Jazz for aficionados

I think we should continue to honor Bobby Hutcherson, and Toots Thieleman by playing there music. That could prove to be beneficial to our collections, plus quite enjoyable.

One of the CD's I have is "Skyline": Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Kenny Garrett (alto saxophone); Geri Allen (piano); Christian McBride (bass); and Al Foster (drums).

Two of my favorite cuts on this CD are "Delilah" and "Chans Song".
Here are the links to those cuts.


      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fR81Xs4ZlUs



      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HiMu9jXakQ


If I've presented these before, they are twice as nice the second time around.


Enjoy the music.

Frogman, a comparison to those two is even farther apart than apples and oranges. I was making an attempt to illustrate the word "drama" as I used it to describe music. That was a flop; evidently I need another word that I have yet to find.

I instituted links in order for the music to describe itself. Since you are the "words smith" I'll leave it to you to describe the music in that fashion. (words)

We absolutely agree in regard to that Sonny Clark clip; all of those musicians were at the peak of their musical powers. My opinion of Trane is that he didn't realize he was so good "without" any extra special effort, that he could only go down hill when he tried too hard. I'll try to give you an example of what I'm talking about.

Serena Williams has the best form for the tennis serve in the game; male or female. That is something they learn as children when they first pick up a tennis ball. Her old man had enough money to hire a coach and teach her the form of Poncho Gonzalez for her serve. Poncho's serve was possibly the best ever in the game.

Most of the other players, male and female have different kinds of "Hitches" in their serve; while they get the ball in the box and make occasional aces, they don't have perfect form that results in swinging the racket the exact same way every time. My point is that her form is so perfect, that she can make more aces if she doesn't try as hard to make an ace.

Trane was at his best just before and after he left Miles. Whatever he was reaching for just before his death was too elusive for me, and a lot of his most devoted fans to hear; including McCoy Tyner and Elvin with an "E" Jones. (just kidding about the "E") When you focus on Trane with Miles, and right after he left Miles, you will detect how perfect his statements were; that only comes from an almost supernatural ability in jazz. Especially when you think of someone performing before a live audience, and not even have seconds to think about what he's going to play, and play it.



Enjoy the music.

Norah Jones

O-10, I find nothing wrong with your use of the word "drama" to describe what you hear in music. However, perhaps a better way to describe "drama" might be the comparison between two examples of similar music; but, one example is performed with "drama" and the other without (or less). If we can agree that the Parks and the Clark examples are "apples and oranges" this seems like a better approach.

I understand and appreciate why you don’t like Coltrane’s last chapter in his creative development. Personally, I wouldn’t feel comfortable judging the direction that a giant like Coltrane felt it was where he needed to go. I prefer to think that I just don’t understand that direction.....yet. Going too far? I can’t judge that. I do know that when I listen to his music from that period, and I consider his development as an improviser in a chronological context, it sounds like exactly where he seems to be headed and needed to go. Can’t argue with that.

Recorded about six years after "Sonny’s Crib" and definitely in a different place musically. Amazing music.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=03juO5oS2gg

Beautiful Hutcherson clips; thanks.  As Joe Chambers points in his great remembrance which Alex posted, Hutcherson had a very individualistic tone.  To me, his tone always sounded close to that of a marimba's woodiness as opposed to the more metallic and more sustained tone of other players.   

Frogman, I remember the first time I heard "Speak Low" by Sonny Clark. I was on a date in a night club when I heard this music emanating from the jukebox. It had been one of my favorite tunes for some time, but I never heard it played so well. At that time I couldn't identify the musicians, but I knew this was the best tenor sax solo I had ever heard to play that tune.

Of course we now know it was John Coltrane. Yes, he advanced from the time that came out till the clip you posted, but he could not have played that solo on "Speak Low" any better.

After I learned the personnel on that record, I realized why it was the best I had ever heard; it features Donald Byrd, Curtis Fuller, John Coltrane, Paul Chambers, and Art Taylor. It was Released Mid March 1958, Recorded September 1, 1957 Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, plus that LP also had Rudy's stamp of excellence on it.

You gave a perfect description of Bobby Hutcherson's vibes.


Enjoy the music.