John B Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 1968 Rhythm X (Strata East) Don Cherry, Ed Blackwell, Charlie Haden Nineteen years go by... 1987 Bannar (Silkheart) Alvin Fielder, Malachi Favors, Dennis Gonzalez Worshippers Come Nigh (Silkheart) Attainment (Silkheart) Olu Dara, Fred Hopkins, Andrew Cyrille, Dennis Gonzalez and then....nothing. Four albums, three within the space of one year, and then no other albums as a leader in the last eighteen years. These are all top-notch albums, with fantastic tunes, great sidemen, and the highest level of writing and playing by all involved. I suppose these discs would be labelled as "free jazz," but these tunes have melody and lyricism and would appeal to anyone with a taste for good music who is able to appreciate jazz with an edge. What has Brackeen been up to for the last two decades? Does he still perform? Any chance he'll ever record as a leader again? Will Rhythm X ever be issued on cd? I'm just starting to explore his work as a sideman, primarily on the Dennis Gonzalez albums on Silkheart. The album Debenge-Debenge, recorded the year after Brackeen's Silkhearts, and featuring most of the same musicians, starts off with a 22 minute track called "the Masses" that was written by Brackeen. Any recommendations for other albums featuring Brackeen that are essential listening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) I once asked Dennis Gonzalez (on the Jazz Corner board) about Charles Brackeen. Here is Dennis' response: It's quite a story, at least the parts I know, and there's a lot more I don't know...but basically, Charles has disappeared from time to time throughout his legendary career, and I've found him twice, once with Billy Higgins' help, and once with an unnamed, mysterious benefactor who wrote a strange letter, anonymously, and told me exactly where Charles was living. This was about a year ago, or even longer. Charles is in various Catch-22 situations. He has been in extreme poverty and near-homelessness since his last Silkheart recordings. The owner of Silkheart Records, Lars Olof-Gustavsson declared Charles dead (again) a few years ago, in DownBeat Magazine, so people stopped looking for him for gigs and recordings. When Billy Higgins was alive, he kept him going musically and helped keep his instruments in good shape for him. Now that Billy has passed, Charles really has no one in LA, where he lives in a tiny room at the back of his sister's home, to get him out and playing. So his horns deteriorated, and Charles' small job (I don't even know what he does) does not pay him enough to save to get his horns working. Without his horns, he can't play or record. Even if he could play and record, his boss does not understand that Brackeen is a long-lost legend of the Loft sessions and New jazz. So he's afraid to ask his boss to let him fly to Texas for a long-anticipated recording. If he could play his horns, even if I went to LA, he does not feel like he would play well, because he does not have a space where he can practice, and no horns to practice with. If I lived in LA, I'd take care of him with my own money, get him his horns repaired, get him a place to practice, and then take him all over the world - there are many many requests for Gonzalez-Brackeen band from many quarters wanting us to go out and tour, record, do workshops, concerts... We've asked for help, but the great success of the finding of Henry Grimes, for example, is not the same story here with Charles Brackeen. It's really an injustice. Edited July 19, 2005 by relyles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) Those are the ones... what a story, Relyles, thanks for that. So unfortunate... He did play as a sideman on some JCOA dates in the early '70s. I don't know why he was less active in recording later in the decade, though I think he did perform during that period. I seem to remember seeing some loft flyers with his name mentioned. Edited July 19, 2005 by clifford_thornton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) That is a shame. I wonder if Jim would be amenable to another fundraiser, following the Eric Kloss one at the top of this Forum. I can't imagine it would take too much money to get his horns back in playing shape. Maybe Dennis would be willing to coordinate on JC and with Charles? I emailed Dennis to ask him about this, as he seems to have the best sense of what it would take to get Charles back playing again. Edited July 19, 2005 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 I was once asked to do an AAJ/NY Encore on him, but then we could not find out how to track him down. It would help him to have some recognition, I would think - if he wants to play, then at least to allow that to be a possibility. Does anyone know when he and Joanne split up, or what happened with that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) I was once asked to do an AAJ/NY Encore on him, but then we could not find out how to track him down. ← Let me know if you want Dennis Gonzalez' email address. He could most likely put you in touch or tell you if Charles had any interest in participating. Edited July 19, 2005 by John B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 I will PM you on that, for sure. It would be very interesting to get something like that going. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
