Rooster_Ties Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 (edited) In another thread just now , Free For All mentioned Bob Belden being in The Thundering Herd in the late 70's (AMG says he was with The Herd for 18 months). And that reminded me that Tim Hagans was with Stan Kenton (1974-1977), and Woody Herman (1977) -- dates I snagged from the AMG (so if they're wrong, blame them). So I'm wondering what other now important and/or now relatively famous players paid some of their early dues in various big bands in the 70's and 80's. Who's a big cheese now (or even just medium cheeses), who was toiling away in the last chair of their a section for a few years, and lucky to get one or two solos per night -- when they were fresh out of college, back in the day. Discuss... Edited January 12, 2005 by Rooster_Ties Quote
marcello Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Here is a start: David Finck - Herman Joe Lovano - Herman Tom Harrell- Rich Peter Erskine - Kenton Jon Faddis - Thad & Mel Pat La Barbra - Rich Quote
Free For All Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 (edited) Here is a start: David Finck - Herman Joe Lovano - Herman Tom Harrell- Rich Peter Erskine - Kenton Jon Faddis - Thad & Mel Pat La Barbra - Rich Erskine also played w/Maynard between Kenton and Weather Report. Harrell also played w/Woody's band. Jeff Hamilton, John Riley, Joe LaBarbara w/Woody. DEEP w/Woody and Maynard. John Fedchock (Woody) is doing pretty well. Alan Broadbent, Andy Laverne, Lyle Mays, Harold Danko(Woody) Greg Herbert (Woody) R.I.P. Dennis Dotson (Woody). Not a household name, but a hell of a player who lives I believe in Wheeler, TX more to come.................. Edited January 12, 2005 by Free For All Quote
Free For All Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Chuck Findley, Bobby Shew- Toshiko and Buddy Greg Gisbert- Buddy, Woody Bob Mintzer- Buddy Richie Cole-Buddy Quote
Spontooneous Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Conrad Herwig, Brian Lynch -- Toshiko Kenny Garrett -- Mel Lewis, for a couple of minutes Quote
Free For All Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Conrad and Branford also toured with Clark Terry's 70s big band. Steve Coleman w/Mel Lewis. Rich Perry w/Mel. Quote
tjobbe Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 mhhh, he was young at that time... Davis Sanborn on Gil Evans 1973 Svengali.... but not sure if you looking at this kind of career Cheers, Tjobbe Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 12, 2005 Author Report Posted January 12, 2005 Steve Coleman w/Mel Lewis. That's an interesting one I hadn't expected. Wonder if Osby ever did any big-band work in his early years?? Or any of the othe M-Base guys, while we're at it. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 (edited) Danny D'Imperio (DeFrano - Goodman, Herman, Rich *posthumous*, Maynard et al) Joe Lovano (Mel Lewis, Herman, as mentioned above, others too I think) Edited January 12, 2005 by jazzbo Quote
John B Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Thomas Chapin - Lionel Hampton Orchestra in the early '80s. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted January 12, 2005 Author Report Posted January 12, 2005 Ok, this only qualifies by a nose, but John Medeski played in the Either/Orchestra for two or three years, starting in 1988. Yeah, that's really late in the 80's, and the Either/Orchestra isn't exactly your typical Big Band. Matt Wilson was in the E/O for a time too, but I don't think that was until 1990 or so. Sidenote: Probably THE very first jazz group I ever saw perform live was the E/O, probably around 1990. No idea who I actually saw in the band that night, but there's a good chance that both Medeski and Wilson were in the group then. I understand Wilson grew up in Knoxville, Illinois -- which was about five minutes away from where I first saw them -- in Galesburg, IL (where I went to college -- Knox College). It's in upstate IL, about halfway between Peoria IL, and the Quad Cities (Davenport IA, et al). Hell of a band, hell of a band. Still is. Lot's of good players have passed through the E/O over the years. Every once in a while I notice a name somewhere that looks familiar, and when I pull up their AMG bio or the sideman dates, there's the E/O in the list. Quote
rockefeller center Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Jaco Pastorius (bass, writer, arranger) in the Peter Graves Orchestra/early 70ies. Quote
