Tom Harrell

[sheldonm]

Here are a few images from the Tom Harrell show this past Sunday. Very good show and Tom was doing well until a minor meltdown with some guy took a photograph with a flash....Tom freaked out and yelled at the guy which was pretty wild.

I know Sal went to a show earlier in the week that was a disaster....Tom leaving the stage, going upstairs until his wife went up to get him.....band mates just standing there???

m~

[sheldonm]

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[sheldonm]

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[sheldonm]

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[DukeCity]

The last time I saw TH perform was a few years ago, here in New Mexico. He was wearing what looks to be the same black leather coat, but the pockets appeared to be jam-packed with stuff. And he was wearing rubber galoshes. Those things didn't really bother me, but it was clear that he was having chop problems. Sounded like his mouth was totally dry, and he would get a few notes out, and then his chops would stop responding and no note would come out. Just "air-balls". There were a couple of moments when he was able to put together some lines, and they were absolutely beautiful, but it was heartbreaking when things weren't firing the way I know that they can. I heard later that some medications he was taking were responsible for his severe cotton-mouth.

How did he sound at the Jazz Showcase?

[Chuck Nessa]

yet one of the greatest ever on the instrument.

[sheldonm]

The last time I saw TH perform was a few years ago, here in New Mexico. He was wearing what looks to be the same black leather coat, but the pockets appeared to be jam-packed with stuff. And he was wearing rubber galoshes. Those things didn't really bother me, but it was clear that he was having chop problems. Sounded like his mouth was totally dry, and he would get a few notes out, and then his chops would stop responding and no note would come out. Just "air-balls". There were a couple of moments when he was able to put together some lines, and they were absolutely beautiful, but it was heartbreaking when things weren't firing the way I know that they can. I heard later that some medications he was taking were responsible for his severe cotton-mouth.

How did he sound at the Jazz Showcase?

I thought he played well but certainly not the best I've seen him play. He has a habit of leaving the stage when he is not playing, standing off in darkness. I think he was a little late getting back to the stage on a few occasions. It's kind of a crap shoot with what you'll get from him night to night or even show to show; I feel for the guy....must by tough! I know Sal and his dad checked him out a few nights before and said it was a disaster, distracted by lights, cords, horn, other players....couldn't concentrate, solos were very short and not good! I would say he has worn the jacket each time I have seen him, warm or not. Joe Segal did say the show I went to was the best of the week.....not sure if he meant it was a good show or just that it was the best of the week?

When he's on, he's wonderful.....when he's not, he's..................not so wonderful!

m~

[kh1958]

yet one of the greatest ever on the instrument.

He's one of the best around today, on a good night, which unfortunately does not equate to one of the best ever.

[Guest]

I think he is a very notable jazz composer and I really like some of his playing on record. I have a hard time comparing him technically to someone like Brownie, but they're apples and oranges.

[DukeCity]

Don't know about "one of the greatest, ever" but back in the '70s Tom Harrell was tearin' it up!

Check him out with Bob Berg on this:

Bob Berg - New birth - Xanadu 159

Recorded May 12th 1978, N.Y.C.

Tom Harrell, tp; Bob Berg, ts; Cedar Walton, p; Mike Richmond, b; Al Foster, d; Sammy Figueroa, perc.

Reissued on CD Xanadu(F) 5169 with one additional selection

Not readily available these days,but definitely some fire from TH.

[John Tapscott]

I only have one Cd by Tom as a leader - "Upswing" on Chesky, which has very strong sidemen. I like his composing and playing, though I don't think of Tom or play his music all that often. He was always in very good form on the Phil Woods Quintet recordings (perhaps he felt less pressure as a sideman than a leader?) I know Phil thought very highly of him. What's Tom's CD "Live at The Village Vanguard" like?

[sal]

Last Saturday was one of the saddest experiences I've had at a jazz show....Tom was just falling apart. Couldn't play for more than 5 seconds without getting distracted, and you could tell it was really upseting him. I'm a big fan of Tom's, so it really hit me hard. The other times I've seen him have been incredible experiences. As mentioned, he's not really a technical player, but a conveyor of some really unique and beautiful ideas. I've heard him play some solos that are among the best I've heard.

[sal]

By the way, great pics, Mark!

[Guest]

he's not really a technical player, but a conveyor of some really unique and beautiful ideas.

