Which giants are still out there and touring?

[Peter Johnson]

Just Herbie Mann, as far as I can see...

[RonF]

Harold Land died about two years ago.

[RonF]

Cedar Walton may not be a giant in the eyes of some but he sure is in mine.

Going to hear him at the Telluride Jazz Celebration in August, where he's the Guest of Honor. B)

[Shrdlu]

Thanks for posting that very interesting list, Mike.

There are a lot of fine players still with us.

Now, we need someone with some money to record and interview them all.

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No prize for saying this, but it is great that you could still assemble a rhythm section consisting of:

McCoy Tyner

Richard Davis or Ron Carter or Reggie Workman

Elvin Jones.

[Swinging Swede]

Michael, I have earlier recording dates for some of those if you are interested.

Illinois Jacquet 1941 (with Lionel Hampton)

Buddy DeFranco 1943 (with Charlie Barnet)

Max Roach 1943 (with Coleman Hawkins)

Gerald Wilson 1939 (with Jimmie Lunceford)

Dave Brubeck 1942 (recently discovered performance)

Lucky Thompson 1944 (with Hot Lips Page)

Hank Jones 1944 (with Hot Lips Page)

James Moody 1946 (with Dizzy Gillespie)

Clark Terry 1948 (with Count Basie)

Oscar Peterson 1944 or possibly 1945 (earliest date given as circa December 1944)

Roy Haynes 1945 (with Luis Russell)

Don Lanphere 1948 (with Earl Coleman)

Billy Taylor 1945 (under his own name)

Harold Land 1949 (but dead now so he is off the list anyway)

Frank Foster 1953 (with Count Basie)

Ray Bryant 1949 (with Tiny Grimes)

Von Freeman 1950 (with Charlie Parker)

Edited July 25, 2003 by Swinging Swede

[Jazz Groove]

Thanks for posting that very interesting list, Mike.

There are a lot of fine players still with us.

Now, we need someone with some money to record and interview them all.

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No prize for saying this, but it is great that you could still assemble a rhythm section consisting of:

McCoy Tyner

Richard Davis or Ron Carter or Reggie Workman

Elvin Jones.

Let's start with recording them. It sad that the shit selling mainly sucks.

Sick of all these boy bands and nubile blondes.

If everyone on the board chipped in $100 we can afford to record at least 2 of them.

Edited July 25, 2003 by Jazz Groove

[brownie]

From Michael Fitzgerald's list:

Bill Russo passed away

[jlhoots]

If you want a trio CD by 3 giants, get the recent 88's release Autumn Leaves.

The trio is Hank Jones, Richard Davis & Elvin Jones.

You'll have to pay Japanese prices (Sony has elected not to release this at this point), but it's worth it.

[sidewinder]

From your list Michael, didn't Bill Russo and Conte Candoli pass away fairly recently? I have the feeling Idrees Sulieman might have also (maybe it was mentioned on the BNBB).

[chris olivarez]

Cedar Walton may not be a giant in the eyes of some but he sure is in mine.

Going to hear him at the Telluride Jazz Celebration in August, where he's the Guest of Honor. B)

You lucky sob!!!

[kdd]

Freddie Hubbard is certainly a giant and is still active (whether you want to see him or not is another story).

Idrees Suliman did pass away fairly recently

[RonF]

Cedar Walton may not be a giant in the eyes of some but he sure is in mine.

Going to hear him at the Telluride Jazz Celebration in August, where he's the Guest of Honor.  B)

You lucky sob!!!

Eat your heart out!

You can't make it, Chris?

[chris olivarez]

No man it's a busy time here. Let us know how it turned out.

[shrugs]

Joe McPhee

If he had only recorded Tenor, the man could stand on it alone.

[mikeweil]

Ahmad Jamal is a name that shoulf be on this list as well.

Again, I'd prefer if we avoid that superlative term giant - it is pretty subjective as well. I like the way Mike Fitzgerald put up his list and would say, lets's list masters that have reached their 6oth year of age.

A master is a musician with an individual style and mastery of his instrument - period.

I strongly Cedar Walton's inclusion in this list - saw him several times during the last ten years and he never disappointed and was a model in taste, responsibility for the band and music, and has written a large book of great tunes.

Tonight I'm gonna see Al Foster - he'll qualify next year ....

Edited July 27, 2003 by mikeweil

[Dan Gould]

Not sure if he's still active, but how's about the man who gave Bird his first profile gig, Jay McShann?

[brownie]

Jay McShann remains active. He was appearing last month at festivals in Canada with

the Duke Robillard band. McShann and Robillard are scheduled to play at the Tanglewood festival August 31 and at the Monterey festival September 21.

The man is supposed to be 94.

Did he share a secret with Benny Carter?

[Dan Gould]

I just picked up a used CD of McShann with the Robillard Band, and its topnotch. And I just love the discs-I think I have three of them so far-where there's an interview of Jay at the end. Usually interesting and entertaining, and he just comes across as a very warm and gracious gentleman.

[Swinging Swede]

I suggest adding Benny Bailey to the list. He was born in 1925, and recorded in 1947 with Teddy Edwards.

[Hardbopjazz]

Dug into the archives of old threads and saw this one. A lot of names mentioned on this thread have departed. Glad I saw a number of those mentioned.

[BFrank]

Amazing how many of those names from 2003 are now gone. I would guess at least half of them.

[Hardbopjazz]

Yeah, a lot have left us.

[Milestones]

Of recent losses, I have been most saddened by Jim Hall, Charlie Haden, Horace Silver, and Dave Brubeck.

On the plus side, I'm still getting to see people like Randy Weston and Roy Haynes.

[BillF]

British jazz giants corner

Going to see Len Skeat and Don Weller at February gigs. Sorry to have missed Brian Dee last month.

Edited November 13, 2014 by BillF

[mjazzg]

seeing Peter Brotzmann tomorrow. A giant indeed