Victor Feldman

[Tom 1960]

Today, I've been spending alot of time going through the Shelly Manne series of recordings recorded at The Blackhawk in San Francisco back in 1959. One of my favorite live recordings, period. On the album pianist Victor Feldman is featured. I was wondering what other recordings are worth seeking out which feature Victor either as a leader or sideman? This is a guy IMO, worth some further exploration. Thanks as always guys.

[sidewinder]

There's 'The Arrival of Victor Feldman' and 'Suite 16', both of which should be available on OJCs.

Miles' Seven Steps To Heaven' of course has some tracks featuring Feldman, recorded in LA.

Some great Cannonball Adderley Riversides featuring Feldman - my personal favourite is 'At The Lighthouse'.

Several fine sessions recorded for Columbia with JJ Johnson, all collected on the Johnson Mosaic.

Also fine Tempo material under Feldman's name, which can be found on some Jasmine CDs ('Victor Feldman In London') - recorded before and just after his emigration to the USA.

Various sessions under own name also on Pacific Jazz, Vee Jay and Concord.

A phenomenal talent !

[J.A.W.]

I second most of sidewinder's recommendations, especially Feldman's dates as a leader, the Cannonball sides and the J.J. Johnson dates. They're terrific.

These Feldman leader dates are my favorites:

Vic Feldman on Vibes - Mode/VSOP (1957; with Frank Rosolino, Harold Land, Carl Perkins, Leroy Vinnegar and Stan Levey)

The Arrival of Victor Feldman - Contemporary/OJC (1958; with Scott LaFaro and Stan Levey)

Merry Olde Soul - Riverside/OJC (1960; with Hank Jones, Sam Jones, Andy Simpkins and Louis Hayes)

[Shrdlu]

In the words of Lon: "What's not to like about Victor Feldman?".

He can even be heard on the two Mancini "Peter Gunn" albums (along with a funky pianist called Johnny T. Williams - yes it's that one!).

[GA Russell]

Since you like the Blackhawk recordings, I recommend Shelly Manne's Son of Gunn with Feldman on the marimba.

[sidewinder]

'The Artful Dodger' on Concord is worth checking out too. A bit '1970s' in terms of sound but it's an entertaining listen.

Just spinning the World Pacific LP 'Stop The World, I Want To Get Off', which is a trio date. Also have his Venezuelan-theme PC LP too and the Vee Jay where he 'plays everything in sight', will dig those out tonight if I can find them.

Edited March 19, 2007 by sidewinder

[brownie]

Another excellent Feldman date is the 'Soviet Jazz Themes' album he recorded in 1962 for the short-lived Ava label. It featured Carmell Jones, Nat Adderley,, Harold Land, Joe Zawinul, Frank Butler, etc...

Makes you long for the Soviet days

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Another excellent Feldman date is the 'Soviet Jazz Themes' album he recorded in 1962 for the short-lived Ava label. It featured Carmell Jones, Nat Adderley,, Harold Land, Joe Zawinul, Frank Butler, etc...

Makes you long for the Soviet days

My my, wotta BAND!

Ava was owned by MGM. Now part of Universal and Verve.

THAT looks like it would make a good Mosaic single!

MG

[king ubu]

Feldman is indeed great on those Manne albums!

The version of Cannonball's band with him may have been the very best... (but I have a soft spot for the sextet with Lateef, of course).

Of his OJCs/Contemporarys, the "Arrival" is terrific, if only for it being an addition to the small catalogue of Scott LaFaro recordings.

And yes, I'd love to hear that Soviet album in some form, a Mosaic Single would be a great idea! Let's write them some emails!

[brownie]

Victor Feldman also had a second album out on that Ava label. Never saw or heard that one. It was made of interpretations of music from the film 'David and Lisa'

[flat5]

Any recordings with Vic on drums?

[DMP]

If not drums, how about as a percussionist? (The only time I saw him "live" was with Joni Mitchell, he was playing percussion.)

[sidewinder]

Any recordings with Vic on drums?

'The Artfull Dodger' has a short excerpt of him soloing on drums with Glenn Miller's AAF Band back in 1944 I think. 'Haunted Ballroom' is the track.

Edited March 19, 2007 by sidewinder

[ghost of miles]

I think VF was 10 when he sat in with Glenn Miller's band; the English press called him "Kid Krupa."

Did a show on Feldman not too long ago that taps some of the LPs mentioned in this thread.

Edited August 26, 2008 by ghost of miles

[king ubu]

Any recordings with Vic on drums?

He plays drums on some titles of "Suite Sixteen" I think, but I didn't double-check it.

[brownie]

Victor Feldman is heard on drums on 'Cabaletto', a Feldman big band date with Dizzy Reece and Tubby Hayes, that is included in the Jasmine reissue 'Departure Dates'.

[Peter Friedman]

Victor Feldman also had a second album out on that Ava label. Never saw or heard that one. It was made of interpretations of music from the film 'David and Lisa'

I had this on LP at one time, and now have it on a CDR. Only one side of the LP was worthwhile. It's 3 very good trio tracks. The rest of the material is movie music that is not really jazz.

I also have a CDR of a trio session from an LP on the Japanese Yupiteru label. It is VICTOR FELDMAN TRIO - TOGETHER AGAIN with Monty Budwig and Shelly Manne.

[Kyo]

Another excellent Feldman date is the 'Soviet Jazz Themes' album he recorded in 1962 for the short-lived Ava label. It featured Carmell Jones, Nat Adderley,, Harold Land, Joe Zawinul, Frank Butler, etc...

I'd buy a Mosaic Single of that without thinking twice!

[brownie]

Victor Feldman on vibraphone with Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Stars 'Shorty Rogers, Frank Rosolino, Bud Shank, Bob Cooper, Stan Levey...) in 1958...

Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Stars

[Kari S]

And who can forget mr Feldman's classic Fender Rhodes solo on Steely Dan's "Black Cow" (from AJA)...

[Daniel A]

There's too little talk of Victor Feldman these days!

Just happened to stumble across this clip, which made want to dig out some more Feldman:

[sidewinder]

There's too little talk of Victor Feldman these days!

Just happened to stumble across this clip, which made want to dig out some more Feldman:

From BBC 'Jazz 625' - that particular episode featured several UK groups. With a young (pre-Mahavishnu) Rick Laird on acoustic bass !

[Dave James]

IMO, those five discs at the Blackhawk represent the finest live jazz on record. That's due in no small part to Victor Feldman. There's just something about the way he drives that band, that, along with Manne, makes for something very special. There's a reason Feldman was Miles' first choice for the piano chair that eventually went to Herbie Hancock. I've often wondered if Miles may have seen him as something of a British Bill Evans.

Up over and out.

[BruceH]

My favorite Cannonball album with Feldman on it is The Cannonball Adderley Quintet Plus. But I've never heard Feldman be anything less than excellent.

[Kalo]

IMO, those five discs at the Blackhawk represent the finest live jazz on record. That's due in no small part to Victor Feldman. There's just something about the way he drives that band, that, along with Manne, makes for something very special. There's a reason Feldman was Miles' first choice for the piano chair that eventually went to Herbie Hancock. I've often wondered if Miles may have seen him as something of a British Bill Evans.

Up over and out.

With all due respect to Feldman, I hear no points of comparison to Evans, unless you mean this in a very "meta" way. (Which I still don't hear, to be honest).

Feldman was a fine musician, but not the innovator Evans was. And I say that as someone who's an Evans skeptic.