SEK Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 Though not an immediate heir to Bird, Trevor Watts certainly merits consideration. Quote
JSngry Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 Discovering Strozier's ethnicity eliminates my choice. Quote
JSngry Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 NOT a Phil Woods fan, btw, at least not of his post-return to America work, which mostly strikes me as being first and foremost just plain silly. The stuff before that, though, including his ERM work, does just fine for me, however, usually, if not always. Now, Jimmy Ford - THAT'S an interesting cat.... Quote
kenny weir Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 Maybe I don't get the joke, but neither is Frank Strozier. Bernie McGann of Australia is one hell of a player. An altoist for sure, he's so much his own man that it's hard to compare him with other players of the instrument -- a la Steve Lacy and other soprano saxophonists. If McGann comes from anyone, it might be Sonny Rollins. Ira Sullivan played some alto back when but not a whole lot as I recall. He was, as you might expect, damn good. I think Ira would have sounded damn good playing a Hoover vacuum cleaner. I think he's on alto on several tracks of the ABC-Paramount album he made with the Billy Taylor Trio -- a disc that sadly I haven't seen or listened to for at least 40 years. Hey! Good to see an Aussie icon getting props here. Bernie's fantastic! Other altoists: Andrew Robson Gai Bryant Barry Duggan Ian Chaplin Adam Simmons Tim Wilson Bob Bertles David Rex Quote
garthsj Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 Discovering Strozier's ethnicity eliminates my choice. The interesting question about Strozier's ethnicity aside (although I am sure that many west coast jazz fans will be surprised to learn that he is black), I am fascinated by this "sudden" rediscovery of him. Where were all of these fans back in the 1960's when he was being attacked/undervalued/ignored/ by almost everyone? I clearly remember a bizarre discussion with some friends at the time of his work with Shelly Manne, and the MJT, trying to convince them that this guy was, in fact, very good! They, having grown up with Charlie Mariano, and Richie Kamuca (on tenor), would have none of it. Now, thanks to the magical rejuvenation possibilities of CD reissue programs, Frank Strozier is a new darling of the alto ... The same is, if course true (and deservedly so) of Hal McKusick. Wow! Can Dick Johnson be far behind (ref. his two great albums on Emarcy [36081] and Riverside [253] ), and Lenny Hambro just behind him? Garth. Quote
JSngry Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 (edited) I am fascinated by this "sudden" rediscovery of him. Where were all of these fans back in the 1960's when he was being attacked/undervalued/ignored/ by almost everyone? Can't speak for everybody, but I was still in grade school... Discovered Strozier throuh Don Ellis & Oliver Nelson sides ca.1973 or so, then some Keno Duke Starta-East sides, and took it from there... Funny thing is, Leonard Feather consistently used Stozier as a poster boy for his "Crow Jim" crap, an example of a fully able white cat who wasn't getting gigs because of his race. Believe that he even posed the Strozier question to Max Roach, who took it at face value. Later on, I remember Strozier claiming that he had "African ancestors", or something like that, maybe in a DB article about Oliver NElson's early 70s African tour, where Strozier's ethnicity apparently caused a lot of specualtion amongst the spectators. Nelson was coy about the whole thing. This thread, though, is the first time I've read confident claims that Strozier wasn't "white", or even "mixed", but outright "black". After all these years! (and opportunities) Life gets wierder every damn day... Edited December 28, 2004 by JSngry Quote
Larry Kart Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 Richie Kamuca's tribute to Charlie Parker album, "Charlie," reveals him (i.e. Kamuca) to be one fine alto player, very close to Bird in spirit but his own man too. Latter-day Kamuca (on either horn) is a joy -- not that I don't like early Kamuca, but a case can be made that he came fully into his own in about '60 or '61. There's an album of session material I think, from '58 or so (with Scott LaFaro? have heard it but don't own it) that finds Kamuca halfway between his early Pres manner and contemporary Rollins (with maybe a pinch of Trane), and boy does he sound hung up, as well he might have. Interesting that his running buddy Bill Perkins went though some of the same changes. Quote
marcello Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 (edited) Andy Fusco is BAD! New York City-based alto saxophonist Andy Fusco first earned notice for his 1978-1983 stint with the Buddy Rich Big Band, also touring with Gerry Mulligan and Mel Lewis. He made his headlining debut in 1996 with Big Man's Blues; Out of the Dark followed three years later. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide Edited December 28, 2004 by marcello Quote
garthsj Posted December 28, 2004 Report Posted December 28, 2004 I TRULY hate to say this .. but Bill Perkins never really recovered from his exposure to Coltrane. If you listen to any of his albums after 1970 this becomes obvious. Interestingly, the only album of his that recaptured the magic he wove on one of the greatest jazz albums ever made -- "Grand Encounter: Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West" -- is his dedication to Lester Young, "Perk Plays Prez" on the Fresh Sounds label. I listened to Perkins quite often in the years before his death, and while he was incredibly energetic and well-meaning, I longed for the old Perk of Pacific Jazz fame ... God! Trane sure screwed up a lot of musicians who wanted to be him ... and should have stayed with their own beautiful thing. I feel much the same way about Art Pepper, and to some degree Benny Golson. Garth. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Any fans here of Brother Matthew? If not, how about Boyce Brown? Since the style is preBird, some of you are "forgiven". One of my favorites is Leak Onitz. Quote
