charlie shavers

[alocispepraluger102]

after listening to a couple hours of charlie shavers, i must conclude that he just has to be one of the 5 or 6 most awesome and versatile trumpet players these old ears have ever heard.

[Chuck Nessa]

Chops, loud, many good ideas and sometimes overbearing.

[Peter Friedman]

I have a memory from many decades ago of attending a Jazz At The Philharmonic concert in Detroit. My best guess would be that it was in the mid 1950's. The two trumpet players were Charlie Shavers and Roy Eldridge. As was typical at JATP concerts, the two trumpet players engaged in a musical battle. Charlie Shavers demonstrated great chops, but Eldridge came through in my view as the better JAZZ player. Roy's solos were less concerned with technique, and more focused on musical depth.

They both played great, but (in my opinion) it was Eldridge who emerged the winner.

At that same concert Flip Phillips and Illinois Jacquet also had a tenor battle. I don't recall who came out on top in that one.

[alocispepraluger102]

heard him do 'history of the jazz trumpet,' paying homage to, cootie, and louie, and roy, among others.

[gmonahan]

How about some album recommendations from Shavers fans?

[bichos]

a good and rare compilation from baldwin street music. shavers in various groups from 1940 - 1952. even with the young modern (buddy defranco, charles mingus, max roach, phil urso, george wallington and chuck wayne) he is superb.

keep boppin´

marcel

[B. Goren.]

How about some album recommendations from Shavers fans?

All these are great:

http://www.disconforme.com/pages2/buscar.a...CHARLIE+SHAVERS

In addition you should listen to him on Norman Granz jam sessions. Enjoy.

[AllenLowe]

I tend to prefer the earlier Shavers - pre 1955, maybe - he did, sometimes in later years, seem a bit of a parody of himself - but on the Savoys, or with Kirby, or with Bechet, he was absolutely brilliant -

[John L]

I've been enjoying very much the recent reissue of his "Everest Sessions."

[Chuck Nessa]

He is outstanding on Hal Singer's Blue Stompin' and Coleman Hawkins' Hawk Eyes. Both are from 1959.

[Tom Storer]

I first heard him on Billie Holiday's "Solitude," where he's in the band alongside Flip Philips. Still love that record and his playing on it.

[brownie]

Still exciting - even if somehow subdued - at his final session on Black and Blue.

One to get! With Budd Johnson!

[Chuck Nessa]

Still exciting - even if somehow subdued - at his final session on Black and Blue.

One to get! With Budd Johnson!

Also recommended is Budd Johnson's Ya! Ya! recorded at the same sessions.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

He is outstanding on Hal Singer's Blue Stompin' and Coleman Hawkins' Hawk Eyes. Both are from 1959.

Yes indeed! I think those are the only two I have. Will have to pay attention.

MG

[alocispepraluger102]

how's his gershwin/strings album?

[jazzbo]

Don't play it if you can't keep your eyes open!

[Larry Kart]

The exchanges with Hawkins on the title track of "Hawk Eyes" are one of my favorite moments in recorded jazz. The sheer aggressiveness, the wit, the joy! I had a chance to play a tape of that track, Blindfold Test style, for the young Wynton Marsalis in the course of an interview in the early '80s. Wasn't trying to trick him in any way, just get his reaction to a trumpeter who in his combined impish zeal and slickness seemed to me to be related to what Wynton at his best was up to then. As I recall, Wynton's response was very guarded, as though he thought I was trying to trick him in some way, so so much for that...

[Brownian Motion]

Charlie was modern enough to appear on several quasi-bop dates in the mid-40s, and yet several years earlier recorded satisfyingly with such luminaries of New Orleans jazz as Jimmy Noone, Johnny Dodds, and Sidney Bechet. No matter what the context, Charlie seemed able to fit right in.

[brownie]

how's his gershwin/strings album?

It's actually the album that turned me on to the talent of Shavers. It's a very straightforward trumpet and strings album with Shavers not straying away from the melodies. No trace of any aggressiveness here!

Gorgeous arrangements by Sy Oliver.

Doubt that this would be to everyone's liking! But I'm a fan of it!

[alocispepraluger102]

how's his gershwin/strings album?

It's actually the album that turned me on to the talent of Shavers. It's a very straightforward trumpet and strings album with Shavers not straying away from the melodies. No trace of any aggressiveness here!

Gorgeous arrangements by Sy Oliver.

Doubt that this would be to everyone's liking! But I'm a fan of it!

would be mine, for sure. thanks.

[AllenLowe]

forgot about the Hawk session, which is great - I believe Shavers died on the same day as Louis Armstrong, which was unfortunate in more ways than one - correct me if I am wrong -

[brownie]

I believe Shavers died on the same day as Louis Armstrong, which was unfortunate in more ways than one - correct me if I am wrong -

Not on the same day, two days apart.

Armstrong died on July 6, 1971. Shavers on July 8

[alocispepraluger102]

ever hear his number where he plays and sings in the manner of jazz trumpeters, louis, diz, harry james, eldridge, cootie, and a few others?

have to dig it out.

[Brownian Motion]

I believe Shavers died on the same day as Louis Armstrong, which was unfortunate in more ways than one - correct me if I am wrong -

Not on the same day, two days apart.

Armstrong died on July 6, 1971. Shavers on July 8

Charlie asked that his mouthpiece be buried with Louis. I believe it was.

[alocispepraluger102]

I believe Shavers died on the same day as Louis Armstrong, which was unfortunate in more ways than one - correct me if I am wrong -

Not on the same day, two days apart.

Armstrong died on July 6, 1971. Shavers on July 8

Charlie asked that his mouthpiece be buried with Louis. I believe it was.

shavers noted in a 1970 interview that he was using a new mouthpiece, as his 20 year old one had worn out.

http://www.jazzprofessional.com/interviews...lie_Shavers.htm

Edited April 11, 2007 by alocispepraluger102