Jazz for aficionados

While Parker stated how fantastic schooling was, he had no formal training beyond high school. That was due to the "economic reality" of most jazz musicians.


"Study is absolutely necessary"; whether formal or informal, initially, all great jazz musicians put in most of their waking hours toward mastering their instruments. During Birds time, some highly acclaimed institutions scoffed at "jazz", just ask Miles, who went in the front door and out the back of Juilliard. (Founded in 1905, The Juilliard School is a world leader in performing arts education.)

Whether one goes to a formal school or is "self taught", intensity of study and practice is necessary. I wrote about a musician who "never" practiced; that's because he was performing "improvisational hard bop jazz" three times a week. (If he had not been performing constantly, practice would have been essential)

He was 36 and looked 26 (I was 26); I bet you can guess his name. Before I met him, I'm sure he had spent most of his life practicing because he "never" looked at the organ keys; quite often his eyes were closed.

At that time there was a club devoted to "Improvisational hard bop" (no standards). That's what the audience that patronized that club demanded, and that's what he gave them.

In my mind, there is no greater musician than one who can constantly create on the spot; "The improvisational jazz musician". Next would be "The pit musician". While the pit musician went through many years of formal training, and can play anything that can be put on a sheet of music paper, he can not spontaneously create all night long.

I suppose comparing the two is like comparing "raw talent" to intense formal training and practice. I've compared the two, live in real time, and they are a sight to hear and behold.


If I was left on an island with only one record to play, I would choose "Bird With Strings".

When you get in the mood for "Hank Crawford", no other music will do.


        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmB9-7mW6ec

Music education:

As the great NY Giant and Dallas Cowboy football coach, Bill Parcells said, "you are what your record says you are.

If a Jazz player made it big in NYC, LA, Chicago, and Europe without education or practice, and signed with one of the great Jazz labels, such as Blue Note, Columbia, Impulse, Verve, Riverside etc... good for them.   They beat all the odds.  I can't name any.

More than likely, they either stayed in smaller local markets, signed with smaller labels, if any at all,  and eventually fell under the relentless logic of The Frogman's First Law.

This applies to ANY artist, in ANY Artistic endeavor.

As Bird himself points out,  even Einstein had to go to school.

Cheers

Miles Davis and Charlie Parker had one important thing in common: they were both driven at an early age to make music with their chosen instruments.

"Bird falsified his age to gain entry to competitive clubs in Kansas city, where he was rejected; at sixteen he was laughed off a bandstand.

You guys remember me telling you about the time I was in a funereal limo, and when there was dead silence, someone started a conversation about Miles music in order to lighten the load. That's when the grieving widow piped in;

"I remember Miles, he was the little dark skinned kid who was always trying to blow the trumpet". That remark returned the limo back to dead silence. (what do you say after a remark like that) There was nothing racist about that remark, she remembered a little dark skinny kid who was always trying to blow the trumpet.

All of the people in the limo originated from Miles old neighborhood, including me. The events she remembered that brought her in contact with Miles occurred two years before I was even born. At the early age of thirteen, Miles sought out any professional musical help he could get to unravel the mysteries of his trumpet.

This lady lived in a big house with her Mother in law, plus two of her husbands brothers while her husband was off to war. One of the brothers was a musician who played the sax, and the other was a music teacher. That house was located two blocks from Dr. Davis's dental office, and she recalled letting Miles in when he came to learn whatever he could learn from the resident musicians.

The funny thing about this is the fact that the lady who knew Miles, knew next to nothing about his music.

Today’s Listen:

The Timeless All-Stars -- ESSENCE

Nice fold-out notes, gives a brief synopsis of each player, then on another page, of each tune.  "The music of Timeless All-Stars resonates with the qualities essential to great Jazz - swing, invention, feeling."

Another great lineup. The players and their instrument are clearly listed on the record cover.

Delos Label. 1986. That was the dawn of the CD. Even has the DDD spars code.

alvin’s smile -- by Harold Land, for his 3 year old grandson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQeGeErtNfU

the theme -- by miles davis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkfSTbwhvK8

ironclad -- by cedar walton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imc7m0s77e0

lupe -- by buster williams -- named after the group’s manager
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF_ASS_uNhY

goodbye -- Benny Goodman’s sign off theme. dedicated to Goodman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lFqGY_dnz0

messina -- by bobby hutcherson inspired by a visit to the Sicilian city
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqBTK0SDWVs

Cheers