J.A.W. Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 One of my favorites is Leak Onitz. Oh yes! Quote
JSngry Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 First name that popped into my mind as well, but outside the intent of the topic as originally stated. But you know, Lee's such a heavy cat that to think of him as a "white alto player" just ain't right. Even though he is that... But not in the way that Phillandquill and the others mentioned as possibilities are. Quote
DTMX Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Steve Lehman. Karolina Strassmayer. Quote
MartyJazz Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Bernie McGann of Australia is one hell of a player. An altoist for sure, he's so much his own man that it's hard to compare him with other players of the instrument -- a la Steve Lacy and other soprano saxophonists. If McGann comes from anyone, it might be Sonny Rollins. You've whetted my appetite. Where can one find a recording of Mr. McGann's? Quote
Leeway Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Also, Joe Maini Joe Maini and Charlie Parker--- Joe Maini and Charlie Parker Quote
garthsj Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Phil Woods ** is ** a drag, man. What the hell do people hear in him anyway? Yrs in Bop, c I guess you have to be there ...... Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 I had no idea & I've I can't remember who the hell produced that one but I bet he was baaaaaadass (no sweet sweetback song required). Clem is one of 14 hipsters knowing this one. Quote
kenny weir Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 Bernie McGann of Australia is one hell of a player. An altoist for sure, he's so much his own man that it's hard to compare him with other players of the instrument -- a la Steve Lacy and other soprano saxophonists. If McGann comes from anyone, it might be Sonny Rollins. You've whetted my appetite. Where can one find a recording of Mr. McGann's? http://www.air.org.au/show_artist.asp?artist_id=2211 My personal favourites are the first two mentioned - his most recent and oldest recordings, the latter with a piano, which is a rarity for Bernie. There's a new one on the way, presumbably late next year. The one simply called McGann has James Greening on trombone, and I like it a lot. Ugly Beauty is regarded as a classic. Bernie's latest band has Warwick Alder on trumpet. Quote
Leeway Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 wrong picture, Leeway... No it's not. But clue me in as to why you think it is. Quote
garthsj Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 (edited) wrong picture, Leeway... Garth-- talk to me. i had all sortsa early Phil & it was fine; the Mosaic just brought me down. what in between or after those do you dig & why? gracias, clementine gets a-head Clem, I agree that a lot of the stuff that he did for his own label and then Concord, was rather repetitious and let's say it, boring. I was NOT a lover of the Quintets he had at that time. I do not own the Mosaic set for that reason. But the much of the stuff he did for the Italian Philology label (named after him.. Geez!) is very intense although sometimes uneven, seemingly hastily put together. I would recommend particularly the 2-CD duo set he did with Gordon Beck, "The Complete Wigmore Hall Concert" on the French JMS Label; also, of course, "Musique De Bois" on Muse (with Byard, Richard Davis, Alan Dawson) is one of the best alto quartet bop albums ever recorded IMHO! I also heartily recommend "Here's To My Lady" with Flanagan, Mraz and Kenny Washington on the Chesky label, and "Ornithology" a quartet session on Philology with Franco D'Andrea (p), Attilio Zanchi (b), and Gianni Cazzola (d). Hmmmmmmmm.. now THAT should open your ears a little bit to what Woods is capable of now that he is out of the clutches of Concord! As I said previously, his delightful (nothing dramatic) album of Quincy Jones music is a current "mellow mood" favorite of mine ... I should also add that he has been recently trouring with Bud Shank to great acclaim from those who have heard this two-alto dynamo. They have cut a record and is should be available in the coming monhs.. I can't wait to hear that ... two 70 year old alto players piercing the ether! Edited December 29, 2004 by garthsj Quote
JSngry Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 wrong picture, Leeway... No it's not. But clue me in as to why you think it is. It's not a very revealing picture. Quote
Leeway Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 wrong picture, Leeway... No it's not. But clue me in as to why you think it is. It's not a very revealing picture. That's another story (although I thought it was petty nice), but it is certainly Maini. Anyone interested in more pics of Maini can simply click on the link I provided. The pic I provided is the first one on the page. There are many more (some pretty interesting, with Dizzy, Bird, and others) on the site. Quote
JSngry Posted December 29, 2004 Report Posted December 29, 2004 This is the most revealing picture of Joe Maini that I know of. Look at those eyes, all three of 'em... Quote
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