White Lightning Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 Wynton Kelly - The perfect pianist - as a soloist , especially with Mr. PC and Jimmy Cobb; as a leader of Miles' Rhythm, section for many years; as the pianist of Dizzy's big band; as an accompanist to Dinah Washington. His recordings as a sideman are numerous. For me, his participation in a recording is a stamp of quality. I can't recall any off date by mr. kelly. So, happy birthday, Wynton Kelly! What are your favorite recoedings with mr. kelly? Quote
Free For All Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 (edited) Ah...........my favorite Wynton. One of my top 3 or 4 pianists of all time. I really like his leader dates like Someday My Prince Will Come, Kelly at Midnight, Piano Interpretations and Full View, but some of my favorite Wynton is his sideman appearances. Mobley's Roll Call, Miles' Someday My Prince Will Come(his intro on the title tune is one of my favorites moments in jazz) and Rollins' Newk's Time and Volume One, to name a few. He's soulful, he swings, and he comps beautifully behind soloists. I wish he could've stuck around a little longer. Happy Birthday Wynton Kelly, and thank you! Edit: I can't leave out the Blackhawk recordings! And Smokin' at the Half Note! It's all good........ Edited December 2, 2003 by Free For All Quote
king ubu Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 so we finally know who's the real... I love him! His playing seems to be so chock-full of joy! Favorites: - the dates of the Kelly trio with Wes (complete on that Wes twofer "Impressions: the Verve Jazz sides" or similar) - the Miles in europe live recordings from when Stitt replaced Trane. I love Miles on that, and I think the departure of Trane and the new, much more mellow sound of Stitt led not only to let Miles play harder, take over the role of the "challenger", but also led to a new axis between Miles and Kelly. - then of course the Miles/Mobley/Kelly/Chambers/Cobb trio - all they recorded. I love it all! The Blackhawk stuff would maybe be on top of the list, but I always did love the Carnegie concert, and Someday My Prince Will Come is a great album, too! (And don't forget Kelly's got a short spot on Kind of Blue, too!) - of his leader stuff, I have virtually nothing, but Kelly Blue is a real good one, in my opinion. Maybe one of my favorite hard bop discs, though Golson adds a touch which is more subtle than "your usual hardbop". ubu Quote
king ubu Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 oh, and how could I forget Mobley's Soul Station... words fail! ubu Quote
Vincent, Paris Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 Look here for a very nice discography of Wynton Kelly. Quote
king ubu Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 Thanks for the link (I knew it, but has been a long time since I been there). This brings up some other favorites: - the J.J. date with Mingus, Klook & Sabu - his work in Dizzy's 1957 big band - Cannonball takes charge - Coltrane Jazz - Sonny Red's Out of the Blue - Gonsalves, Gettin' Together - the two CDs with Joe Henderson Hell, the man made lots of records! I'm glad I have not yet got hold of his VeeJay Mosaic - a way of making sure you'll always have some more to get... (and save some pennies, at least temporarily ) ubu Quote
Chrome Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 White Lightning: Cool avatar ... but I'm suddenly in the mood to inflate all of my kids' pool toys! Quote
Chrome Posted December 2, 2003 Report Posted December 2, 2003 Oh yeah, Wynton Kelly ... I realize a lot of generalizations go into this, but it seems like if you have a piano player and, say, a sax player, and both are of roughly the same skill level, it's the guy with the horn who gets the better reputation, etc. My theory is that it's because piano players get more lumped in with the rhythm section. Anyway, I think Kelly's definitely suffered from this kind of thing, at least among those outside of the "jazz elite." I loved Kelly at Midnight! Quote
ghost of miles Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 Not his b-day, obviously, but I was really enjoying his playing earlier today on Lorez Alexandria's MORE OF THE GREAT LOREZ ALEXANDRIA & wanted to express my appreciation, once again, for all that Mr. Kelly left us. Quote
Varese Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 One of mine is a live date he did in S.F with other (then members) of Miles group and a front line of Johnny Griffin and Wes Montgomery. Full House I believe it was called. Quote
Niko Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 (edited) One of mine is a live date he did in S.F with other (then members) of Miles group and a front line of Johnny Griffin and Wes Montgomery. Full House I believe it was called. that was also the first record that came to my mind when i read the first post in this thread! (and it's called Full House) (edit to add: it was not Miles Davis group anymore at that time, IIRC, Griffin was the guest of Wes Montgomery backed by the Wynton Kelly trio (or was it the Kelly-Montgomery group... not sure at the moment )) Edited March 22, 2007 by Niko Quote
clifford_thornton Posted March 22, 2007 Report Posted March 22, 2007 - the two CDs with Joe Henderson I'd forgotten about these. I remember them being "pretty good." Quote
B. Goren. Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 (edited) My favorite WK recordings are the sessions at the Left Bank, 1967 with Hank Mobley & 1968 with George Coleman. Edited March 23, 2007 by B. Goren. Quote
Niko Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 My favorite WK recordings are the sessions at the Left Bank, 1967 with Hank Mobley & 1968 with George Coleman. just wanted to ask about these (especially the one with George Coleman looks tempting)... thank you! Quote
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 I like "Full view" on Milestone. Really mellow, soulful feeling. MG Quote
ValerieB Posted March 23, 2007 Report Posted March 23, 2007 so grateful that i got to hear him live in the '60s - wynton, jimmy and paul. sublime! Quote
Brad Posted March 24, 2007 Report Posted March 24, 2007 My favorite WK recordings are the sessions at the Left Bank, 1967 with Hank Mobley & 1968 with George Coleman. just wanted to ask about these (especially the one with George Coleman looks tempting)... thank you! Both very good. Quote
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