Jazz for aficionados

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.

****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.****

You're probably right; I agree.  But, I don't think that he was trying to play "better"; he was trying to play different.

Hello Gents. I thought Frogman had a good suggestion with respect to the "drama" issue....find examples of the same tune, with and without it.
AND I’m not trying to be a provocateur on that point whatsoever. I think Orpheus brought up a meaningful issue such that whatever word you use for the performance characteristic he "hears" and is calling "drama" it might be a distinguisher for great vs mediocre performances. I’m very interested to hear more on the topic.

I watched the clip Frogman posted of that Coltrance Quartet doing Impressions. I tend to agree with O that there’s late work by JC that I do not care for (though the Impressions performance did not qualify as that for me). I also suspect Frogman might be right about that work being a logical progression in JC’s development. I’d say we can sometimes confuse personal preference and taste with Objective Truth and need to avoid this. On the other hand, if JC’s development took his music to a technically valid place but left behind emotion, I think that IS an objective reason for parting company. As O once wrote, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I’ve got 20/20 vision." THAT is a GREAT quote.

By the way, I readily admit I have so much to be exposed to and learn about jazz...certainly don’t consider myself an "aficionado" so, off topic, but I will comment McCoy Tyner is killer in that Impression performance. Thanks Frogman.

O - I still do fully intend to check out those clips you posted after the Sonny Clark/Speak Low and the Lee Morgan/Search.

He could create a mood with one held note, could swing with the best of them and could make music that was just plain fun.  Amazing musician.

Toots:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dzYLLetk6-I

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d5U3LN_MpIM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_AUMhRPcxWU

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yh4su_xGJ84