Alexander Hawkins Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 I just got the Muhal Richard abrams 'Duets' album with Amina Claudine Myers, and am really enjoying it. I know nothing about Ms Myers, though - does anyone have any recommendations about anything I should have? That boogie-woogie which opens up side B is straight out of Albert Ammons/Meade Lux Lewis! Quote
shrugs Posted July 23, 2003 Report Posted July 23, 2003 get the Bessie Smith tribute on Leo!!!! We'll talk about the rest afterwards. Quote
JSngry Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 Not until you also get SONG FOR MOTHER E on Leo! An unheralded GEM of an organ record! Quote
dsgtrane Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 Of the three I have, my favorite is JUMPING IN THE SUGAR BOWL. Title track is a killer. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 Sugar Bowl, the Bessie, and Mother E are fine recordings - but I'd give (something that looked like) my left nut for a tape of her and Gerald Donovan's nights at the Hungry Eye (Chicago, late '60s - near the Plugged Nickel). They ran an open set. Gene Dinwiddie was the normal sax player, but Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Maurice McIntyre, etc used to sit in regularly. On top of everything, she's a very fine lady. Quote
JSngry Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 Chuck, did you ever have the opportunity to catch her with Jug? Quote
shrugs Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 c'mon, Song For Mother E is pretty hard to find these days... I bought mine at Bud's in Seattle. Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 the track that sticks out in my mind is "Straight To You" off of the Bessie lp. It's been too long since I've listened to Amina - gotta dig up those lps. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 c'mon, Song For Mother E is pretty hard to find these days... I bought mine at Bud's in Seattle. I don't think he asked for the easiest to find. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted July 24, 2003 Author Report Posted July 24, 2003 Thanks for these suggestions - I'll do my best to find what I can and report back! Quote
Joe Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 One of my favorites. You can't go wrong with any of these recommendations. You might also check out two Black Saint sessions, though: THE FIFTH POWER, a recording of a live gig with Lester Bowie, Arthur Blythe, Malachi Favors, and Philip Wilson; and THE CIRCLE OF TIME, a trio date with Don Pate and Thurman Barker, which has one of my favorite Amina performances on it, "Plowed Fields". John Litweiler has given high praise to her solo piano album of Marion Brown pieces -- POEMS FOR PIANO -- but I've never seen a copy, much less heard the session. Any further comments? Rumor is gigs from her European tour with Von Freeman from 2001 / 2002 were recorded. I hope those see the light of day! Quote
shrugs Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 c'mon, Song For Mother E is pretty hard to find these days... I bought mine at Bud's in Seattle. I don't think he asked for the easiest to find. True. I think this is lp only as well if I am not mistaken. Quote
JSngry Posted July 24, 2003 Report Posted July 24, 2003 All I have is a cassette dub. Someday... Quote
kh1958 Posted July 26, 2003 Report Posted July 26, 2003 I don't have much in the way of her recordings, but I did see her a few years back on organ backing up Henry Threadgill, and she was really something. Quote
JSngry Posted July 26, 2003 Report Posted July 26, 2003 Her two Novus things might still be available in deeper cutout bins. Don't bother unless you want to hear slick, pop crossover attempts. Actually the first one, AMINA, is not too bad for what it is attempting to be, but neither album are worthy of her greater talents. Quote
paul secor Posted July 27, 2003 Report Posted July 27, 2003 For fans of hers in the NYC area: she's listed as one of the performers at the Caramoor Jazz Festival in Katonah, N.Y., next Saturday, August 2. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted March 9, 2005 Author Report Posted March 9, 2005 Well, I've managed to pick up 'The Fifth Power'. This is a great record! I'm really enjoying everyone's playing on it. I really like what they do to the spiritual. Having been sidetracked after asking the initial question in this thread, I never did get around to 'Salutes Bessie Smith'. I intend to rectify that online, and now! I'm really looking forwards to it. I still listen to the Muhal record lots. She's got a really great voice, too. Are there any in print CDs of her playing organ? Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted April 21, 2005 Author Report Posted April 21, 2005 Can anyone recommend the 'Women in (E)Motion Festival' recording? I saw a slightly lukewarm review somewhere, but not necessarily one I'd trust. If anyone has a second opinion, I'd be grateful! Thanks, as always. Quote
mailman Posted April 21, 2005 Report Posted April 21, 2005 Salultes Bessie Smith is available for download at emusic.com. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted September 29, 2005 Author Report Posted September 29, 2005 I can't get enough of the Bessie Smith record. Cecil McBee and Jimmy Lovelace are great in support as well - unobtrusive, but rock solid. Quote
JohnS Posted September 29, 2005 Report Posted September 29, 2005 I can't get enough of the Bessie Smith record. Cecil McBee and Jimmy Lovelace are great in support as well - unobtrusive, but rock solid. ← I agree a nice cd. I've caught her live, certainly once with Arthur Blythe and once with Lester Bowie, maybe another but my memory fails me. Always delightful whether on organ piano or singing. Quote
Larry Kart Posted September 30, 2005 Report Posted September 30, 2005 I'm back, thanks to assistance from Jim A. About what Chuck says below, at about the time he mentions, I caught Myers and Donovan at a bar on Stony Island Ave. one night when Roscoe and Maurice were sitting in, and the band was asked to play (for the usual reason) "Happy Birthday." Damned if they didn't play right ON it beautifully and very seriously, though not without humor (more or less taking "HB" apart and putting it back together) for about 20 minutes, maybe more. Perhaps Chuck was there. Larry Kart Sugar Bowl, the Bessie, and Mother E are fine recordings - but I'd give (something that looked like) my left nut for a tape of her and Gerald Donovan's nights at the Hungry Eye (Chicago, late '60s - near the Plugged Nickel). They ran an open set. Gene Dinwiddie was the normal sax player, but Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Maurice McIntyre, etc used to sit in regularly. On top of everything, she's a very fine lady. ← Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted September 30, 2005 Author Report Posted September 30, 2005 I'm back, thanks to assistance from Jim A. About what Chuck says below, at about the time he mentions, I caught Myers and Donovan at a bar on Stony Island Ave. one night when Roscoe and Maurice were sitting in, and the band was asked to play (for the usual reason) "Happy Birthday." Damned if they didn't play right ON it beautifully and very seriously, though not without humor (more or less taking "HB" apart and putting it back together) for about 20 minutes, maybe more. Perhaps Chuck was there. Larry Kart Sugar Bowl, the Bessie, and Mother E are fine recordings - but I'd give (something that looked like) my left nut for a tape of her and Gerald Donovan's nights at the Hungry Eye (Chicago, late '60s - near the Plugged Nickel). They ran an open set. Gene Dinwiddie was the normal sax player, but Roscoe Mitchell, Lester Bowie, Maurice McIntyre, etc used to sit in regularly. On top of everything, she's a very fine lady. ← ← It'd be great to hear something like this! I enjoy a lot that track with Maurice McIntyre and Lester Lashley on George Freeman's 'Birthsign'. I wonder, are there any more extensive documents of this type of playing? Quote
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