Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) I just returned from a couple weeks in Europe. We played a week at Ronnie Scott's and a couple other gigs. Here are some observations.... RONNIE'S A great jazz club. Smelly and smoky and very hip, it's the Village Vanguard of the UK. BEER UK wins, hand down. The cascading bubbles in the glass almost bring tears to my eyes. ICE CUBES US wins, hands down. You'd think they were made of platinum the way they dole 'em out. I'd like my Coke cold, please! WASH CLOTHS US wins. None to be found in Europe. BACON US wins. It's bacon, not HAM. And cook it all the way through, please. JAZZ AUDIENCES UK (and Europe) wins, I'm sorry to say. They are more attentive and appreciative IN GENERAL. Of course, a loud drunk English guy is very entertaining. AIR CONDITIONING US, but to be fair, it was unseasonably HOT HOT HOT over there. But to stay in a hotel (or ride a bus) w/no air is a miserable experience. Yes, we Americans are spoiled babies much of the time. BRUSH WITH GREATNESS We followed Micheal Brecker at the Brecon Jazz Fest. and got to hang w/him backstage. He had Joey Caldarazzo, Jeff Watts and....I can't remember the bass player. James Genus, maybe? Or maybe it was Anthony Cox. They sounded great at the HOTTEST stage (temperature-wise) I've ever played on. The most interesting thing that happened, though was at Ronnie's. Kevin Spacey, of all people, came to the gig on multiple nights and actually hung with the band between sets. Most surprisingly he SAT IN with the band on a tune. He can actually sing! He was over there prepping for a movie he's producing, directing and starring in about Bobby Darrin. (No, he didn't sing Mack The Knife, thank God). He was very cool to talk to, not pretentious at all but very normal and quite a jazz fan. Another time at Ronnie's I met Kenny Baker, the diminutive jazz fan who was inside R2-D2 in the Star Wars movies. Finally, I had heard that the Tower Records in London had closed. I thought this was the one I frequented (the one in Piccadilly) but I was happy to see it still there and doing fine. I guess there's another "Tower of London". I should check it out sometime. Also checked out Virgin and Ray's. No major finds, though. Seriously, I love going over there and have made many good friends and intend no offense to our UK friends. If you can avoid getting run over (drive on the right side, already!!) it's a great (but EXPENSIVE) hang. Plus it's about the only place in the world where they don't hate us. Edited August 16, 2003 by Free For All Quote
kenny weir Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Plus it's about the only place in the world where they don't hate us. Bullshit! Quote
Dmitry Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Sounds like you had fun over there. If you may disclose your name... Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 If you may disclose your name... OK, I guess I'll come out. I am an anonymous trombonist by the name of Paul McKee. I was over there playing w/the Woody Herman band- I first played with them in 1984 when Woody was still fronting the group. Now Frank Tiberi fronts the band (which I guess you'd have to call a "ghost band", a term I hate). Frank Tiberi is an amazing musican who, in his mid 70s, is continuing to play his ass off. Back when I joined in 1984, the band was out on the road an average of 46 or so weeks a year- it's much more of a part-time gig now, but the standards of quality have not changed. It's an honor to play with some of the greatest players I know in this band. Plus, I've had some AMAZING "brushes w/greatness" by being a member. Like the membership of this and the defunct BNBB, it's one of the greatest dysfunctional families to be associated with. There, I came out. Be kind. Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 Gulp.......yeah...that CD was, among other things, my opportunity to record with my hero, the great Carl Fontana. Lovely picture, too. I feel so naked..........but buy the CD anyway!! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Hi Paul, and welcome back to the U.S.!!! Did you make it to the Victoria and Albert Museum, by any chance?? Or any other London sites that you saw, or at least any worth mentioning?? When my wife and I were in London back in the Spring of '01, I thought the Tower Records (at Piccadilly) was only "so-so", at best. Sure, better than anything in Kansas City, but not "light years better", like the really big Towers used to be 10 or even 5 years ago. How was the food over there?? Or did you play it safe, and hit all the great ethnic restaurants, like my wife and I did. What little truly "British" food we had was perhaps "OK" at best (except for the Fish 'n' Chips, which was great!!), but otherwise sometimes not even quite that good. But, we had incredible Indian, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Italian, and various other kinds of ethnic foods while we were there - and loved practically all of it. Is this perhaps a better picture of you?? Edited August 16, 2003 by Rooster_Ties Quote
