Favorite Tadd Dameron Composition

[Dan Gould]

So many to choose from, I'm most torn between Our Delight and On a Misty Night, with Misty Night probably getting the nod-one of my alltime favorites.

But Tadd was a master. Here's hoping those Uptown Dameronia albums finally come out soon.

[bertrand]

...and there's a lot more unrecorded Dameron tunes sitting in the Library of Congress (and elsewhere). One is called 'Buy War Bonds Now'.

Saxophonist Paul Combs, who is writing a book on Tadd to be published by University of Michigan Press, will no doubt comb through these (pun intended) and figure out what's what. If they are on the level of his wonderful recorded compositions, we are in for a special treat.

A United Kingdom resident named Ian McDonald (presumably not the guy from King Crimson) also has a book out on Dameron. I think it's self-published. I saw it a friend's house. I don't know how good the text is, but the lay-out was real nice - it was an oversize book, chock full of photos.

McDonald is apparently hard at work on a book on Hank Mobley.

Bertrand.

Edited August 5, 2003 by bertrand

[BeBop]

Lady Bird was an absolute staple in my old band book, though every song listed is a true winner. Thanks Tadd!

[danasgoodstuff]

Anyone named Ian McDonald would presumably be Scots, not English.

[JohnS]

I've gone for "Good Bait", but any of the compositions on Mating Call could be there just as well. Mating Call is one of my favouite albums. I can always find something new on it.

[Larry Kart]

Let's no forget "Fontainbleu." While it's a bit episodic (intentionally, I'd say), much of it is gorgeous -- and lovingly played by Dorham et al.

[Brad]

Our Delight is one of my favorites, with Good Bait not that far behind.

[pryan]

Does "Nostalgia" count? I really dig that tune a lot. I know the basic changes aren't Dameron's, and also Fats Navarro was a contributor to the melody (?). I think it's explained in the Fats Proper box, but a friend is borrowing it at the moment. So is this a Dameron tune, Dameron-Navarro, or Navarro?

[Dan Gould]

I don't know, but I'm disappointed that mine is the lone vote for "Misty Night" which is just a beautiful, beautiful tune.

[mikeweil]

I chose "On a misty night" before I read the poll listing! Alway been my favourite. The tune that made me fall in love with his music (I share his birthday, February 21). "If you could see me now" would be a close second.

[brownie]

That was tough. Voted for 'If You Could See Me Now'.

[Trumpet Guy]

The Scene Is Clean--I love the blowing changes!

Obviously,Clifford's version is THE one,but Joe Lovano did a nice version recently.

Nostalgia is Fat Girl's!(Its on the changes to "Out Of Nowhere")Dameron wrote a different head on those changes...

[pryan]

Nostalgia is Fat Girl's!(Its on the changes to "Out Of Nowhere")Dameron wrote a different head on those changes...

Thanks, Trumpet Guy, that's what I thought but I didn't know for sure. Have you heard Hargrove's version of "Nostalgia" on his FAMILY album; Wynton's plays on it too, and it's pretty nice (although I'm not a huge Wynton fan).

[Late]

It's too hard to say — I like all of the compositions listed. I especially like Dameron's playing on the album Mating Call. Damn hip.

If you want more Dameron, check out Willie "Face" Smith's orchestrations of Dameron tunes on Joe Lovano's 52nd Street Themes. Shazam!

[EKE BBB]

Hard to choose! I voted for "Good bait", but could have voted for any other... or "Dameronia" or "Flossie blue" or "Jahbero" or "The squirrel" or "The chase" or...