Exactly. His compositions are unique and rich, in my opinion.

[Soul Stream]

I saw T. Harrell only once and it was a great show. Some of the most beautiful jazz playing I've ever heard in person. And, also, really enjoyed his compositions...which, to be honest, I'm usually not a huge fan of most modern day jazz players compositions.

[sal]

What's Tom's CD "Live at The Village Vanguard" like?

I like it. Not my favorite Harrell disc but still quite good nonetheless. That was a really good band he fronted for this recording!

[fasstrack]

L As mentioned, he's not really a technical player, but a conveyor of some really unique and beautiful ideas. I've heard him play some solos that are among the best I've heard.

He's both a master of technique and creativity, not to mention passion---soul. I've heard him since the '70s and he never had chops problems until perhaps the '90s. In the '70s my one criticism was that he could execute so well there was a glibness at times, but far more often he was incredibly musical and lyrical. General the '70s is considered his peak on trumpet. But Tom will kick the shit out of that theory right now. He can still play as much horn as anyone on the planet when the body and mind cooperate and he's relaxed. He's put a lot of work in the instrument and still does everyday. People focus on his chops problems that, when they are present, are probably caused by medication plus natural aging in brass players (Tom will be 60 in June) but I heard him last night and there was nothing the man couldn't do on the horn. Exactness, high notes, great fast-tempo playing, and (of course way more important) endless and thrilling creativity. It was scary how on he was. He gave Charles Macpherson a run for his money. It was some of the most hair-raising playing i've heard in a while, and not just Tom, the whole group.

Also, I think what Sal perhaps meant was when the chops are less responsive and he does have to compensate, Tom paces himself and dips into a range of dynamic and melodic approaches. He can adjust his approach to where his chops are on any given night. You just hear different sides of this genius according to where his head and body are.

Edited April 14, 2006 by fasstrack

[robviti]

Have you read the NYT (I think) interview with him at his flat ? It's amazing he's even able to function at all. He gets hit with massive waves of sadness, uncontrollable tears, has to leave the room, fights it off, comes back to the interview. Anyone who knows about severe bipolar knows that most people with this condition accomplish nothing with their lives. Just going to the grocery store is a terrifying ordeal.

harrell does not suffer from bipolar disorder. he has schizophrenia, which is altogether different. also, your statement that anyone who knows about severe bipolar knows that most people with this condition accomplish nothing with their lives is erroneous. i have worked with a great many individuals who have this condition who lead rewarding and productive lives. furthermore, a short list of accomplished people who coped with their bipolar disorder (or manic depression) include rosemary clooney, dick cavett, jonathan winters, peter gabriel, ted turner...

Edited April 14, 2006 by jazzshrink

[robviti]

...Hans Christian Andersen, Beethoven, Lord Byron, Winston Churchill, Ray Davies, Charles Dickens...

[robviti]

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Carrie Fisher, Ernest Hemingway, Otto Klemperer, Vivien Leigh, Gustav Mahler...

[robviti]

Jane Pauley, Edgar Allen Poe, Phil Spector, Ben Stiller, Mark Twain...

[Aggie87]

...this ain't the "Name Three People" thread

[fasstrack]

Have you read the NYT (I think) interview with him at his flat ? It's amazing he's even able to function at all. He gets hit with massive waves of sadness, uncontrollable tears, has to leave the room, fights it off, comes back to the interview. Anyone who knows about severe bipolar knows that most people with this condition accomplish nothing with their lives. Just going to the grocery store is a terrifying ordeal.

The interview you describe sounds like the one that ran in Esquire in '98, with Jonathan Eig. He couldn't get any more out of Tom than the hyper-aggressive airhead Charlie Rose (rumored to have jumped the desk a few times and eaten a few guests ).

Speaking of interviews with Mr. Harrell, a particularly low note was struck some time ago (In Jazz Times? not sure) by Bill Milkowski, who for reasons only he understands seems to think himself clever and spent an opening paragraph reducing Tom to a cartoon-like stereotype just to show us the big words he knows. I was so disgusted I wrote to the editor. Tom for his part rose above such disrespect (obviously the teaser was written after the interview's completion) with some very meaningful comments on music and life.