catesta Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 but buy the CD anyway!! I think I'll do that. AMG gives it 4 stars, very impressive. Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Hi Rooster- No, I didn't make it to the Victoria and Albert museum but we did stop at Stonehenge (insert Spinal Tap jokes here). Yes, mostly non-British ethnic food (except for fish and chips, of course) is the way to go. I've never been able to figure out that whole "blood sausage" thing. We stayed at a hotel right across from Chinatown, so great meals were not a problem. Some great Indian and Italian near the club, too. Did you go to Ray's when you were there? I don't think the latest incarnation is as hip. Where the hell did that picture come from??? It's from a jazz camp I do in Wisconsin. Beside me in the section is trombonist Steve Weist and the shaved-headed guy is Chicago saxophonist (now relocated to New Orleans) Ed Peterson. I don't know if this "coming out" was such a good idea......... Edited August 16, 2003 by Free For All Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 I think I'll do that. Thank you, catesta. It also works well as a coaster, or if you have a wobbly table............. Quote
catesta Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Hell, I'd never do that. I'm heavy on coasters ever since Weizen sent me some out of his private stash, and I've already got this one under the table. Quote
Claude Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 More revelations on Paul Paul McKee page on HallwayRecords.com (concert schedule seems to be old) "Gallery" review on 52ndstreet.com "Gallery" review on AAJ Publications by Paul McKee Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 More revelations on Paul Paul McKee page on HallwayRecords.com (concert schedule seems to be old) VERY old!! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Where the hell did that picture come from??? It's from a jazz camp I do in Wisconsin. I don't know if this "coming out" was such a good idea......... Just did a simple image search on your name, with Google. (Found it HERE.) Also, about not knowing if it was a good idea to take off your mask... Hey, everybody, remember - Paul's probably got dirt on every one of us, from years of lurking here, and back on the BNBB, so watch it. AND, since he hasn't revealed much about himself yet to us, we ain't got nothin' on him. Remember that, before you go givin' him too much hell about anything. Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Well shit, if everybody and their brother is gonna post links to everything there is to know about you on-line, then I might as well put this out here - since I thought it was such a good article. (And I've highlighted my favorite quote too .) Posted on Fri, Jul. 18, 2003 Trombonist Paul McKee is quickly making a name for himself By JOE KLOPUS The Kansas City Star The first one to ask was a fellow trombonist: "Have you heard this new trombone player in town, Paul McKee?" Not too many days later, a drummer asked the same thing. Then a pianist asked. Then a trumpeter. The Kansas City jazz musicians know, and audiences are slowly finding out: McKee is a man who makes the trombone sing with uncommon grace. He's a gifted composer and arranger, too. And there's a great chance to hear him next Thursday, when he's the guest soloist on Joe Cartwright's "Best of Kansas City Jazz" series. McKee, 45, has done decades of road work with the Woody Herman band, which holds its trombone players to high standards. During the years, the group has boasted such brilliant trombonists as Carl Fontana, Bill Watrous, Bill Harris and John Fedchock. He settled in Chicago for a few years: "Being a Midwesterner, that felt more comfortable for me than New York," he says. He had a regular gig at the fabled Green Mill club, where "it was loud and smoky, and you never had to worry about drawing a crowd." He associated with the best players and recorded an impressive album as leader, "Gallery," with a guest appearance by his hero, Fontana. He has taught at Northern Illinois University and DePaul University, plus Youngstown State and the University of Akron in Ohio. And he has composed quite a few good tunes and written arrangements for bands big and small. "My life consists of playing, teaching and writing," he says. "Each one steps to the front at different times." He set up his household in