JohnS Posted February 9, 2008 Report Posted February 9, 2008 The issue of Melle's Prestige albums on Fresh Sound appears to clear up the personnel on the three previously unissued dates. Fresh Sound give the following- Art Farmer, Hal McKusick, Seldon Powell, Gil Melle, Teddy Charles, George Duvivier, Shadow Wilson. Quote
Chas Posted February 9, 2008 Report Posted February 9, 2008 Lord lists the personnel for the January 18 , 1957 tracks as : Art Farmer (tp) Hal McKusick (as) Zoot Sims (ts) Gil Melle (bar) Teddy Charles (vib) Joe Cinderella (g) Vinnie Burke (b) Ed Thigpen (d) Lord appends this explanatory footnote : "The above personnel listing courtesy of Noal Cohen from Rudy Van Gelder historian Dan Skea. Following from Dan Skea: "A few days ago I spoke with Gil Melle at some length in seeking answers to some questions about RVG. Among the things he told me was that there are errors in Ruppli's Prestige discography concerning his session of January 18, 1957. He says the personnel listed is partially wrong, and that Teddy Charles is on the date, although no vibes player is listed. The trumpet is Art Farmer, NOT Donald Byrd; the alto is Hal McKusick, NOT Phil Woods (Gil says he never recorded with Phil in his life); and Zoot Sims is present on tenor, although no tenor is listed. Mel says he is especially upset about these mistakes because Teddy Charles was one of his heroes, and Zoot Sims was a close friend."" Gil's Guests is my favorite Melle recording , for his writing , his playing , and for the supporting cast . Poor sound on a couple of tracks is the only blemish . Quote
JohnS Posted February 9, 2008 Author Report Posted February 9, 2008 Lord lists the personnel for the January 18 , 1957 tracks as : Art Farmer (tp) Hal McKusick (as) Zoot Sims (ts) Gil Melle (bar) Teddy Charles (vib) Joe Cinderella (g) Vinnie Burke (b) Ed Thigpen (d) Lord appends this explanatory footnote : "The above personnel listing courtesy of Noal Cohen from Rudy Van Gelder historian Dan Skea. Following from Dan Skea: "A few days ago I spoke with Gil Melle at some length in seeking answers to some questions about RVG. Among the things he told me was that there are errors in Ruppli's Prestige discography concerning his session of January 18, 1957. He says the personnel listed is partially wrong, and that Teddy Charles is on the date, although no vibes player is listed. The trumpet is Art Farmer, NOT Donald Byrd; the alto is Hal McKusick, NOT Phil Woods (Gil says he never recorded with Phil in his life); and Zoot Sims is present on tenor, although no tenor is listed. Mel says he is especially upset about these mistakes because Teddy Charles was one of his heroes, and Zoot Sims was a close friend."" Gil's Guests is my favorite Melle recording , for his writing , his playing , and for the supporting cast . Poor sound on a couple of tracks is the only blemish . That's the one I had. I believe though that Zoot Sims is an unlikely choice. Not sure it sounds like him. Somehow Seldon Powell seems more likely to me. Any other views. Quote
JohnS Posted February 9, 2008 Author Report Posted February 9, 2008 I've not seen the Fresh Sound cd so I don't know if they explain the source in the notes or if they mention it at all. The personnel above comes from their web site. Quote
Chas Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Lord lists the personnel for the January 18 , 1957 tracks as : Art Farmer (tp) Hal McKusick (as) Zoot Sims (ts) Gil Melle (bar) Teddy Charles (vib) Joe Cinderella (g) Vinnie Burke (b) Ed Thigpen (d) Lord appends this explanatory footnote : "The above personnel listing courtesy of Noal Cohen from Rudy Van Gelder historian Dan Skea. Following from Dan Skea: "A few days ago I spoke with Gil Melle at some length in seeking answers to some questions about RVG. Among the things he told me was that there are errors in Ruppli's Prestige discography concerning his session of January 18, 1957. He says the personnel listed is partially wrong, and that Teddy Charles is on the date, although no vibes player is listed. The trumpet is Art Farmer, NOT Donald Byrd; the alto is Hal McKusick, NOT Phil Woods (Gil says he never recorded with Phil in his life); and Zoot Sims is present on tenor, although no tenor is listed. Mel says he is especially upset about these mistakes because Teddy Charles was one of