brownie Posted March 29, 2005 Report Share Posted March 29, 2005 HIGGINBOTHAM! A giant and one of my favorites - interesting piece of trivia, courtesy of Roswell Rudd, and something that surprised me a bit - Rudd told me that Higginbotham was extremely well versed in the classical literature, and played transcriptions of classical pieces (Bach, etc) to warm up - I've read that Coleman Hawkins perferred classical music to listen to away from work...who else have you heard was into classical music??? In John Chilton's book 'The Song of the Hawk', there is a mention that Hawkins carried gramophone records with him when he traveled through Europe in the '30s. Favorites were the Boswell Sisters and the Mills Brothers. Had never heard the Boswells when I read this. That got me interested! Been a huge fan of the Sisters since! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 HIGGINBOTHAM! A giant and one of my favorites - interesting piece of trivia, courtesy of Roswell Rudd, and something that surprised me a bit - Rudd told me that Higginbotham was extremely well versed in the classical literature, and played transcriptions of classical pieces (Bach, etc) to warm up - I've read that Coleman Hawkins perferred classical music to listen to away from work...who else have you heard was into classical music??? In John Chilton's book 'The Song of the Hawk', there is a mention that Hawkins carried gramophone records with him when he traveled through Europe in the '30s. Favorites were the Boswell Sisters and the Mills Brothers. Had never heard the Boswells when I read this. That got me interested! Been a huge fan of the Sisters since! Brownie, Can't remember the source--quite possibly Chilton's book--but in the early 1960s Hawk wanted to record an album of Bach pieces. Never came to pass, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted March 30, 2005 Report Share Posted March 30, 2005 Brownie, Can't remember the source--quite possibly Chilton's book--but in the early 1960s Hawk wanted to record an album of Bach pieces. Never came to pass, though. Was not aware of that. The idea is fascinating. To get back to Hilton Jefferson, his classic solo was on Cab Calloway's 1940 version of 'Willow Weep For Me', a full feature for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted April 2, 2005 Report Share Posted April 2, 2005 Here's a small but beautiful addition to the Hilton Jefferson recordings already mentioned: "Darkness on the Delta" under Panama Francis' leadership is a feature for Hilton Jefferson's alto. It can be found on Delmark 452 - Honkers & Bar Walkers Vol. 2 (even though Mr. Jefferson was anything but). It's worth picking up strictly for one Hilton Jefferson cut (because there's too little available), but there's plenty of good r&b tenor sax to be found there as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 To get back to Hilton Jefferson, his classic solo was on Cab Calloway's 1940 version of 'Willow Weep For Me', a full feature for him. can anybody please help me find a cd that has this on it. i would love to track it down. thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 just wanted to mention, re-Hawk and Bach; he was said to be much-influenced by the solo Casals/Bach, and one listen to these recordings confirms this in a very fascinating way - one can hear on these the big Hawkins sound, the vibrato, and harmonic skips - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swinging Swede Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 To get back to Hilton Jefferson, his classic solo was on Cab Calloway's 1940 version of 'Willow Weep For Me', a full feature for him. can anybody please help me find a cd that has this on it. i would love to track it down. I have it on this Classics CD but it can probably be found on some compilations too. One minor note: It was recorded in January 1941. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted March 4, 2008 Report Share Posted March 4, 2008 much thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 I think I've read that Johnny Hodges listened to a lot of opera and it influenced his phrasing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 I've read that Coleman Hawkins perferred classical music to listen to away from work...who else have you heard was into classical music??? Bird, I think... Yes, Bird dug Stravinski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 I think I've read that Johnny Hodges listened to a lot of opera and it influenced his phrasing. Bird referred to him as Johnny "Lily Pons" Hodges during a blindfold test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted March 6, 2008 Report Share Posted March 6, 2008 (edited) I'm not trying to start trouble here (so please only people who agree with me may respond) but is there anybody else here who cannot stand listening to Hodges? I appreciate his amazing technical control, but his sound drives me up the nearest wall - but than I can't listen to Paul Desmond either or Stan Getz - Edited March 6, 2008 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm not trying to start trouble here (so please only people who agree with me may respond) but is there anybody else here who cannot stand listening to Hodges? I appreciate his amazing technical control, but his sound drives me up the nearest wall - but than I can't listen to Paul Desmond either or Stan Getz - Allen - I agree with a lot of what you've said about LD, but you've lost me here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Me too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Kart Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm not trying to start trouble here (so please only people who agree with me may respond) but is there anybody else here who cannot stand listening to Hodges? I appreciate his amazing technical control, but his sound drives me up the nearest wall - but than I can't listen to Paul Desmond either or Stan Getz - Allen -- If that's the way you feel, this remarkable video will drive you up and over the wall: http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/garroway/johnny_hodges.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Allan, who are the saxophone players that you like the sound of? I'm trying to see where you are coming from. Those you listed, IMO, have beautiful, unique, expressive and very in tune sounds and use dynamics effectively. What's not to like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I'm not trying to start trouble here (so please only people who agree with me may respond) but is there anybody else here who cannot stand listening to Hodges? I appreciate his amazing technical control, but his sound drives me up the nearest wall - but than I can't listen to Paul Desmond either or Stan Getz - Allen -- If that's the way you feel, this remarkable video will drive you up and over the wall: http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/garroway/johnny_hodges.html Not Allen, but thanks for posting it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 (edited) for swing era altos I like: Pete Brown, Rudy Williams - both Hodges and Benny Carter annoy me - Hodges is too florid, Carter too careful - also love Boyce Brown - Frankie Trumbauer (played alto on some sides) - smooth but DEEP - I like saxophonists who sound like they might make a mistake once in a while - Edited March 7, 2008 by AllenLowe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Steve Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 also love Boyce Brown - Including that 50s Brother Matthew thing on ABC Paramount? The Down Beat Review of it was .... eh .... candid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllenLowe Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 that was a bad record - but his earlier work (with Charlie Lavere?) is some of the most advanced saxophone playing of that era- amazing and original stuff - Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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