Home-town heroes and under-the-radar talent

[Michael Weiss]

F6 = D-7 (instead of D7)

[Free For All]

F6 = D-7 (instead of D7)

Yeah, the inversion explanation , although I feel the (guide tone) F# of the D7 is totally necessary to complete the chromatic ii-V sequence at that point (A-7/D7 Ab-7/Db7), which is the main attraction ("hook") of the tune IMO.

An interesting and fairly functional variation. although a little odd IMO.

This chord inversion thing relates to the appearance of the half-diminished chord- the initial representation of the half-diminished chord seems to be the minor 6, essentially an inversion of the former.

G-6 = E-7(b5)

I think Night in Tunisia is an example- it originally used the G-6 in place of the E-7(b5) which essentially created a iv-V7 cadence to the D minor.

[Chalupa]

I was impressed by what I heard played by Alfie Pollitt last week at the Rashied Ali Memorial gig. Anyway I found this little page w/ some other guys who I've seen/heard over the years in Philly in pickup bands backing whatever big name that was passing through town. Lee Smith, who I saw backing up Bud Shank a few years ago, is awesome. Umar Raheem was igreat last week at the Ali gig too.

http://phillythroughmyear.com/about.htm

[randyhersom]

The mention of Bootsie reminds me of Middy Middleton. He got to record with Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir, but what I remember him for was a live at WRTI performance of his gigging band with Michael Ray, Up From The Cellar, Down From The Attic. The distinctive, almost vocal tenor sound reminded me of Rahsaan and he and ray both absolutely smoked. Wonder if WRTI still has the tape?

Another Philly music mystery. In the early eighties I saw Sumi Tonooka with a female vocalist at a bar on Race Street within a block or two of Broad that didn't usually have jazz. The vocalist was stunning with a wordless approach that could have easily fit in with McCoy Tyner's bands of the time. I'm pretty sure the singers first name was Rachelle or Regina and I have guessed that it was Rachelle Ferrell but I would love to know for sure.

And, since Scrabble tournaments have been kind of a second home over the years, I'll plug Ted O'Reilly's hometown singer and pianist Fern Lindzon who has been playing Scrabble tourneys for well over a decade and jazz for longer than that. Her debut is on CDBaby and eMusic.

Edited November 3, 2009 by randyhersom

[Guest Bill Barton]

The mention of Bootsie reminds me of Middy Middleton. He got to record with Odean Pope's Saxophone Choir, but what I remember him for was a live at WRTI performance of his gigging band with Michael Ray, Up From The Cellar, Down From The Attic. The distinctive, almost vocal tenor sound reminded me of Rahsaan and he and ray both absolutely smoked. Wonder if WRTI still has the tape? . . .

Wow, I would have loved to hear that band! Ray is amazing.

[AllenLowe]

there was a guy in New Haven about 30 years ago named Tommy Brasile (not sure of the spelling) - truly one of the greatest saxophonists I ever heard, apparently blew his mind out with LSD - I saw him play only once and it was astounding. I have no idea whatever happened to him.

[Chalupa]

Orrin Evans

http://www.philly.com/philly/entertainment...k_Big_Band.html

[fasstrack]

Update on Bootsie Barnes....

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2008/03/...ves-a-challenge

Bootsie is great. He invited me down to sit in with his organ group at Ortleib's a few years back. 'Look through the book', he said. It was a hell of a book, too. I got my ass kicked too, but it was fun! If people pass through Philly they should hear him.

I also would like to mention Saul Rubin (guitar), Joe Cohn (same), Ari Roland (bass), two gifted brothers from Italy I played with last month, Luigi and Pasquali Grasso (alto and guitar). I also would like to mention two under-recorded and publicized New Yorkers: John Eckert (trumpet) and Britta Langschoen (trombone). IMO they are two of the best.

[Chalupa]

http://jazztimes.com/articles/26796-philadelphia-jazz-pianist-james-sid-simmons-dies

[Chalupa]

Stumbled upon this while looking for something else...

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/music/Jafar-Barron-Plays-Rittenhouse-Square.html

[Stefan Wood]

DC

Buck Hill

[Chalupa]

Sam Reed