John Tapscott Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Gary Smulyan - Woody Herman Steve Marcus, Andy Fusco, Walt Weiskopf, Bill Cunliffe, Dave Carpenter & already mentioned, Conrad Herwig - Buddy Rich A trombonist by the name of Paul McKee - Woody Herman Quote
JSngry Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 If you want to stretch the definition of "young" just a little and go in reverse, Waymon Reed & Fred Wesley both went from James Brown to Count Basie, although at different times. And Shelley Carrol (GET THE LEANING HOUSE CD BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS!!!!) put in many years w/Mercer Ellington. In fact, he still does the Ellington thing when it happens, which isn't very often. Quote
maren Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Don Byron -- Ellington (under Mercer), and Mario Bauza Quote
Trumpet Guy Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Tim Ries & Rick Margitza did time with Maynard's band. Joe Magnarelli did a bunch... Quote
marcello Posted January 12, 2005 Report Posted January 12, 2005 Ricky Ford - Hampton & Mercer Ellington Branford Marsalis - Hampton Billy Harper - Thad & Mel Gregory Herbert - Thad & Mel Ray Drummond - Thad & Mel George Maraz - Thad & Mel Quote
makpjazz57 Posted January 13, 2005 Report Posted January 13, 2005 John Hicks - Woody Herman Barry Kiener (R.I.P.) - Buddy Rich Joe LaBarbera - Woody Herman Richie Cole - Buddy Rich Quote
marcello Posted January 13, 2005 Report Posted January 13, 2005 I did'nt mention Barry Kiener because his career ended while on the road with Buddy's band in 1986. Barry was my best friend and is sorely missed. A rare artist rememberd by all that he touched. Quote
SGUD missile Posted January 14, 2005 Report Posted January 14, 2005 Okay: heres a few more: Did you know at one time during the early mid/70s, Woodys rhythm section after the Broadbent /LaBarbara period was Lyle Mays, Marc Johnson and Steve Houghton .. Mays was replaced by Pat Coil ..who went on to a career of studio work.. along with some jazz stints with Carmen McRae, Ernie Watts .. A whole pile of Woody alums still live and work in the Dallas area: Pete Brewer,Larry Spencer, Ed Soph, Rodney Booth ..and of course, Hobart down in S Texas .. Tony Klatka was also there for a spell in the 80s Jay Saunders at UNT and Dallas studio gigs was with Kenton during the Vax era .. of course, Lou Marini and Bones Malone ( Blues Brothers, Letterman and SNL bands ) and Bob Belden are still busy in NYC Oh yeh ..Both Pete Christlieb and myself did time with Si Zentner in the late 60s ( as well as other gigs ) Quote
makpjazz57 Posted January 23, 2005 Report Posted January 23, 2005 I did'nt mention Barry Kiener because his career ended while on the road with Buddy's band in 1986. Barry was my best friend and is sorely missed. A rare artist rememberd by all that he touched. One of the true tests (my opinion) of the musical maturity of a musician is his/her ability to play a ballad and move a person to tears, as well as putting his/her own "stamp" on any tune for that matter. Listening to Barry, especially playing ballads still moves me to tears. Marla Quote
ghost of miles Posted January 23, 2005 Report Posted January 23, 2005 Steve Coleman w/Mel Lewis. That's an interesting one I hadn't expected. Wonder if Osby ever did any big-band work in his early years?? Or any of the othe M-Base guys, while we're at it. I interviewed Osby several years ago when he came to Bloomington. As a teenager he played with some 1970s soul-revue bands... now that's another topic in and of itself, I suppose. His description of his experience and what he got from it really put me in mind of the jazz musicians who played the R & B gutbucket circuit in the 1950s. Past 1980 or so, how available has this kind of schooling been to young musicians? Quote
Fran Posted January 23, 2005 Report Posted January 23, 2005 Butch Miles with Basie - A great swinging drummer Quote
JSngry Posted January 23, 2005 Report Posted January 23, 2005 I interviewed Osby several years ago when he came to Bloomington. As a teenager he played with some 1970s soul-revue bands... now that's another topic in and of itself, As is the influence of African-American collegiate marching bands on the styles/approaches of the horn sections of THOSE bands. Quote
SGUD missile Posted January 23, 2005 Report Posted January 23, 2005 Butch Miles with Basie - A great swinging drummer Butch is all that ..but he aint no "youngster any more! Quote
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