The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 I reckon Bu was one of the greatest organists ever. She had a thick, visceral, sound that just got through. She made only one album as a leader - "Ms Bu" on Muse 5033 in 1973. But what an album! What a sound she had! and what intensity of emotion! And when she sang, it went straight to your gut! She was born on 23 July 1933 in Corpus Christi, Texas. So it would have been her birthday today. But she died in 1989. She had one of the hardest lives I've ever heard of any musician having. Some people have way too many dues to pay. Pete Fallico recorded her story here http://www.doodlinlounge.com/Stories/Pleasant.html Pete says she also recorded with Arthur Prysock, but I can't trace any of those recordings. Anyone know them? MG Quote
JSngry Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 She made only one album as a leader - "Ms Bu" on Muse 5033 in 1973. But what an album! Yep. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 (edited) She made only one album as a leader - "Ms Bu" on Muse 5033 in 1973. But what an album! Yep. Details?? What's the line-up?? Ever been on CD?? Edited July 23, 2006 by Rooster_Ties Quote
JSngry Posted July 23, 2006 Report Posted July 23, 2006 Never on CD. Personnel is Bu Pleasant, Harold Vick, Atlee Chapman (trombone), Ted Dunbar, Mickey Bass, & Freddie Waits. Recorded 3/17/73 by Michael DeLugg, Produced by Larry Fallon. One of those sides that satisfies deeply (and perpetually) w/o a lot of obvious dazzle. Quote
Harold_Z Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 I saw her play frequently in the 70s. Great player. I didn't know she had passed - sorry to hear that news. There was a small place (tiny !) in Clifton NJ that she used to work solo - I think one night a week for a long time. Can't remember the name of the place, but it was only five minutes away from where I live so I used to stop in frequently if I wasn't working. Dill Jones had a night there also. As I rembember she was living in Hackensack. She had a brother who was a good trombone player - can't recall his name either. GEEZ ! Quote
fasstrack Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 Eddie Diehl (guitar) worked with her for years and remembers her fondly. I never heard the woman myself but wish I did. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 24, 2006 Author Report Posted July 24, 2006 I saw her play frequently in the 70s. Great player. I didn't know she had passed - sorry to hear that news. There was a small place (tiny !) in Clifton NJ that she used to work solo - I think one night a week for a long time. Can't remember the name of the place, but it was only five minutes away from where I live so I used to stop in frequently if I wasn't working. Dill Jones had a night there also. As I rembember she was living in Hackensack. She had a brother who was a good trombone player - can't recall his name either. GEEZ ! Her brother was Atlee Chapman, who had worked with Gerald Wilson. He played on her only album. MG Quote
Christiern Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 Atlee was on hand in February of 1971 when Ray Draper brought his group for an appearance on my TV series, "The Jazz Set." It was the first time I met Bu, but Ray had been telling me about here for a long time. Ray Draper and the New Island Social Club Ray (tuba, baritone horn, vocals and perc.); Atlee Chapman (valve tbn); Clive Stevens (sop and ts); Bu Pleasant (organ and voc); Stu Williamson (bs); Richard Crooks (dms). Somewhere, there is a tape of this show. Quote
Alexander Hawkins Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 Atlee was on hand in February of 1971 when Ray Draper brought his group for an appearance on my TV series, "The Jazz Set." It was the first time I met Bu, but Ray had been telling me about here for a long time. Ray Draper and the New Island Social Club Ray (tuba, baritone horn, vocals and perc.); Atlee Chapman (valve tbn); Clive Stevens (sop and ts); Bu Pleasant (organ and voc); Stu Williamson (bs); Richard Crooks (dms). Somewhere, there is a tape of this show. Fascinating lineup! Quote
Dan Gould Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 Never on CD. Personnel is Bu Pleasant, Harold Vick, Atlee Chapman (trombone), Ted Dunbar, Mickey Bass, & Freddie Waits. Recorded 3/17/73 by Michael DeLugg, Produced by Larry Fallon. One of those sides that satisfies deeply (and perpetually) w/o a lot of obvious dazzle. A copy is available on ebay right now. Ends Wednesday. Bad water damage on the cover but dealer calls the vinyl NM-. Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted July 24, 2006 Author Report Posted July 24, 2006 Never on CD. Personnel is Bu Pleasant, Harold Vick, Atlee Chapman (trombone), Ted Dunbar, Mickey Bass, & Freddie Waits. Recorded 3/17/73 by Michael DeLugg, Produced by Larry Fallon. One of those sides that satisfies deeply (and perpetually) w/o a lot of obvious dazzle. A copy is available on ebay right now. Ends Wednesday. Bad water damage on the cover but dealer calls the vinyl NM-. Worth ten dollars of anyone's money, I'd say. Here's the cover MG Quote
mailman Posted July 24, 2006 Report Posted July 24, 2006 Never on CD. Personnel is Bu Pleasant, Harold Vick, Atlee Chapman (trombone), Ted Dunbar, Mickey Bass, & Freddie Waits. Recorded 3/17/73 by Michael DeLugg, Produced by Larry Fallon. One of those sides that satisfies deeply (and perpetually) w/o a lot of obvious dazzle. Saw her backing up Sonny Stitt at the Village Gate in the early to mid 1970s. I had no idea who she was at the time but I remember thinking she was really good. Just Stitt, Bu Pleasant and I think Billy James on drums. Quote
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