Don Shirley

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

Aloc posted this in the now playing vinyl thread [ed - hit the left-pointing arrer to see wat it was]

I used to have a couple of Don Shirley albums in the early sixties. I bought his version of "Drown in my own tears" first - it was a 45 - then the LPs. Still have the occasional hankering to hear the single, on which he played piano and organ (either simultaneously or double tracked). Aloc is the first person I've seen mentioning him at all on the board.

Funny that someone who was pretty successful and well thought of in the fifties/sixties should have completely faded from even jazz fans' consciousness.

Or are there scores of secret Don Shirley admirers, who never play his albums, knocking around the board?

MG

[AllenLowe]

well, I met him a few times (he used to come hear AL Haig at Bradley's in the late 1970s) -

read some interviews - he's a major snob with a lot of contempt for jazz, unfortunately -

[Teasing the Korean]

well, I met him a few times (he used to come hear AL Haig at Bradley's in the late 1970s) -

read some interviews - he's a major snob with a lot of contempt for jazz, unfortunately -

That's sad to hear. I have one of his early Cadence albums - the one with the all blue hue where he's looking at sheet music - and his playing on it is really incredible. He does some very impressionistic takes on standards, I think "I Cover the Waterfront" is one of them. I need to spin this album again. Thanks for the reminder.

Edited January 19, 2008 by Teasing the Korean

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

well, I met him a few times (he used to come hear AL Haig at Bradley's in the late 1970s) -

read some interviews - he's a major snob with a lot of contempt for jazz, unfortunately -

I did get the feeling from the sleeve notes to one of the LPs I had - "Don Shrley trio" - that he propbably thought that he, or jazzmen, should aspire to the condition of (classical) music, which was probably one reason I thought I could dispense with his albums.

But I should have realised YOU'D know about him, Allen. Major respect.

MG

[Teasing the Korean]

I did get the feeling from the sleeve notes to one of the LPs I had - "Don Shrley trio" - that he propbably thought that he, or jazzmen, should aspire to the condition of (classical) music, which was probably one reason I thought I could dispense with his albums.

If that is how he feels, I disagree with him; but that doesn't mean that his approach doesn't produce good music.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

I did get the feeling from the sleeve notes to one of the LPs I had - "Don Shrley trio" - that he propbably thought that he, or jazzmen, should aspire to the condition of (classical) music, which was probably one reason I thought I could dispense with his albums.

If that is how he feels, I disagree with him; but that doesn't mean that his approach doesn't produce good music.

I know my views aren't those of the majority, but when I buy a record, I don't feel I'm solely buying music.

MG

[Christiern]

I always found Shirley's music to be pleasant, but if it had depth, that quality escaped me. It has, admittedly, been many years since I heard anything of his, so my statements may well reflect a taste that has since undergone alteration.

[GA Russell]

My mother was a big Don Shirley fan, and bought two or three of his Cadence albums with virtually identical covers. My mother was not a jazz fan.

I remember that Leonard Feather in his Encyclopedia said that whatever it was that Shirley played, it was not jazz.

I haven't heard my mother's albums in over forty years. I don't think that anyone in the family still has them, although maybe my sister does. I don't know what I would think of them today. I do recall thinking that he had a nice touch on the keyboard, but I didn't know much then.

[Teasing the Korean]

I spun side one of "Tonal Expressions" last night. This is the only DS album I have or heard. Shirley on piano and Richard Davis on bass. The back cover has endorsements by everyone from Al Jazzbo Collins to Stravinsky.

Overall, the ornamentation seemed to obscure whatever kind of development was going on within the tunes (most of which are standards). An emphasis on baroque, impressionistic and faux-Gershwin stylings. He seemed to rush the tempos on a couple of the faster tunes. Not much in the way of jazz content, certainly not from a purist's definition of jazz.

That said, the side starts off with a really beautiful impressionistic take on "I Cover the Waterfront" which is by far the best thing on that side of the record. This is the reason I hung onto this album in the first place.

