Julian Priester

[Mark Stryker]

http://www.earshot.org/Publication/profiles/profile_11_09_Julian_Priester.html

Nice profile of trombonist Julian Priester pegged to his retirement from Cornish College in Seattle. (The writer, by the way, is an old friend of mine from the University of Illinois. Steve Griggs -- he's a fine saxophonist and composer: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/stevegriggs)

[Hot Ptah]

Thanks for that. I wondered what he had been up to in the past several years.

Prior to the internet and one's ability to look up anything instantly, I used to stump jazz fans by asking them which musician had been part of the working bands of Sun Ra, Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock.

[ep1str0phy]

He was on a Sunn O))) album for heaven's sake. I of course enjoy many of his more canonical/"classic" performances (especially with Mwandishi), but I think my favorite Priester may be the work he did for the Postcards label in the 90's. Summit Conference is as solid a free jazz album (emphasis on the jazz, because the swing feel is wild but extraordinarily present) as anyone has released in the past couple of decades.

Edited September 7, 2011 by ep1str0phy

[mikeweil]

I always thought Priester was one of the very greatest. At least he's always been my top favourite trombonist ever since I heard him for the first time, which I think was on the Mwandishi LP.

He certainly has come a long way .... the way Max treated him is a shame. Master improvisor, that's what he is, for sure.

[Larry Kart]

I spent some time with Priester a year ago last April on a tour of Amsterdam, Hasselt (Belgium), and Cologne by an augmented version of drummer-bandleader Mike Reed's People, Places, and Things band, which added trumpeter Art Hoyle, trombonist Jeb Bishop, tenorman Ari Brown, and Priester to tenorman Tim Haldemann, altoist Greg Ward, bassist Jason Roebke, and Mike. Julian was/is a terrific guy, soft-spoken but also justifiably proud of his achievements, and with a sly sense of humor. He played beautifully.

[bertrand]

the way Max treated him is a shame.

What did Max do to him?

Bertrand.

Edited September 8, 2011 by bertrand

[mikeweil]

the way Max treated him is a shame.

What did Max do to him?

Bertrand.

Read the article Mark Stryker linked:

http://www.earshot.o...n_Priester.html

Nice profile of trombonist Julian Priester pegged to his retirement from Cornish College in Seattle. ...

Edited September 8, 2011 by mikeweil

[sidewinder]

Big fan of Mr Priester here - never heard a bad note from him. Fortunate enough once to hear him live in Alberta when he made the short flight up from Seattle. Wonder when ECM will finally get round to reissuing 'Polarization'?

Edited September 8, 2011 by sidewinder

[JohnS]

Nice piece, thanks for posting.

[PHILLYQ]

Hampton didn't treat Priester very well either.

[colinmce]

He was on a Sunn O))) album for heaven's sake. I of course enjoy many of his more canonical/"classic" performances (especially with Mwandishi), but I think my favorite Priester may be the work he did for the Postcards label in the 90's. Summit Conference is as solid a free jazz album (emphasis on the jazz, because the swing feel is wild but extraordinarily present) as anyone has released in the past couple of decades.

Let's not forget he also played on Braxton's massive "Composition 96".

Consequently, I spun In Deep End Dance from 2002. A fine set that truly exceeds the "master jazz soloist + students" genre.

[jostber]

That's a great article on a favourite trombonist, thanks! Love his stuff with Sun Ra. A more surprising contribution by Priester is on this album by Sunn O)))

http://www.sfweekly.com/2009-08-05/music/sunn-o-slowly-inverts-expectations/