his heroes, and Zoot Sims was a close friend."" Gil's Guests is my favorite Melle recording , for his writing , his playing , and for the supporting cast . Poor sound on a couple of tracks is the only blemish . That's the one I had. I believe though that Zoot Sims is an unlikely choice. Not sure it sounds like him. Somehow Seldon Powell seems more likely to me. Any other views. John , I would have thought that Melle's recollection re: the tenor player settles the matter , especially as the aural evidence ( to my ears ) doesn't contradict it . That same aural evidence does however make me think Lord is wrong about Cinderella being on the January '57 tracks . As for Duvivier and Wilson , they can't be ruled out I suppose , since they recorded Quadrama with Melle just three months later . Quote
mikeweil Posted February 12, 2008 Report Posted February 12, 2008 Lord lists the personnel for the January 18 , 1957 tracks as : Art Farmer (tp) Hal McKusick (as) Zoot Sims (ts) Gil Melle (bar) Teddy Charles (vib) Joe Cinderella (g) Vinnie Burke (b) Ed Thigpen (d) Lord appends this explanatory footnote : "The above personnel listing courtesy of Noal Cohen from Rudy Van Gelder historian Dan Skea. Following from Dan Skea: "A few days ago I spoke with Gil Melle at some length in seeking answers to some questions about RVG. Among the things he told me was that there are errors in Ruppli's Prestige discography concerning his session of January 18, 1957. He says the personnel listed is partially wrong, and that Teddy Charles is on the date, although no vibes player is listed. The trumpet is Art Farmer, NOT Donald Byrd; the alto is Hal McKusick, NOT Phil Woods (Gil says he never recorded with Phil in his life); and Zoot Sims is present on tenor, although no tenor is listed. Mel says he is especially upset about these mistakes because Teddy Charles was one of his heroes, and Zoot Sims was a close friend."" Gil's Guests is my favorite Melle recording , for his writing , his playing , and for the supporting cast . Poor sound on a couple of tracks is the only blemish . That's the one I had. I believe though that Zoot Sims is an unlikely choice. Not sure it sounds like him. Somehow Seldon Powell seems more likely to me. Any other views. John , I would have thought that Melle's recollection re: the tenor player settles the matter , especially as the aural evidence ( to my ears ) doesn't contradict it . That same aural evidence does however make me think Lord is wrong about Cinderella being on the January '57 tracks . As for Duvivier and Wilson , they can't be ruled out I suppose , since they recorded Quadrama with Melle just three months later . I listened to this session once again - I'm not sure about the tenor player. The bassist does not sound like Vinnie Burke to me, who had a thin, almost cello-like attack, Duvivier seems plausible. Shadow Wilson - could be. The cymbal swing could be his - Thigpen sounded a little different. Quote
Cliff Englewood Posted January 6, 2009 Report Posted January 6, 2009 As this topic is on the subject of Gil Melle's Prestige recordings I may as well post the question here, does anyone have this or the recordings that it contains? According to AMG it's compiled from the albums Melle Plays Primitive Modern, Quadrama, Gil's Guests, and three extra cuts from an unfinished LP. What's it like as I have no Melle but I am very curious as he sounds like such a cool guy. :cool: Quote
Bluesnik Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 i like Gil Melle a lot and have always liked him. i have the Prestige sides compilation, which is quite cool, a Blue Note he recorded, which is also good and my favourite of them all, the volume, double CD IIRC, on his 5000 series recordings. It was a Conn and belonged to that fantastic 5000 series reissues. this is the Gil Melle i liked most, with baritone sax, sometimes guitar... remember that he also designed covers for Blue Note in a superb way. i like his covers specially. IIRC the cover of Urbie Green's album from the 5000 series, which i have as a TOJJ vinyl, is his. Quote
JohnS Posted January 7, 2009 Author Report Posted January 7, 2009 All the Melle Blue Note and Prestige sides are worth having. Thoughtful and interesting arrangements and excelent solos. Highly recommended. Quote
