Soul Stream Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 I'm a big Harold Vick fan. He had a certain "whine" that I can always fingerprint him by after just a few bars. I don't really know a whole lot about him. He was a close associate of John Patton's. But other than that, I'm not real hip to any later stuff he did after his Blue Note appearances. Don't hear much talk about Vick these days. Wondered if anybody had any other thoughts on this lost tenor. Quote
The Mule Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 If you're looking for more Vick, I'd seek out this tasty little session: Woody Shaw is also a sideman on this date. Vick played with Shaw again on "Cassandranite." Quote
BFrank Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 He was pretty good in the early 70's group Compost with Bob Moses, Jack Gregg, Jumma Santos and Jack DeJohnette. I have vinyl of "Live Is Round" which has some nice tunes on it. Quote
Jim Alfredson Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 Soul Stream, I assume you have Shirley Scott's "One For Me" on Strata East with Harold and Billy Higgins and Shirley's wonderful tune "What Makes Harold Sing?" I LOVE that record. Quote
sidewinder Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 (edited) If you're looking for more Vick, I'd seek out this tasty little session: Woody Shaw is also a sideman on this date. Vick played with Shaw again on "Cassandranite." Vick plays on the track 'Medina' on the Cassandranite CD, which is a bonus track actually taken from Joe Chamber's 'The Almoravid' session. The quintet tracks on 'Cassandranite' all have Joe Henderson on tenor. 'Coral Keys' is indeed a tasty session - great recommendation. The general feel reminds me quite a bit of 'Almoravid', absolutely not a blowing session. Vick is quite adventurous and moody, with Shaw featuring strongly on half of the session. Bonus also of Idris Muhammed on drums. Recommended ! Edited August 24, 2003 by sidewinder Quote
JohnS Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 A timely reminder about another undersung player. Vick can, from what little I've heard, be relied upon to come up with a good enjoyable performance. I'll put his Strata East album on my to play pile. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 24, 2003 Author Report Posted August 24, 2003 Soul Stream, I assume you have Shirley Scott's "One For Me" on Strata East with Harold and Billy Higgins and Shirley's wonderful tune "What Makes Harold Sing?" I LOVE that record. YES!!! That is a great record. Haven't pulled it out in a while and will today!!! Also, thanks for all the great advice on the other Vick sessions. Still think "Steppin' Out" is one of the all-time best. Quote
Peter Johnson Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 I've been looking for "Steppin' Out" for years! Anyone got an extra beat up vinyl copy they'd like to move to a good home? *comes back to reality* Quote
JSngry Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 Yeah, that Scott side is special. Vick's RCA sides are interesting, kinda commercial in a way, but he still comes through as Vick, and that's always a good thing. His tone, his inflections, and way of "sighing" across the beat have always appealed to me, very personal, very natural, and very soulful. I got a LP thing on TK he did called AFTER THE DANCE that I haven't checked out yet. I looks to be a very commercial, 70s disco type thing. But I took a chance on it jsut because I figured that Harold Vick had the kind of natural, organic even, approach to music that could make something like that work in a way that most players couldn't. Maybe it sucks, but for 5 or 6 bucks, I'm willing to find out. Not too many players I can say that about. I'm also curious about Vick's career. Seems like he stayed on the scene, even though his "profile" was pretty damn low. He was in with the Strata-East crowd, and he played some BEAUTIFUL stuff on Bill Lee's soundtrack to SCHOOL DAZE (his last recording, I think I've heard). I'm just wondering if he taught, worked pits, had a house gig, or just exactly waht he did to steady stay around without a contract and high exposure. I'm under the impresion that he worked steadily in music, and that's not as common among players of this level of exposure as you might think. Anybody got details? Whatever. Harold Vick had a vibe of his own, and that's really all I ask of any player. Above and beyond that is icing on the cake, and not everybody can (or wants to) go there. You get that personal thing happening, though, and you're over the hump as far as I'm concerned. Quote
Soul Stream Posted August 24, 2003 Author Report Posted August 24, 2003 John Patton was VERY tight with Harold Vick and knew pretty much everything about him. We talked some about Harold. But sadly, I we never spoke enough for me to learn much more than a superficial idea of his life. I'm not even sure about the details of his death. Quote
David Ayers Posted August 24, 2003 Report Posted August 24, 2003 I've been looking for "Steppin' Out" for years! Anyone got an extra beat up vinyl copy they'd like to move to a good home? *comes back to reality* Does it have to be vinyl? Did you pass on the the Conn and the JRVG? The TOCJ is still in print if you are interested. Quote
Brad Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 I know he's on a lot of Jack McDuff sessions and a Duke Pearson session, Prairie Dog, that somehow I've never pulled the trigger on. Any views on those. I just have his BN session, plus what he did with John Patton. Quote
Vincent, Paris Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 Sonny Rollins did a tribute to Vick on "This Is What I Do" (Milestones) with a tune entitled "Did You See Harold Vick?" (could be the title for this thread). Quote
connoisseur series500 Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 I know he's on a lot of Jack McDuff sessions and a Duke Pearson session, Prairie Dog, that somehow I've never pulled the trigger on. Any views on those. I just have his BN session, plus what he did with John Patton. I like "Prarie Dog." Vick can also be found on Grant Green's "His Majesty King Funk." He acquits himself very nicely on the first track. Forgot the thame of it--"Marching to Selma?" Quote
Joe Posted August 25, 2003 Report Posted August 25, 2003 (edited) I know he's on a lot of Jack McDuff sessions and a Duke Pearson session, Prairie Dog, that somehow I've never pulled the trigger on. Any views on those. I can recommend the sides collected on this CD: Includes a version of "Our Miss Brooks", which BN listeners should remember from STEPPIN' OUT... Edited August 25, 2003 by Joe Quote
kh1958 Posted August 27, 2003 Report Posted August 27, 2003 I have Commitment on Muse and Don't Look Back on Strata East, both on LP and both goods ones in my memory. Quote
Simon999 Posted February 20, 2009 Report Posted February 20, 2009 I've posted this separately but I hope the board doesn't mind a double-up, as I thought you Vick fans may know : I just bought "Commitment", released in 1974 on Muse. Great record! The album contains no recording dates, but I have read in various places that it wa recorded in 1966, and in some places is nominated to have been "released " in 1966. The liner notes provide no helpful information about this. I was wondering if anyone knew : - If it was released on another label in 1966 or, if not : - Why it was held back for 7 years, and who it was recorded "for" originally. Further to this, does anyone know of any comprehensive sideman discographies for any of the players that might answer my questions ? Obviously I've checked AMG but it's little help ... Walter Bishop Jr - piano Victor Feldman - vibes, piano Malcolm Reddick - guitar Ben Tucker - Bass Mickey Roker - drums Herb Bushler - bass Thanks for any info! Simon Quote
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