relyles Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 A sideman appearance by Brackeen worth hearing in addition to the things he did with Dennis Gonzalez is Paul Motian's Dance, a 1978 trio recording on ECM with David Izenzon I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Dye Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 (edited) Dennis Gonzales hangs out and has his own thread over at Jazz Corner. Here are some links to information about Brackeen: Discussion Link More discussion... edit...geez! in the time it took me to search for the info, there were 5-6 posts! Edited July 19, 2005 by Jim Dye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Does anyone know when he and Joanne split up, or what happened with that? ← I've heard that Joanne took him for all of his songwriting/publishing rights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 [i've heard that Joanne took him for all of his songwriting/publishing rights. ← It's not like the guy had much else to offer during the divorce proceedings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Yeah, and in a way, that makes it all the more sad. If that's all you got and it gets taken away, what are you left with? It's one of those things that probably seems fair enough on paper, but... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 How weird that Joanne would be willing to leave someone once considered to be the person she wished to spend the rest of her life with with nothing. Must have been an ugly divorce. Sad story. I wouldn't wish anything but the best on any of my ex-girlfriends, they're all sweet women. I guess I'm just not a vengeful or bitter person, or maybe just lucky not to have been made that way by circumstances. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 How weird that Joanne would be willing to leave someone once considered to be the person she wished to spend the rest of her life with with nothing. Must have been an ugly divorce. Sad story. I wouldn't wish anything but the best on any of my ex-girlfriends, they're all sweet women. I guess I'm just not a vengeful or bitter person, or maybe just lucky not to have been made that way by circumstances. ← Not a fan of Joanne (as a musician) but you don't know what was being repaid (financially and emotionally) in that settlement (if it is true). I do not think we need to go there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcello Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 I wouldn't wish anything but the best on any of my ex-girlfriends, they're all sweet women. ← Wait until you have some ex-Wives ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmitry Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 I wouldn't wish anything but the best on any of my ex-girlfriends, they're all sweet women. ← Wait until you have some ex-Wives ! ← Just what I was thinking. Oy vey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Sorry guys. Sometimes I don't think before I post. Chuck's right. My history with women has been kickin' it: kick back together for a while, have a few kicks together, then I kick her out. I don't have arguments, my area of expertise is in ending the relationship permanently. That would be why I'm alone, and none of them call anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Pusey Posted July 20, 2005 Report Share Posted July 20, 2005 Just an endorssment of the 3 Silkhearts if there is anybody here still on the fence about getting them..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 Up for reading again, and to give another for Brackeen's Silkhearts. I think that Rhythm X did make it onto cd, though briefly, on the German Bellaphon label. If anyone out there has a copy, please contact me! * I'd love to just hear it ... * latoncarter@hotmail.com I hope Brackeen's at least getting by in L.A.? Anyone heard any new news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ep1str0phy Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 This just reaffirms my disappointment with the LA jazz scene. I can't help but think that, elsewhere, it would be easier to coordinate work prospects for (inasfar as concerns people who would seem to know) a living legend. Where the LA scene exists, it's in bits and pieces; and there ain't no steady prospects nowhere. Most of the great LA artists and up working out of state or on the university circuit; those who remain are forced to play 50's/60's-era hard bop in your typical Blue Note vein. Sad, sad state (and I'm from there--ain't no steady play). Best of luck and wishes to Charles--wish I/we could do something to help him along (and get him kicking ass again!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chitownjazz Posted September 10, 2006 Report Share Posted September 10, 2006 (edited) I think that Rhythm X did make it onto cd, though briefly, on the German Bellaphon label. If anyone out there has a copy, please contact me! * I'd love to just hear it ... That's my recollection also. In fact, I think I have a copy but I would have to dig it out to be sure. Edit: Yes, I do have a CD copy, it came out on Bellaphon in 1993. Edited September 11, 2006 by chitownjazz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 Another for Rhythm X and the Siklhearts. It would be great to get Charles working again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted September 11, 2006 Report Share Posted September 11, 2006 I think Worshippers Come Nigh might be my favorite of the Silkhearts. Check out the line-up: Charles Brackeen: tenor saxophone Olu Dara: trumpet Fred Hopkins: bass Andrew Cyrille: drums Looks great on paper ... and fulfills the promise out of the speakers. Anyone interested would do well to pick up a copy. Maybe the purchase would help Dennis Gonzalez be able to help Charles Brackeen. Before it gets too late, I hope Charles can record again. I'd love to hear him with Henry Grimes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Late Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Just a heads-up — Tower online currently is stocking a new copy of Worshippers Come Nigh (for $14.99). They're listing it as "Out of Print." The other two Silkhearts aren't listed at all. I don't think Brackeen's Silkheart recordings are out-of-print, but after a quick internet search, they're not all that easy to come by (— Amazon has a few listings), at least in the States. I also discovered that Silkheart is now distributed by Ayler Records out of Sweden. Purchased directly, discs are $20 + shipping to the U.S. Was Paul Motian's ECM recording with Brackeen on it ever available on compact disc? I can only find the track "Dance" from Motian's Rarum compilation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy Berger Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Was Paul Motian's ECM recording with Brackeen on it ever available on compact disc? I can only find the track "Dance" from Motian's Rarum compilation. Both recordings (Dance and Le Voyage) are on CD, but only in Europe. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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