David S. Ware

[save0904]

As I did not find an existing thread which discusses the life and music of David S. Ware I started this one. I hope so see lots of discussions about this wonderful human being and great musician. Also I'd like to get tons of recommendations to dig further into his works.

Just found this video from one of his last performances with the quartet.

[randyhersom]

For pure fire breathing, check out Cecil Taylor - Dark To Themselves, one of Ware's first recordings back in the mid 70's. I haven't listened to many of his recordings as a leader, but I do have and return to Surrendered.

[clifford_thornton]

New solo disc on AUM is good. Sometimes I found the "classic" quartet a little too "easy" and feel like he has been better in other settings. Those young & hungry dates with J-C Capon, Beaver Harris, and Apogee are excellent. (not to mention Cyrille, Cecil...)

[relyles]

Rick Lopez' David Ware sessionography is an essential resource.

David S. Ware Sessionography

[clifford_thornton]

Indeed it is.

I think my main "deal" with Ware's previous group was/is Shipp, whom I'm not all that into. If he and Cooper-Moore hadn't fallen out, maybe a different quartet would have emerged in the 1980s/early 1990s.

[Guy Berger]

I saw a gig (or two?) with David's group about 5 or 6 years ago and they were great. The albums I've heard I like. (Flight of I, Cryptology and especially Dao.) However, at times the music tends to be too relentless for my tastes.

Guy

[David Ayers]

  On 3/4/2010 at 9:06 PM, randyhersom said:

For pure fire breathing, check out Cecil Taylor - Dark To Themselves, one of Ware's first recordings back in the mid 70's. I haven't listened to many of his recordings as a leader, but I do have and return to Surrendered.

Yeah this is some record. Sometimes a little underestimated, I feel, by people for whom the Lyons trio is the apogee of Taylordom.

[save0904]

  On 3/4/2010 at 9:06 PM, randyhersom said:

For pure fire breathing, check out Cecil Taylor - Dark To Themselves, one of Ware's first recordings back in the mid 70's. I haven't listened to many of his recordings as a leader, but I do have and return to Surrendered.

Thanks for recommending Dark To Themselves, I bought it today. I'm looking forward listening to it the first time tonight.

[JohnS]

Coming in a bit late here but I've got very fond memories odf seeing Ware (twice ?) in London back in the late 70s with Andrew Cyrille. This group is documented on two Soul Note and Black Saint records. I particularly remember a closing blues - Ware shouting in fine r&b mode. About 20 years later a more cerebral performance didn't have the same impact.

[nail75]

  On 3/4/2010 at 8:19 PM, save said:

As I did not find an existing thread which discusses the life and music of David S. Ware I started this one. I hope so see lots of discussions about this wonderful human being and great musician. Also I'd like to get tons of recommendations to dig further into his works.

Just found this video from one of his last performances with the quartet.

I have only a couple of Ware releases:

Live In The World is a great 3-CD Set that can be found quite cheap. Even better is the vinyl-only release "Live In Vilnius". Fantastic concert, beautiful sound and an excellent pressing. Maybe one of the best jazz releases of the new millenium.

[mjazzg]

nice short film about DSW here

http://dlf.tv/2011/david-s-ware/#

[Leeway]

I've become a fan of DSW. Have most of his recordings. The ones with Matt Shipp I think are particularly fine. I saw him on his return from his major surgery a year or two ago, and again this year. Even ill as he still seems to be, his playing is monumental.

[clifford_thornton]

That film is really nice.

Agreed about the group with Shipp BUT the new disc w/ Cooper-Moore, Parker & Muhammad Ali is incredible.

[Leeway]

Cliff, I have the new CD but haven't had a chance to spin it yet. I did see the new group in concert at the Vision Fest, and they put on a high-energy show. Cooper-Moore was doing everything but handstands on the piano. Pretty amazing. I would like to see how the group gels. But Shipp brought something deeper to the group, that I haven't heard yet in the new group. I suspect Shipp's relationship with DSW was deep and complex and fraught with both possibilities and tensions. It's clearly a different group with Cooper-Moore. Some might like it better too.

[MomsMobley]

a great, unfairly maligned record, estimable even in its imperfections etc-- too bad circumstances disallowed pursuing further & other beat/electronic collaborations, belated respect to Ware for recognizing he'd overblown himself into unsustainable, less than challenging corner with acoustic quartet (regardless the drummer)--

[Leeway]

I doubt DSW decided on that move. It's more likely Shipp was responsible for moving the group out of its comfort zones and into this brave new world. Shipp was exploring electronica and synths on his own, teaming up with FLAM, etc. That poses an interesting question of who was driving the car.

It wouldn't work for me, since I think the synth work is undeveloped here, except for DSW's playing, which is like Sam Johnson refuting it all by kicking the rock.

[clifford_thornton]

  On 9/14/2011 at 1:59 AM, Leeway said:

Cliff, I have the new CD but haven't had a chance to spin it yet. I did see the new group in concert at the Vision Fest, and they put on a high-energy show. Cooper-Moore was doing everything but handstands on the piano. Pretty amazing. I would like to see how the group gels. But Shipp brought something deeper to the group, that I haven't heard yet in the new group. I suspect Shipp's relationship with DSW was deep and complex and fraught with both possibilities and tensions. It's clearly a different group with Cooper-Moore. Some might like it better too.

Would have liked to have seen that group live. Cooper-Moore's history with Ware is long, going back to the early 70s when they formed Apogee with Marc Edwards and Chris Amberger. Muhammad is such a beautiful drummer and a fun cat to talk to.

Never had any patience for the electronica/hip-hop/jazz hybrids on Thirsty Ear but... I've probably listened to dumber music in my life!

RIP DSW

[Holy Ghost]

Big fan. Miss him a lot. So many chances to see him too, yet I always talked myself out of it..."he'll be around next year." His short Columbia run, especially "Go See The World" is extraordinary for a major label release. Surrendered  too.

[Holy Ghost]

Man, he just came up in my thoughts, miss this dude, big time.