James Jabbo Ware

[Pete C]

So, I've known the name as a sideman, but never paid too much attention. Then last night I'm looking for recordings with John Stubblefield on Spotify and I come across Ware's amazing Soul Note album Heritage Is. Wow, great charts clearly in a BAG/AACM tradition (shades of Muhal & Threadgill), with a decidedly Strayhornian slant. I love this album. Any other thoughts on Ware and other work as a leader of mid-size or large ensembles?

Edited May 10, 2012 by Pete C

[CraigP]

I remember the name of the Orchestra because I thought it was cool, but I don't think I've ever heard anything by them. I'm actually intrigued that you were seeking out John Subblefield; I've always liked him and thought he was somewhat underrated. What's some of your favorite stuff by him?

[clifford_thornton]

What a great cover on that Ware album!

[Pete C]

  On 5/10/2012 at 10:51 PM, CraigP said:

What's some of your favorite stuff by him?

Nothing in particular. The times I saw him live were the highlights. I'd really love to hear how he sounded with Mingus. Stubblefield was definitely underrated. I'd say he was a peer of Billy Harper.

He was part of a great Hilton Ruiz lineup at Town Hall ca. 2000. I found something I said to Papo Vasquez about it on Jazz Corner back then:

"By the way, I dug that Hilton Ruiz show at Town Hall you appeared on a couple of months ago. It was an amazing lineup folks--Chico Freeman, John Stubblefield and Antonio Hart on reeds, Lew Soloff on trumpet, and Papo, Conrad Herwig and Dick Griffin on bones."

He was also amazing when I saw him with Threadgill's Society Situation Dance Band in '97. I know I saw him a bunch of other times, but I can't remember specifics because he played in so many different contexts that weren't working groups.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Pete C

[JSngry]

  On 5/10/2012 at 11:06 PM, clifford_thornton said:

What a great cover on that Ware album!

My eyes aren't so good here, and I can't find a large enough image to see for myself, so I gotta ask - what is that? An umbilical cord going to a fetus or an intestinal track leading to a stool?

Seriously, I can't tell, and it's making me say "uhhhh....."

[clifford_thornton]

America and Africa connected to an IV drip/umbilical cord, leading to a nebulously-shaped African-American fetus.

Looking at the lineup this seems like my kind of disc, so I'll have to find a copy.

[JSngry]

What's in the drip bag? Are those words?

[relyles]

  On 5/11/2012 at 2:08 AM, Pete C said:

Nothing in particular. The times I saw him live were the highlights. I'd really love to hear how he sounded with Mingus.

There are at least two radio broadcasts extant from 1973 with Stubblefield playing in a Mingus group with Joe Gardner, Don Pullen and Roy Brooks that have circulated among collectors.

[Pete C]

  On 5/11/2012 at 1:46 PM, relyles said:

  On 5/11/2012 at 2:08 AM, Pete C said:

Nothing in particular. The times I saw him live were the highlights. I'd really love to hear how he sounded with Mingus.

There are at least two radio broadcasts extant from 1973 with Stubblefield playing in a Mingus group with Joe Gardner, Don Pullen and Roy Brooks that have circulated among collectors.

I haven't heard those, but I'll bet you have. We'll have to talk...

I think when I saw Mingus with Roy Brooks and John Foster the tenor player must have been Bobby Jones, but I can't remember who the other horn(s) might have been.

Edited May 11, 2012 by Pete C