Tom opened up and spoke very fluidly and with sincerity and passion to Gene Santoro in the nation in '95, if you care to dig it up. There are also DB interviews from '85 and '97 that are quite good. The man can speak very well and has a great sense of humor---including about himself and his 'condition'. As long as clueless idiots like Rose don't do the asking. (Rose doubtless never would've been assigned the piece by the Great Minds at 60 minutes II if Tom wasn't a 'famous schizophrenic'. The piece was called 'a beautiful note' Oy gevalt. Naturally it totally short-shrifted the music and these geniuses would never think to interview, say, Phil Woods, Horace Silver, or so many others Tom worked for about why he's so loved by musicians. They did interview his wife and sister and I give them credit for that. Otherwise it was a bullshit piece and Tom did not come off looking like the speaker I have heard him be). An NPR piece from '90 that is in their archives was an excellent profile and Tom communicated beautifully about his life and music, interspersed with comments by Ray Drummond and Joe Lovano.

Mssrs. Rose, Milkowski, and some other knuckleheads I've read: Tom Harrell is NOT a freak show. If you lack the skills to draw him out and let him speak for himself as he is very capable of or if you understand little about music (Mr. Rose) get out of the way and give the job to someone more qualified.

Edited April 14, 2006 by fasstrack

[fasstrack]

harrell does not suffer from bipolar disorder. he has schizophrenia, which is altogether different. also, your statement that anyone who knows about severe bipolar knows that most people with this condition accomplish nothing with their lives is erroneous. i have worked with a great many individuals who have this condition who lead rewarding and productive lives. furthermore, a short list of accomplished people who coped with their bipolar disorder (or manic depression) include rosemary clooney, dick cavett, jonathan winters, peter gabriel, ted turner...

Ok, you can simplify psychology all you want. Maybe some people will believe you. Narrow categorization serves the psychological community and the giant pharmaceuticals quite nicely. You can't treat it unless you can define it. And you can't make money off it unless you can treat it.

Are you bipolar? (Mild bipolar doesn't count ... as in most of the "example famous people" you mention.) The number of mildly bipolar people is quite high. SSRIs are like candy. Prozac is the most prescribed drug in the world (above any painkiller.)

If you're not bipolar yourself, or don't have a severely bipolar family member dependent on you, I doubt you can empathically identify the disorder. Yes, that's right, I doubt you ... even you're probably a therapist or a psychologist/psychiatrist.

I've seen Harrell quite a number of times over 25 years ... he is definitely severely bipolar. He can tilt from harmonious calm into massive depression in seconds. What it feels like is wave after massive wave of intense sadness physically slamming against your body. It can literally drop you to the floor. You have to get away , anywhere , immediately.

You have a point, but before this turns into an 'am not', 'are so' tiff and you two nice gents have to be pulled out of the sandbox by your noses, I'd like to throw in a word of my own re Tom: Special.

It's not my word, it was uttered by a musician pretty special himself, a very unique pianist named Chris Anderson. To put Chris' insight and empathy in perspective, he is blind, has a clubfoot, and bones so brittle he may have spent as much as 1/3 of his life either in hospitals or housebound---but hears more than most people and can do with a song what most never will.

I was talking to Chris a long time ago and brought up Tom and how much I loved his work . Chris said

'I understand he's kinda special'.

To which I rejoined by recounting all of Tom's various maladies, etc.

'That's what I mean. He's special'.

I think Chris's answer deserves the last word in what promises to become a hair-split fest. no offense to either of you well-meaning gents.

I do hear your intent, though, John. Lotta cashing in these days. Have problem, see doctor, he rattles off a 'disease' name, and ka-ching! the cash register rings and the coffers of Azta-Zeneca (sp?) or whoever get fatter. The doctor also goes home happy, because he does what most these days do: writes a scrip, gets you out of his face and cries "Next!" (In fairness, these guys do have an insane workload in today's stressed-out world, and have to move it along somehow or they'd be spending their lives in the office. Some would call that scenario dedication, others obsession, to use more shrinkspeak ).

Still, truly mentally ill people can be helped by psychotropics. Let's not forget that either.

Edited April 14, 2006 by fasstrack

[AllenLowe]

well, I think that jazzshrink can recognize the symptoms - I would suggest that Mingus was bipolar, from all descriptions of those who knew him, and he certainly accomplished a lot -