Tom 1960 Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 Guys, I was just watching an amazing video which featured the likes of JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt and Howard McGhee. I especially enjoyed his performance. Which leads to me ask, how about throwing out a few recommendations for this poor soul who owns no Howard McGhee. Thanks fellas as always. Quote
mikeweil Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 Yeah, that one has Maggie in top form with his very personal sound and a great rhythm section. Besides that, the other Contemporary LPs, and the Bethlehems - I think he was more self-assured in his later days as compared to the bop era. Quote
Dan Gould Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 This has the added benefit of Teddy, a tenor who I've truly grown to love. They joined together in the 80s for a couple of dates on Storyville. Young at Heart is the best of the three. Also on Storyville is this one: which has Maggie with Benny Bailey, Sonny Red in addition to Teddy. Quote
Kalo Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 What first turned me on to Maggie was his 1945 sideman appearances w/Coleman Hawkins on the Capitol sides which have been collected on LP and CD under the title Hollywood Stampede." Hawkins is great on these beautifully recorded performances with not only McGhee but also Sir Charles Thompson, Oscar Pettiford, and Denzil Best. Quote
Roundsound Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 While he was terrific in his comeback years, he is still one of the prominant bebopers, who could hold his own with Bird and all the other terrifically proficient players of the then new thing. For this reason, I think his Savoy sides are terrific to see what the prominant players of the day were playing and also to hear HG with some peak performances. Quote
Bluesman Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 Anyone familiar with this version of The Connection which has McGhee and Tina Brooks? Sounds interesting. Quote
Tom 1960 Posted October 8, 2006 Author Report Posted October 8, 2006 Thanks for great recommendations guys. I especially like the Maggie's Back In Town and Together Again release with Teddy Edwards. I read some online reviews on both and they sound like great ones. Quote
Dan Gould Posted October 8, 2006 Report Posted October 8, 2006 Anyone familiar with this version of The Connection which has McGhee and Tina Brooks? Sounds interesting. A lot of people love this one but its never clicked for me. I keep it because its Tina, but ... Quote
Chas Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Anyone familiar with this version of The Connection which has McGhee and Tina Brooks? Sounds interesting. A lot of people love this one but its never clicked for me. I keep it because its Tina, but ... I think I agree with this ; the soulful Brooks is the reason I listen to it . It's only under McGhee's name because Redd couldn't lead it for contractual reasons . The playing time is pretty short . You can hear a couple of tracks from it on this archived Night Lights radio show . Quote
BFrank Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 "Together Again" is definitely a wonderful album. Highly recommended. I picked this up recently. It's a nice collection. Complete Savoy & Dial Masters: Leader Sessions Quote
bakeostrin Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 What about the Blue Note recordings reissued on the 10" Conn two-fers? Also, hard to find Japan only reissue of the United Artists album "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" features cover photograph of McGhee staring into a pawnshop window (7th Avenue as described by designer/photographer Frank Gauna in "Jazz Graphics" by Daver). Regards, Baker Quote
sidewinder Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Guys, I was just watching an amazing video which featured the likes of JJ Johnson, Sonny Stitt and Howard McGhee. I especially enjoyed his performance. Which leads to me ask, how about throwing out a few recommendations for this poor soul who owns no Howard McGhee. Thanks fellas as always. Jazz-625 'Tribute to Charlie Parker' 1964, Shepherds Bush Empire, by the sound of it. McGhee kicks ass ! Walter Bishop Jr/Tommy Potter/Kenny Clarke. Quote
king ubu Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Teddy was (the original?) sax player of the Brown/Roach band in California in 1953, one side of that red LP features him, also including one of his best tunes, "Sunset Eyes". Carl Perkins (another tragically underrated musician, it seems) is on piano no those tracks. Oh, wait, I just realise this isn't about Teddy but Maggie... well, big for "Together Again!!!" - I got this in the recent ZYX/Fantasy sales and it's one of my favourite recent purchases! The Definitive compilation mentioned above is good, too. Haven't come around to pick up "Maggie's Back in Town", but it's on "the list"... Oh, another nice one: It features Bennie Green, Roland Alexander, Pepper Adams, Flanagan, Carter & Walter Bolden. I haven't heard his other (one or more?) Bethlehems, but I remember a previous discussion of McGhee's where some said the other(s) were even better. Also, hard to find, most likely, these two CDs are great, both part of the Blue Note 10" (Conn) Series: Both include another 10" record, one has "Kenny Drew Trio" and the other a Tal Farlow album. Quote
