Soul Stream Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Really been diggin' Bennie with Lee Morgan on !Caramba and also his "Live At The Lighthouse" stuff. Past faves also are his work on Lonnie Smith's "Turning Point" and Taru. He's a guy I don't have much on...mainly the sessions I mentioned above. However, I find (much like my Dizzy Reece jones) he's a guy who's conception I really, really, really dig. Does he still play? I know he's still alive and made a solo album not that long ago. He must not live in NYC or it seems he's be gigging more high profile with his talents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Definitely an underrated player, both on tenor and bass clarinet. Bitches Brew wouldn't be the same without him. I also really like him on Chick Corea's Complete Is Sessions -- his solo on "The Brain" smokes! And of course, his work with Herbie (Mwandishi and the Headhunters) is classic. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 You missed a chance to see him in NYC last summer. He played with Henry Grimes, Perry Robinson, and Andrew Cyrille at Iridium. It was written about here. Good player, and a very nice guy. He lives in California. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 There were some good Bennie Maupin recommendations in this fairly recent Herbie thread. See below. Maupin recs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Maupin also takes it there with Marion Brown, on the first ESP as well as Juba-Lee (Fontana). I really, really dig his tenor playing on these... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Thanks for the input....gonna have to track down some of these things for sure... Good to hear he's still at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 (edited) For my money, some of THE most amazing and interesting Maupin on record is disc one of this two disc set... Chick Corea - "The Complete "IS" Sessions" I do like Maupin in other contexts (particularly on the Lee Morgan "Lighthouse" material), but here on the "IS" sessions -- the man is nearly as intense as Wayne Shorter was with Miles (live in concert) around the same time (circa 1969). In fact, Maupin's playing here makes me think he almost could've subbed for Wayne in Miles' group (during that same year, 1969), without the group suffering much from the switch. (In other words, I think Wayne's shoes (with Miles in 1969) are mighty goddamn big to fill around that time -- and the particular Bennie Maupin that showed up for those "IS" sessions is one of the only guys that I think could have even thought about filling them.) PS: I would greatly welcome some discussion about what others think about Maupin's contribution to the "IS" material. Sangry in particular, do you have this release?? Maupin sounds to me like a man possessed, and I've never heard him play with such intensity -- before or since. I'd really be interested in some other opinions about Maupin's playing on those "IS" sessions (particularly disc #1). Edited June 18, 2005 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 For my money, some of THE most amazing and interesting Maupin on record is disc one of this two disc set... Chick Corea - "The Complete "IS" Sessions" I do like Maupin in other contexts (particularly on the Lee Morgan "Lighthouse" material), but here on the "IS" sessions -- the man is nearly as intense as Wayne Shorter was with Miles (live in concert) around the same time (circa 1969). In fact, Maupin's playing here makes me think he almost could've subbed for Wayne in Miles' group (during that same year, 1969), without the group suffering much from the switch. (In other words, I think Wayne's shoes (with Miles in 1969) are mighty goddamn big to fill around that time -- and the particular Bennie Maupin that showed up for those "IS" sessions is one of the only guys that I think could have even thought about filling them.) PS: I would greatly welcome some discussion about what others think about Maupin's contribution to the "IS" material. Sangry in particular, do you have this release?? Maupin sounds to me like a man possessed, and I've never heard him play with such intensity -- before or since. I'd really be interested in some other opinions about Maupin's playing on those "IS" sessions (particularly disc #1). ← I've thought about getting this for no other reason than Maupin. Not a big Chick fan especially and the sound clips kind of reinforced my hesitation. Lots and lots of piano notes flying aimlessly about...but if Maupin's on fire I might bite. Thanks for the suggestion. Also...Maupin takes a solo on "Sidewinder" from the Lighthouse that has the audience freaking out. Maupin raises the roof on that thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 I do like Maupin in other contexts (particularly on the Lee Morgan "Lighthouse" material), but here on the "IS" sessions -- the man is nearly as intense as Wayne Shorter was with Miles (live in concert) around the same time (circa 1969). In fact, Maupin's playing here makes me think he almost could've subbed for Wayne in Miles' group (during that same year, 1969), without the group suffering much from the switch. (In other words, I think Wayne's shoes (with Miles in 1969) are mighty goddamn big to fill around that time -- and the particular Bennie Maupin that showed up for those "IS" sessions is one of the only guys that I think could have even thought about filling them.) PS: I would greatly welcome some discussion about what others think about Maupin's contribution to the "IS" material. Sangry in particular, do you have this release?? Maupin sounds to me like a man possessed, and I've never heard him play with such intensity -- before or since. I'd really be interested in some other opinions about Maupin's playing on those "IS" sessions (particularly disc #1). I mentioned it upthread -- his solo on the "Brain" is brilliant, and the Shorter '69 comparison is on the mark. (Though oddly, on McCoy's Tender Moments, he reminds me of Joe H.) That said, I don't think he could have replicated Wayne's brilliance or creativity in that setting on a regular basis. Maybe I'm wrong. