system", Mobley is on the high end of the tenor saxophone  list. Walter Bishop Jr. is far lower down on my "theoretical" list of jazz piano players.

[Dan Gould]

3 minutes ago, Peter Friedman said:

No Dan, I have a strong positive opinion about Hank Mobley. In my personal "rating system", Mobley is on the high end of the tenor saxophone  list. Walter Bishop Jr. is far lower down on my "theoretical" list of jazz piano players.

I in no way implied that your opinion of Mobley matches whoever said "solid but not indispensible", Peter.  I suggested that comment about Mobley applies to your view of Walter Bishop, Jr.

[Brad]

I’m in for this. 

[Dan Gould]

Just received from amazon as a pre-order. Very much looking forward to hearing it. I didn't make any other pre-order commitments so hoping someone comments on the Shirley Scott and maybe the Stitt too.

[AllenLowe]

29 minutes ago, Dan Gould said:

Just received from amazon as a pre-order. Very much looking forward to hearing it. I didn't make any other pre-order commitments so hoping someone comments on the Shirley Scott and maybe the Stitt too.

I did a month of Mondays in Hartford with Bishop back in the '80s, nicest guy I ever met. Amazing to hear him play (Dick Katz said that in Bish's prime "there was no one who sounded closer to Bud"). All we talked about was Bud Powell, who he described as "infantile in every respect except music."  I will say that though he could still play, his playing was harmed by his attempts to sound "contemporary," with the use of fourths and modal forms. It's too bad.

I will say that Harold Vick, who I heard a lot in the 1970s, is a completely different player on this album (listening on bandcamp); he seems to be aiming for Trane and doing a very nice job of it. Later on he settled into almost a Houston Person feeling, few notes, a lot of tone. I like him much better here.

Edited April 21, 2023 by AllenLowe

[Dan Gould]

2 hours ago, AllenLowe said:

I did a month of Mondays in Hartford with Bishop back in the '80s, nicest guy I ever met. Amazing to hear him play (Dick Katz said that in Bish's prime "there was no one who sounded closer to Bud"). All we talked about was Bud Powell, who he described as "infantile in every respect except music."  I will say that though he could still play, his playing was harmed by his attempts to sound "contemporary," with the use of fourths and modal forms. It's too bad.

I will say that Harold Vick, who I heard a lot in the 1970s, is a completely different player on this album (listening on bandcamp); he seems to be aiming for Trane and doing a very nice job of it. Later on he settled into almost a Houston Person feeling, few notes, a lot of tone. I like him much better here.

OK can I just say that for me it's disappointing to hear that Vick was trying to play like Trane in 1966-67 (also a case of being contemporary, perhaps), because I am much more a fan of the grits/gravy Vick heard on his BN album and other recordings as a sideman. Plus he more or less went back that way when he resumed gigging and recording with organists, IIRC.

Still want to give this a few good listens. 

 

[sidewinder]

Just picked up the vinyl version, as well as the Shirley Scott, so it should be with me next week.

[JSngry]

This is a fun record. What a great way to have a good time, being at this gis (and playing it!) must have been!

Harold Vick is a delight. Too bad that the otherwise nice liner notes bungle up the details of his RCA records.

Otherwise, Bob Moses & Benny Maupin add some wonderfully flayvaristic comments that perfectly compliment the music.