Chuck Nessa Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 The Fresh Sound issue seems to clone these two: available inexpensively on Amazon and elsewhere. Quote
Cliff Englewood Posted January 7, 2009 Report Posted January 7, 2009 (edited) Thanks guys, sounds like I'll have to check him out. Is he comparable to anyone in particular or any style in particular, I can't seem to find sound clips anywhere. Sorry just found clips on AMG. Edit for AMG revelation. Edited January 7, 2009 by Cliff Englewood Quote
trane_fanatic Posted January 8, 2009 Report Posted January 8, 2009 All the Melle Blue Note and Prestige sides are worth having. Thoughtful and interesting arrangements and excelent solos. Highly recommended. Even "Mindscapes"? Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 8, 2009 Report Posted January 8, 2009 oh no, not another Cliff Englewood revelation - Cliff, go toward the light, I insist - Quote
JohnS Posted January 8, 2009 Author Report Posted January 8, 2009 All the Melle Blue Note and Prestige sides are worth having. Thoughtful and interesting arrangements and excelent solos. Highly recommended. Even "Mindscapes"? I forgot 'Midscape' was on Blue Note. I wouldn't want to hear 'Waterbirds' again. Never heard Tome VI but I dont think I want to. Quote
B. Clugston Posted January 8, 2009 Report Posted January 8, 2009 Melle had a website where he listed the correct personnel. The website appears to have disappeared. Quote
Cliff Englewood Posted January 8, 2009 Report Posted January 8, 2009 Melle had a website where he listed the correct personnel. The website appears to have disappeared. He actually has a MySpace page though, with a great quote from the man himself; "Virtually every innovation in electronic music was made by me...an awesome statement, but true." It's stuff like this that first piqued my interest in him. And the fact that the guitarist he seemed to favour on most of his recordings was called Joe Cinderella. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 8, 2009 Report Posted January 8, 2009 Cinderella is still living in New Jersey - I spoke to him about 7-8 years ago - Quote
Late Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 Cinderella is still living in New Jersey - I spoke to him about 7-8 years ago - All this time, a drag queen. Quote
Larry Kart Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 Cinderella is still living in New Jersey - I spoke to him about 7-8 years ago - Melle had great taste in guitarists -- Tal Farlow, Cinderella, and Louis Mecca, the latter two little known other than for their work with Melle. In fact, Melle needed such guitarists; his writing for them in his piano-less groups being quite novel and demanding, though perhaps Cinderella and Mecca brought some of their own ideas into play there. Quote
king ubu Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 Blue Note should really reissue that Mecca ten-inch album! I'd love to hear it! Quote
Larry Kart Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 Some info on Lou Mecca (1927-2003): http://www.guitarsite.com/newsletters/021118/3.shtml http://classicjazzguitar.com/artists/artis...e.jsp?artist=40 http://classicjazzguitar.com/albums/artist...m.jsp?album=640 Be sure to check out the last link, which has a decent-sized clip from his solo on "Bernie's Tune" from his Blue Note album. Quote
AllenLowe Posted January 9, 2009 Report Posted January 9, 2009 I always wondered why there were so many Italian guitarists - until Dick Spottswood pointed out to me what a strong string-band tradition there is from that country - Quote
jlhoots Posted January 10, 2009 Report Posted January 10, 2009 Blue Note should really reissue that Mecca ten-inch album! I'd love to hear it! TOCJ-9228 Nice! Quote
epistrophy007 Posted January 15, 2009 Report Posted January 15, 2009 The Fresh Sound issue seems to clone these two: available inexpensively on Amazon and elsewhere. Indeed, Fresh sound cloned these two + QUADRAMA, with Cinderella, Duvivier and Wilson. + 3 numbers from an unfinished Prestige 12" LP with Farmer, McKusick, Seldon Powell, Teddy Charles, Duvivier and Wilson. Wonderful music! j. Quote
jazzbo Posted January 16, 2009 Report Posted January 16, 2009 I think those three numbers are also on the OJC cds. Nothing on the Fresh Sound hasn't been on the OJC, right? Quote
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