Jazz for aficionados

Re @stuartk ’s last post:

Just wanted to share some thoughts that I had concerning his mention of Wallace Roney and Gary Thomas. I know Roney’s playing, but less so that of Thomas. I found the thoughts that came to mind interesting (to me, anyway) and pointing to the issue of player-to-player stylistic influence and “simpatico”.

I searched YouTube and listened to a couple of Gary Thomas clips and one of the first things that came to mind was another great tenor player, Bob Berg. There was a similar rhythmic urgency and phrasing, if not exactly in their respective tones, in the playing of both players. Clear Coltrane influence without being Coltrane “clones”. Digging into Thomas’ background I learned that Miles had chosen him for one of his last bands. So had been Bob Berg. Adding to the interesting “connections” and as stuartk points out, Roney has been criticized for “sounding too much like Miles”. Hmmmm……!

Anyway, great players all around.

Came across this clip of Roney talking about meeting Miles.  Funny moment:

@3:10, Roney says “He was the coolest…..”.  Then, you can see/hear him about to say a word beginning with the letter “m”.  He stops himself and says “…..person”.  “He was the coolest person”.  I’ll bet that “m” word would rhyme with “honeysucker” 😊

https://youtu.be/jzXSXEj-5bs?si=NLXzrfgnXJTbvVHI

https://youtu.be/9VYImu9w_18?si=FxEZP7BSPMm_EXCb

@frogman 

I like Berg, but until you pointed them out, hadn't recognized the commonalities shared with Thomas, who I've always tended to regard as a more outside player. BTW, Thomas did a stint in  the J. McLaughlin band that recorded Live in Paris. 

Berg co-fronted a band with M. Stern at one point and appeared on other recordings in that genre (I don't know what to call it) over the years as well as a smattering of more mainstream sessions.

@frogman 

Miles himself seems to have been fond of that term, which he used as an expression of deep appreciation.

Re: Bob Berg, those interested in checking out his mainstream side might enjoy "Another Standard". No doubt you can recommend a recording that displays his electric side.