I should add that this is one of his earlier albums, so I really can't say if my assessment would apply to the rest of his output.

Edited January 20, 2008 by Teasing the Korean

[AllenLowe]

it's actually been years since I listened - I'll have to go back and check him out again -

[alocispepraluger102]

his 'in concert' from the late 60's, live at carnegie hall on columbia, is in a class by itself as shirley work..

particularly, an approximately 10 minute long 'i cant get started', is some of the most beautiful and moving piano playing i have ever heard. beautiful live versions of my funny valentine, 'waterfront', beatles' yesterdays, and by myself make for an excellent program.

his uptempo soulful stuff was very stiff, sounded phony and unbelievable, and i didnt like at all.

[John L]

A rather large CD box set of his Vee Jay recordings was released a while back. I found it curious that there would be a market for a giant and expensive box set of Don Shirley. But I guess that they had somebody in mind to target.

Edited January 20, 2008 by John L

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

A rather large CD box set of his Vee Jay recordings was released a while back. I found it curious that there would be a market for a giant and expensive box set of Don Shirley. But I guess that they had somebody in mind to target.

I had NO idea he recorded for Vee-Jay. What on earth were the Carters thinking of?

MG

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

his 'in concert' from the late 60's, live at carnegie hall on columbia, is in a class by itself as shirley work..

particularly, an approximately 10 minute long 'i cant get started', is some of the most beautiful and moving piano playing i have ever heard. beautiful live versions of my funny valentine, 'waterfront', beatles' yesterdays, and by myself make for an excellent program.

his uptempo soulful stuff was very stiff, sounded phony and unbelievable, and i didnt like at all.

On one ofthe albums I had, there was a ten min version of "The man I love" played entirely with the left hand. Party trick.

MG

[Stereojack]

He enjoyed quite a bit of popullarity in the late 50's/early 60's, but is largely forgotten today. I can remember being intrigued with his music at one point, especially by his impressive chops, but ultimately I came to the conclusion that his stuff is just a little too precious, too self-important (don't know if that's the right expression) for my tastes.

[John L]

A rather large CD box set of his Vee Jay recordings was released a while back. I found it curious that there would be a market for a giant and expensive box set of Don Shirley. But I guess that they had somebody in mind to target.

I had NO idea he recorded for Vee-Jay. What on earth were the Carters thinking of?

MG

Sorry. My mistake. He didn't record for Vee Jay. Collectables packaged up his Cadence LPs on CDs in exactly the same way they did the Vee Jay catalog. So I naturally assumed in my ignorance... They did release a box set of all of these recordings together.

Edited January 20, 2008 by John L

[srellek]

I'm a little late on this one, but thought I'd chime in my appreciation for Don Shirley. While he may certainly be at the "far right"(?) of jazz (i.e., nearing classical), I think it is absolutely jazz and quite enjoyable at that. I couldn't disagree more with any sentiment that says, "whatever it is, it ain't jazz". I distrust categories in art and simply don't believe in them as a rule. But the beauty of "jazz" is that if it is anything, it is pretty much everything. Certainly the most inclusive of categories. You can have jazz that spreads out effectively into other categories: music that has rock elements, classical elements, folk elements, world elements, etc. and it works. Jazz is more of an approach, I think. And although I know many may disagree, for me Shirley's music is jazz. Most def.

He certainly has the classical background and those chops. In '55, Duke picked him as the piano soloist for the premier of his NEW WORLD'S A-COMIN' with the Symphony of Air. And he lives at Carnegie Hall. How cool is that by the way?

http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/42385/

All I know of his personality is that he was very gracious when I ordered a cd from him, writing a nice note with it, etc. You can still get it here I think:

http://www.donshirley.com/cds/cdds3332.html

With a version of LOTUS BLOSSOM that just kills.

For those who haven't heard his music, check him out and decide for yourself...