The flute thread

[ASNL77]

I really enjoy the very few flute sessions I own ( mainly Herbie Mann and Sam Rivers) but I have only got three or four CDs. Which Herbie Mann albums would you recommend and more generally what are the best flute albums in your collection? I have always been amazed at how underrepresented this instrument is in jazz music.

Edited November 22, 2008 by ASNL77

[rockefeller center]

Rahsaan Roland Kirk, obviously.

[Afric Pepperbird]

Bob Downes - "Open Music".

It's a gem. Good luck finding this rarity, however.

(btw, that is a misprint on the link. It is "John Stevens" on drums)

[Rooster_Ties]

My favorite modern flute player is probably Gary Thomas (the tenor sax player, formerly M-BASE).

He only plays a few cuts per album on flute (if that), but I've almost always loved whatever I've heard from him on the instrument. He's the ONLY sax/flute doubler I've ever heard where (I think) I can hear some of his sax playing and "personality" in his or her flute playing.

His own "Pariah's Pariah" (Winter & Winter, 1999) is a pianoless quartet with Greg Osby, and there are at least two 'flute' cuts on there. He also plays flute on two or three cuts of Ingrid Jensen's "Higher Grounds" (Enja, 1998). (There are a couple others, but I'm not recalling them at the moment.)

Once backstage at a Herbie Hancock gig in Columbia MO a few years ago (4tet with Gary, Scott Colley and Terri Lynne Carrington), Gary told me that flute was actually his first instrument.

And of course Eric Dolphy, obviously -- who has/had the best pure flute technique of almost any jazz player I've ever heard.

Edited November 22, 2008 by Rooster_Ties

[Dave James]

If I recall correctly, there was a pretty lengthly flute thread a year or so ago. I remember it well because it afforded me the opportunity to express my deep dislike of that instrument in jazz. Something along the lines of the only good flute is a dead flute. The one exception being the seldom heard, nether worldly sound of the bass flute which I dearly love. To each his own.

Anyhow, I'm sure there was quite a bit of discussion of jazz flute recordings on this thread. A quick search using that function would probably uncover this.

Up over and out.

[Chas]

Anyhow, I'm sure there was quite a bit of discussion of jazz flute recordings on this thread. A quick search using that function would probably uncover this.

Yes , more recommendations here .

My Herbie Mann recommendation would be the one I most recently listened to , that being Latin Mann . This has Herbie fronting a big band with Oliver Nelson arranging and conducting tunes like Manteca , Señor Blues and Jive Samba .

Harder to find ( read : vinyl only ) but worthwhile are Paul Horn's Impressions Of Cleopatra and Lloyd McNeill's Asha and Washington Suite .

[Hot Ptah]

Not much James Newton mentioned on the earlier thread. I recommend his Paseo Del Mar, Hidden Voices (an Anthony Davis co-led date), Romance and Revolution.

[Chas]

Speaking of James Newton , has anyone heard the record he did with Clovis Bordeaux ?

It was his first recording I think . It's on his own label , Flute Music Productions .

[jazzbo]

Jeremy Steig's "Howlin' for Judy" should be heard. Fascinating, really. . . at least for me.

When I think "Flute Album" I think. . . Roland Kirk's "I Talk with the Spirits." Phenomenal.

[sidewinder]

Check out Prince Lasha - his album for UK CBS ('Insight') features some very good flute.

Dolphy on Prestige obviously a good bet for the flute too ! Also some fantastic flute on Tubby Hayes 'Mexican Green' (the track 'Trenton Place' in particular).

Edited November 22, 2008 by sidewinder

[AllenLowe]

gotta admit I HATE jazz flute but have some tolerance for:

James Newton

Eric Dolphy

James Moody

Charlie Haines (obscure now; used to live in Connecticut)

other than that I wish the intrument was banned. And contrary to prior comment I am not doing one of my things here -

[Guy Berger]

Two doublers who haven't been mentioned are Charles Lloyd and Yusef Lateef. I enjoy flute work by both.

But my favorites are Dolphy and James Newton.

Guy

[John Tapscott]

My personal favorite is Lew Tabackin. Lew usually plays flute on one or two tracks on each of his albums. One of Lew's quartet albums, "Dual Nature" I believe it's called, has flute on side A and tenor on side B.

[Free For All]

[Joe G]

Burnin'!

[Larry Kart]

Sam Most should be heard -- his Xanadu albums as a leader and sideman in particular. Reasonable people may disagree on Most's music -- I sometimes disagree with myself about it -- but he sure does swing and is never boring.

[Free For All]

Steve Kujala did some nice things w/Chick Corea.

Have to mention Joe Farrell and Frank Wess too.

[jlhoots]

Anybody heard Jamie Baum? I think she's pretty good.

BTW, has James Newton recorded anything recently???

[Teasing the Korean]

The greatest album ever made:

Jazz Heat, Bongo Beat by the Latin Jazz All-Stars on Crown, featuring Buddy Collette on flute.

[Teasing the Korean]

I particularly like alto flute when used with Latin percussion and vibes.

[Teasing the Korean]

Henry Mancini's early 60s RCA albums often have a flute section.

[Teasing the Korean]

The Beat of My Heart by Tony Bennett has latin percussion AND a FULL FLUTE SECTION on most tracks!!!

[bichos]

go back in time and look for wayman carver!! from the 30´s with spike hughes and chick webb.

keep boppin´

marcel

[Shrdlu]

I totally agree with you, Lon, about "I Talk With The Spirits'. Very tasty Horace Parlan on that too.

Yusef is awesome on flute - as well as all the other instruments - in spite of all the islam garbage. "A Flat, G Flat and C" has some fantastic Japanese bamboo flute. What an outstanding player, and for so many years.

Jazz flute has never been rare since the 50s.

One of Hank Mancini's trademark sounds was with one or more flutes. The "Peter Gunn" albums have a good helping.

[garthsj]

WOW! I am just getting back to this site after several weeks of grading and I find a "jazz flute" thread that does not mention Frank Wess!! It is just my opinion, of course, but his classic album with Milt Jackson on Savoy, "Opus De Jazz" has to be the most swinging jazz flute found anywhere .... and also no mention of Jeremy Steig's seminal album (which he never really ever duplicated) "Flute Fever", with Denny Zeitlen. Both worth a listen to ...

Garth.