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 (edited) That said, I don't think he could have replicated Wayne's brilliance or creativity in that setting on a regular basis.← I totally agree. I also don't think Maupin had it in him to fill Wayne's shoes. But the particular "Maupin" that showed up for those "IS" sessions came pretty damn close. Closer than almost anyone I've ever heard from around that same time (plus or minus 5 years, let's say). PS: Another interesting Maupin sideman date is the extra "bonus" session from the Conn of Andrew Hill's "Lift Every Voice" (with Lee Morgan). Maupin is also on some of the material from the recent Andrew Hill Select too (two closely related Hill sessions with Charles Tolliver and Pat Patrick -- and the longer of the two sessions with strings). Edited June 18, 2005 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 That said, I don't think he could have replicated Wayne's brilliance or creativity in that setting on a regular basis.← I totally agree. I also don't think Maupin had it in him to fill Wayne's shoes. But the particular "Maupin" that showed up for those "IS" sessions came pretty damn close. Closer than almost anyone I've ever heard from around that same time (plus or minus 5 years, let's say). PS: Another interesting Maupin sideman date is the extra "bonus" session from the Conn of Andrew Hill's "Lift Every Voice" (with Lee Morgan). Maupin is also on some of the material from the recent Andrew Hill Select too (two closely related Hill sessions with Charles Tolliver and Pat Patrick -- and the longer of the two sessions with strings). ← Thanks for the reminder of Maupin on the Hill Mosaic Select. I've been on the fence about getting it, but pulled the trigger tonight. The Dance clip on the site was killing me, great stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 More along the lines of the electric Herbie/Headhunters type stuff, I enjoy Maupin's "Slower Traffic To The Right." I have a used vinyl copy I got for a couple bucks. Maupin's on the cover on a bicycle with a big goofy toothy grin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 I did get to see him some years ago with that Wallace Roney 'Miles Tribute' band which had Lenny White, Buster Williams and Adam Holzman in the lineup. He spent much of the gig on bass clarinet recreating some of the sounds he got on Bitches Brew. Nothing I have heard live has come as close to effectively re-creating the Bitches Brew soundscape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Maupin also takes it there with Marion Brown, on the first ESP as well as Juba-Lee (Fontana). I really, really dig his tenor playing on these... ← I heard Benny Maupin play with Marion Brown (and, among others, Charles Tyler and Alan Shorter) in a group led by Sunny Murray in 1966. I remember being somewhat disappointed with his playing then because he didn't seem to take things as far out as the others. I don't know if my reaction would be different if I could hear that music now, but I imagine that it would be pretty similar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soul Stream Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Although Bennie is connected with Bitches Brew and other more "out" kind of things. He seems much, much, much more of a traditional player at heart than someone like Marion Brown. I couldn't imagine Marion Brown holding up Live At The Lighthouse in the tradition that Maupin does....(not a knock on Marion)...thus, side by side on stage I could understand someone not thinking Maupin was taking things as far out as Marion Brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 I have one ECM session on LP where he was the leader--the Jewell in the Lotus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Have You Heard? You haven't? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cali Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Bennie is a resident of Altadena, California, that's in Los Angeles county. He is very active on the local scene. Caught him 2 weeks ago. Still swingin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 I love Bennie's solo on "Speedball" from "Live at the Lighthouse", and also that bass clarinet tune on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeweil Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 king ubu included a live ballad recording from Swiss radio on his recent Blindfold Test - ask him for a copy of the complete broadcast. Masterful mature playing. Do a web search - he is involved in some chamber jazz project that looks pretty interesting. Wonder nobody mentioned his sole ECM LP The Jewel in the Lotus which I find very beautiful. I also like his alto flute very very much, and, of course, his bass clarinet. I remember Horace Silver or Lee Morgan compared Maupin to Henderson in their ability to take a solo to an irresistible climax - very fitting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Maupin also takes it there with Marion Brown, on the first ESP as well as Juba-Lee (Fontana). I really, really dig his tenor playing on these... ← Good luck finding Juba-Lee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari S Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Maupin also plays on Woody Shaw's "Blackstone Legacy". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Juba-Lee is around and findable, but I'm not sure if it's on CD. If so, it would be Japanese. Maupin has the first solo of the record, and it's a stormer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted June 29, 2005 Report Share Posted June 29, 2005 Anyone got a birthdate for Bennie? I was thinking it was sometime in '43 but not sure. AMG ain't workin' here site-wise, so if anyone knows... Thanks, C PS - yeah, this is for some purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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