Unusual Instruments (or Combos of Instruments)

[colllin]

I enjoy jazz played on unusual instruments or with unusal combinations of instruments. Such recordings seem few and far between. Some personal faves are the Australian Jazz Quartet's use of the bassoon, Eric Dolphy's use of the bass clarinet and Vinnie Burke's string quartet with violin, cello, bass and guitar. Any recommendations along these lines? Thank you.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Colin Mathers

[kh1958]

Dorothy Ashby's harp.

For example, on Afro-Harping and In a Minor Groove.

[PHILLYQ]

Rufus Harley's bagpipes

[Tom in RI]

You might check out Amos Hoffman, Evolution, featuring oud. Also, Eric Freidlander's Broken Arm Trio featuring cello, bass and drums. Lastly, two dates by bassist Buell Neidlinger featuring his Buellgrass band, Big Day at Ojai and Swing Grass. As far as I can tell, Neidlinger has reissued some of Big Day at Ojai as a cd called Across the Tracks.

[Free For All]

Didn't Bob Cooper make a record called Shifting winds that featured a lot of alternative woodwind instruments?

Also, if you like unusual instruments, check out Rahsaan Roland Kirk. He plays several that I've only heard of through him.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Free For All

[jazztrain]

Many of Scott Robinson's albums feature a plethora of instruments, many of them played by him, and many of them unusual or in unusual combinations.

I enjoy jazz played on unusual instruments or with unusal combinations of instruments. Such recordings seem few and far between. Some personal faves are the Australian Jazz Quartet's use of the bassoon, Eric Dolphy's use of the bass clarinet and Vinnie Burke's string quartet with violin, cello, bass and guitar. Any recommendations along these lines? Thank you.

[Free For All]

Many of Scott Robinson's albums feature a plethora of instruments, many of them played by him, and many of them unusual or in unusual combinations.

I really like his tribute to Thad Jones. He plays a contrabass sax on Greetings and Salutations and it's bizarre. He is a talented musician.

[jlhoots]

Julius Watkins - french horn

[JohnS]

You might try Hal Wilner's meditation on MIngus, Weird Nightmare (Columbia). Loads of strange instruments there including a number by Harry Partch.

[colinmce]

Gerry Hemingway's quartets and quintets - cello, trombone, clarinet/bass clarinet

John Surman's solo recordings - soprano/baritone sax, bass clarinet, synthesizers

Cecil Taylor's Unit Structures - oboe, twinned basses, bass clarinet

Oscar Pettiford's octet & big band - cello

Chico Hamilton Quintet - cello, guitar, clarinet

Bud Shank & Bob Cooper's flute & oboe albums

Dave Leibman has done a lot of work on various wood flutes

Arthur Blythe has lead many interesting groups that include tuba and cello. See Blythe Spirit or Spirits in the Field.

Illinois Jacquet was known to improvise on the bassoon ("Caravan" on The King is an example)

John Carter with Bobby Bradford or on his own - clarinet

Andrew Hill has recorded evocatively with two basses, strings, organ and clarinet

Music of the third stream: The Modern Jazz Quartet - Third Stream Music, The Birth of the Third Stream, George Russell w/ Bill Evans - Brandeis Jazz Festival,John Lewis Presents a Concert of Contemporary Music, Jazz Abstractions, Ran Blake's Something to Live For, Dolphy's Vintage Dolphy ... though this may start to wear thin ...

Any number of drummerless trios - Jimmy Giuffre, Ahmad Jamal, Tal Farlow, Nat King Cole, Bley/Peacock/Koglmann, Motian/Lovano/Frissell

And, of course, specifically: Anthony Braxton and Henry Threadgill. More generally: AACM, BAG, UGMAA et al.

Also, check out the catalogues of Hat Art, Soul Note/Black Saint, ECM and other Euro labels for loads more examples. Though these may stray farther away from "jazz" proper into the world of "improvised music", I think you'll find that there's much more like this to be found.

Edited September 15, 2010 by colinmce

[colllin]

WOW - that's some list. Thank you for taking the time. I'll check out most of these. -Colin

Gerry Hemingway's quartets and quintets - cello, trombone, clarinet/bass clarinet

John Surman's solo recordings - soprano/baritone sax, bass clarinet, synthesizers

Cecil Taylor's Unit Structures - oboe, twinned basses, bass clarinet

Oscar Pettiford's octet & big band - cello

Chico Hamilton Quintet - cello, guitar, clarinet

Bud Shank & Bob Cooper's flute & oboe albums

Dave Leibman has done a lot of work on various wood flutes

Arthur Blythe has lead many interesting groups that include tuba and cello. See Blythe Spirit or Spirits in the Field.

Illinois Jacquet was known to improvise on the bassoon ("Caravan" on The King is an example)

John Carter with Bobby Bradford or on his own - clarinet

Andrew Hill has recorded evocatively with two basses, strings, organ and clarinet

Music of the third stream: The Modern Jazz Quartet - Third Stream Music, The Birth of the Third Stream, George Russell w/ Bill Evans - Brandeis Jazz Festival,John Lewis Presents a Concert of Contemporary Music, Jazz Abstractions, Ran Blake's Something to Live For, Dolphy's Vintage Dolphy ... though this may start to wear thin ...

Any number of drummerless trios - Jimmy Giuffre, Ahmad Jamal, Tal Farlow, Nat King Cole, Bley/Peacock/Koglmann, Motian/Lovano/Frissell

And, of course, specifically: Anthony Braxton and Henry Threadgill. More generally: AACM, BAG, UGMAA et al.

Also, check out the catalogues of Hat Art, Soul Note/Black Saint, ECM and other Euro labels for loads more examples. Though these may stray farther away from "jazz" proper into the world of "improvised music", I think you'll find that there's much more like this to be found.

[danasgoodstuff]

Zorn/Frisell/Lewis, Nude Like Lulu

[AndrewHill]

Matt Mathews on accordian, where he appears on Joe Puma's Wild Kitten along with his own date, both on Dawn.

[marcello]

Personnel:

Edmar Castaneda: Colombian harp

Marshall Gilkes: trombone

David Silliman: drums,percussion

with guests:

John Scofield: guitar; Joe Locke: vibraphone; Andrea Tierra: voice; Samuel Torres: cajon.

[Big Wheel]

13 replies and nobody mentioned Yusef Lateef?

Also Steve Turre on conch shells along with trombone.

[BillF]

Roland Kirk - say no more!

[colinmce]

Also, if you like Dolphy, you can't miss Mal Waldron's The Quest and Ron Carter's Where?. Though the former is superior, both feature essentially the same band with Dolphy on alto, bass clarinet and even Bb clarinet; Ron Carter on bass & cello, and George Duvivier playing second bass. Very unique and wonderful.

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

George Braith. Anything.

MG

[MomsMobley]

HECKELPHONE TRIO!