the Kansas City area two years ago when his wife, JoDee Davis, became assistant professor of trombone at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Davis is an excellent classical player who's working this summer in the prestigious Santa Fe Opera orchestra. A two-trombone household is a novelty, but since they play in different idioms, McKee says, there's no competition between them. But, he says, "We're convinced our dog thinks all humans play trombone." ( <-- Rooster_Ties ) He still holds a seat in the Herman band, now led by tenor saxophonist Frank Tiberi. He teaches at UMKC himself, in Bobby Watson's burgeoning jazz program. And he gigs around town whenever he can, with Joe Cartwright, Kerry Strayer, Hal Melia and others. McKee was born in Indianola, Iowa, and got serious about trombone in the days when the touring bands of Herman, Buddy Rich and Stan Kenton were highly visible on the scene. A visit to Indianola by Kansas City trombonist Arch Martin was influential, too: "He's like a jazz father to so many people," McKee says. (Martin and McKee are working on organizing a two-trombone show together, by the way.) "I got through high school music using my ear," he says. "I didn't have a lot of theory knowledge." But he straightened out his technique in college. When he was in graduate school at the University of Texas in Austin, he was recommended for the Woody Herman band. He joined in January 1984. He became a respected part of the Herman organization, writing charts for the band and getting a good share of solo space. "The rigors of travel were a drag," he says, "but the gig was great every night, whether it was Carnegie Hall or an Elks Club in the middle of nowhere....You'd play `Woodchopper's Ball' twice a night and `Four Brothers' every night, but the guys would try to be different each time." Though Herman died in 1987, working in the present-day Herman band is "still a quality gig," he says. McKee loves the company of Kansas City musicians. "You could play with those guys in any city and be proud to be heard with them." These days when McKee isn't teaching or playing, he's writing or arranging and making plans to get some kind of small band going in Kansas City. "I want to stop traveling," he says, "and buy a house and be in one place. I'm hoping this is the place." Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 Just FYI, here's a partial list of people I've gotten to meet/play with as a result of being a member of Woody's band: Al Cohn Bill Perkins Zoot Sims Billy Mitchell Clark Terry Dizzy Gillespie Billy Eckstein Tony Bennett Nancy Wilson Cab Calloway Joe Williams Mel Torme Maynard Ferguson Benny Carter Pepper Adams Jake Hanna Carl Fontana Conte and Pete Candoli Louie Bellson Jack Lemmon (sitting in on piano!) and more I'll probably think of....... Please understand, I'm not bragging, but am extremely grateful for my opportunities!! So many of these cats are gone now, I really cherish these experiences. If you want to know something REALLY bizarre, my first road gig was a brief stint with Albert King! For a kid from Iowa, this was REALLY culture shock! Quote
Rooster_Ties Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) If you want to know something REALLY bizarre, my first road gig was a brief stint with Albert King! For a kid from Iowa, this was REALLY culture shock! THIS Albert King?? (Like there could be any other.) Do tell some mo!! What kinda venues were you guys booked into?? Outdoor festivals?? - or (perhaps I'm guessin' more likely) real 'down-home' bars and/or clubs where you be maybe in the minority?? We want stories!!! (Rooster Ties - signing off for the night (it's almost 1am here) - but I'll be checkin' this thead again first thing in the morning. Night all!!) Edited August 16, 2003 by Rooster_Ties Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 Do tell some mo!! What kinda venues were you guys booked into?? Outdoor festivals?? - or (perhaps I'm guessin' more likely) real 'down-home' bars and/or clubs where you be maybe in the minority?? We want stories!!! Oh, I was TOTALLY in the minority, so much so that there was no negative vibe at all. We played funky clubs in East St. Louis, south side Chicago, Memphis, Dayton; I was the only white guy in the group and I had the time of my life! I remember many of my jazz heroes talking about paying dues on blues bands, so when I got the opportunity I grabbed it. Living in Iowa and culture-starved, I guess. The only downside was that being a horn player in a blues band you were relegated to riffs and not much soloing, but I really dug listening to Albert every night. I just recently bought a copy of "Born Under A Bad Sign" in a fit of nostalgia. I didn't realize 'til later just how heavy he was. Plus I learned to blow in the keys of E, B, A, D, etc...................... Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Paul, our drummer's father played with the Woody Herman band back in the 50s!! His name is Arno Marsh and he's still out in Las Vegas. I don't know when he ended his run in the band. Do you know him? Fantastic tenor player. Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) I've never met Arno, Jim, but I sure know who he is! How's he doing? I know the music scene in Vegas has really dried up. I was out there about a year ago to visit Carl Fontana, who is battling Alzheimer's. Man, Vegas has sure changed since I played there with the band. Now it's like a Disneyland for gamblers. Bring the family, lose the farm....... Edited August 16, 2003 by Free For All Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 Arno is doing great! He's 75 years young and plays like his ass is on fire! We did a five day tour of northern Michigan with him back in July and it was a true pleasure. I recorded a couple of the dates and I'm in the midst of mixing them down. He did mention that Vegas has dried up music-wise. Everything is either pre-recorded or synthesized and performed by three dudes and keyboards. Lame. Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Arno is doing great! He's 75 years young and plays like his ass is on fire! My ass was on fire the last time I hit the Anchor Bar in Buffalo for some hot wings (but that's another story....) Great to hear about Arno, thanks. I think it's amazing Frank Tiberi is near that age and still is playing like a kid who doesn't know no better. God bless these guys, they're disappearing too fast! Edited August 16, 2003 by Free For All Quote
sidewinder Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Frank's great ! I remember seeing him at Bristol's Colston Hall with Woody's band back in about 1978 or 79 and being very heavily featured. Other notables in this lineup were a young and technically brilliant trumpeter named Alan Vizzuti (I think) and Lyle Mays on keyboards. Some of us in the junior big band I was in at the time were kindly invited back stage, got to see Woody at very close range and had an instructive chat with Alan. At the time, it was a HUGE thrill. Edited August 16, 2003 by sidewinder Quote
Free For All Posted August 16, 2003 Author Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) Woody was always pro-education, he loved to mix it up w/the young players. That certainly makes sense considering the way he raided the various college jazz programs to find players. I think Stan Kenton was maybe one of the first big band leaders to really push the clinic thing. I certainly was influenced by the accessibility of the Woody guys, especially of the 70s era. I remember going back to my high school and talking of the various big band guys as if they were rock stars (they were to me). I couldn't wait to experience the "glamour" (the "U" is in respect of my UK trip) of the road. Edited August 16, 2003 by Free For All Quote
sidewinder Posted August 16, 2003 Report Posted August 16, 2003 (edited) I was amazed Paul at just how young that band was. Frank Tiberi must have been the eldest in the lineup and he would have been in his mid-40s back then. My brief impression of Woody was encouragement to the guys and total lack of pretension. Too bad that into the 1980s all of those problems with the back-taxes plagued him to the end. Tragic... Glad you enjoyed playing Ronnies ! I frequented it a lot back in the late 70s and early 80s as a student (when I lived in London in times when it was semi-affordable and getting up early next day was not too critical ). At the time the club was teetering at the edge of bankruptcy, you could get in as a member for £1 during the week and with a good chance of a seat right at the front. I recall seeing the last set of Bill Evans one night (on his last UK gig) with about 12-15 people in the audience, totally absorbed. Some great big bands featured too - Buddy Rich (with Menza), Louis Bellson, the Herman band. Sadly I was about 7-8 years too late for those legendary Clarke/Boland residencies . Some bizarre acts there too - Professor Irwin Corey was a regular feature (Ronnie was a big fan). This was the guy who took the shades off Miles (in the house one night with hairdressers and hangers on) and came out with 'No wonder your smiling - everyone's black!' This guy used to shuffle on with battered tailcoat and lace tie, sneakers and levis and rip the sh*t out of anyone unfortunate enough to sit at the front. Ronnie would be watching all of this from the wings and chuckling away to himself ! Edited August 16, 2003 by sidewinder Quote
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