David Ayers Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 (edited) Those BN McGhees need to come BACK! This time together on one CD instead of split over two with the other fillers. Edited October 9, 2006 by David Ayers Quote
king ubu Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Hm, I don't think the Kenny Drew is all that great, but the Farlow I really enjoy... I liked these couplings of 10" albums quite some. Quote
David Ayers Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Hm, I don't think the Kenny Drew is all that great, but the Farlow I really enjoy... I liked these couplings of 10" albums quite some. Well, I don't think we'll get straight reissues of the 10" series, but I think that the pairing of McGhees might make a fine reissue somewhere in the world... Quote
brownie Posted October 9, 2006 Report Posted October 9, 2006 Well, I don't think we'll get straight reissues of the 10" series, but I think that the pairing of McGhees might make a fine reissue somewhere in the world... The admirable people at King Records Japan did just that back in 1983 when vinyl still ruled! King K18P 9274. That reissue is one of the Kings I cherish! Quote
erhodes Posted October 10, 2006 Report Posted October 10, 2006 While he was terrific in his comeback years, he is still one of the prominant bebopers, who could hold his own with Bird and all the other terrifically proficient players of the then new thing. For this reason, I think his Savoy sides are terrific to see what the prominant players of the day were playing and also to hear HG with some peak performances. Almost all of my McGhee listening is with the 40's material: the Savoy and Dial dates, the material recorded for Modern Music that was issued on a lp called "McGhee Special" (I've seen a cd reissue with quite a bit of extra matierl, though I don't know if it has the same title), and the "Just Jazz" sessions produced, I believe, by Gene Norman. McGhee is the trumpeter of the Dexter Gordon/Wardell Gray material from the Elk's Club in 1947, released on Savoy as "The Hunt". There's also a Fresh Sound cd issued under Sonny Criss's name called "California Boppin' 1947" that has two sets that were actually fronted by McGhee. The one with Wardell Gray - "Grovin' High", "Hot House", and "Bebop" - is, IMO, one of the most spectacular live sets preserved from the 40's. There's more but that's what comes to mind. McGhee is not merely holding his own on these recordings. Historically, he is bop's second major trumpet soloist after Diz and arguably the second most important, if not most influential, bop trumpeter of the 40's, again, after Diz. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted October 10, 2006 Report Posted October 10, 2006 McGhee is not merely holding his own on these recordings. Historically, he is bop's second major trumpet soloist after Diz and arguably the second most important, if not most influential, bop trumpeter of the 40's, again, after Diz. Nomatter how fine McGhee was and nomatter when he appeared on the scene, Fats "showed the way" for following players. After Fats KD was the influence. No dis to McGhee intended. Quote
erhodes Posted October 10, 2006 Report Posted October 10, 2006 McGhee is not merely holding his own on these recordings. Historically, he is bop's second major trumpet soloist after Diz and arguably the second most important, if not most influential, bop trumpeter of the 40's, again, after Diz. Nomatter how fine McGhee was and nomatter when he appeared on the scene, Fats "showed the way" for following players. After Fats KD was the influence. No dis to McGhee intended. Which is why I hedged my language. Fats was the influence, no doubt. And ultimately the baddest man...after Diz. But Howard got their first, which was not everything but certainly something. And Howard was a bandleader...had Bird as a sideman for a quick minute...whereas Fats did his thing primarily as a sideman. Splitting hairs a bit but I think Maggee deserves it. If you had asked folks who they were listening to for the horn...after Diz...it would have been Fats for sure. But if you asked them in the 40's who...after Diz...would they have expected to be the most important trumpet bandleader in the 50's...who would have been the trumpet version of Art Blakey...most of them would have said Maggee, not Miles, let alone Fats. Quote
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