Jazz for aficionados

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

Very nice!  And very interesting record in several ways.  First, news to me that Delos Records has a Jazz wing.  I particularly liked the originals; very interesting tunes.  The rhythm section sounds fabulous.  Loved their feel.  Harold Land sounds really good as usual, but I did find him to sound a little dated in this context.  Oldest player in the band; so not a total surprise.  Nothing having to do with aging, just the “e” word again.  Great record and glad to have heard it.  Thanks.