six string Posted June 21, 2012 Report Posted June 21, 2012 I think Jessica Williams has gotten better with age. Once she proved that she could play as fast as reasonably expected she slowed down and put more care into each note and created some very beautiful albums in recent years. Not that I didn't like her early music because I did and I still do. As I've aged I've found myself gravitating to artists playing fewer notes per bar unless it's really called for and having been a fan of Jessica's for a very long time I'm very happy that her playing has changed to suit my personal preferences. On the other hand, I'm still waiting on James Carter.......... Quote
Peter Friedman Posted June 21, 2012 Report Posted June 21, 2012 So much of this, as Jim said, is projection. For me it comes down to a matter of personal taste. I find Harold Land's playing far more satisfying prior to the strong Coltrane influence. His work on the Curtis Counce albums on Contemporary is among the very best examples of his playing in my opinion. On the other hand, the early playing of Frank Morgan was for me nothing special. His later playing had fire and passion that moved me. I happened to see Morgan at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago with Willie Pickins, Dan Shapara, and Wilbur Campbell and thought it was really good. Also saw him one evening in Telluride, Colorado in a quartet setting with Steve Kuhn on piano. They had never played together before and Morgan was knocked out by how great Kuhn was playing and said so to the audience. The music that evening was marvelous . Quote
AllenLowe Posted June 21, 2012 Report Posted June 21, 2012 it's actually gotten worse in the last few years..... Quote
fasstrack Posted June 21, 2012 Report Posted June 21, 2012 Frank Morgan was cool. Good player and he made some records that hold up. One with Kenny Burrell, one with Wynton. Not his fault the writers annointed him Romantic Junkie Rebel of the year. Don't blame him for milking it either. What would you or I do if handed money or fame? But I was friends with a guy named Clarence 'C.' Sharpe who to me went way deeper musically and in soul. I know this is subjective. But he was a beautiful, complex, real human with the same sickness as Frank Morgan, but who never played off it or used people at all. I never met anyone more supportive of his friends. Yet though he fit the romantic outlaw profile no kingmakers came knocking on his door. It doesn't matter-he went out with his head up. Everybody loved him. Quote
Mike Schwartz Posted June 21, 2012 Report Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) I think Jessica Williams has gotten better with age. Once she proved that she could play as fast as reasonably expected she slowed down and put more care into each note and created some very beautiful albums in recent years. Not that I didn't like her early music because I did and I still do. As I've aged I've found myself gravitating to artists playing fewer notes per bar unless it's really called for and having been a fan of Jessica's for a very long time I'm very happy that her playing has changed to suit my personal preferences. On the other hand, I'm still waiting on James Carter.......... Excellent choice, as has Jessica's playing evolved over the years, not to mention her compositions. As for Carter, let's not hold our collective breath Edited June 21, 2012 by Mike Schwartz Quote
BFrank Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 How about Billy Hart? I just saw him tonight with the Cookers and he was DEFINITELY cookin'! Playing with the fire and intensity of someone 1/2 his age (or less). Quote
Head Man Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 I think Jessica Williams has gotten better with age. Once she proved that she could play as fast as reasonably expected she slowed down and put more care into each note and created some very beautiful albums in recent years. Not that I didn't like her early music because I did and I still do. As I've aged I've found myself gravitating to artists playing fewer notes per bar unless it's really called for and having been a fan of Jessica's for a very long time I'm very happy that her playing has changed to suit my personal preferences. I thought she'd always been old. I'm a great fan of her playing but I don't detect that she's playing better now that when I first heard her many years ago. She's always played beautifully. Quote
fasstrack Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 Billy Hart has tremendous range-from Wes to Milt Jackson to Quest and Tom Harrell. Stan Getz! I haven't listened to his own projects but you can bet he's burning to make a leader's statement. He takes it all in stride and puts a fire under you. The only time I ever heard him lose it was at the end of Rapture on Tom Harrell's stories. It's a fast, energetic gringo samba, and 'going home' at the very end he's way ahead of the horns and tempo-a careening runaway truck going down the hill after crashing the guardrail. I can relate. We all have wince-worthy moments. On recording or painting it's presesved so everyone can gawk. Usually it's you that mostly winces. Look in the mirror, fix it. (thank you for watching Sermonette. And now for our National Anthem)... Meanwhile I heard Billy w/Tom at the old Bottom Line, 1995. What a thrilling night of music! The line-up had Donald Brown, Tim Ries, Ray Drummond. Tom and Billy were on fire, egging each other on.Billy Hart has tremendous range-from Wes to Milt Jackson to Quest and Tom Harrell. Stan Getz! I haven't listened to his own projects but you can bet he's burning to make a leader's statement. He takes it all in stride and puts a fire under you. The only time I ever heard him lose it was at the end of Rapture on Tom Harrell's stories. It's a fast, energetic gringo samba, and 'going home' at the very end he's way ahead of the horns and tempo-a careening runaway truck going down the hill after crashing the guardrail. I can relate. We all have wince-worthy moments. On recording or painting it's presesved so everyone can gawk. Usually it's you that mostly winces. Look in the mirror, fix it. (thank you for watching Sermonette. And now for our National Anthem)... Meanwhile I heard Billy w/Tom at the old Bottom Line, 1995. What a thrilling night of music! The line-up had Donald Brown, Tim Ries, Ray Drummond. Tom and Billy were on fire, egging each other on. Quote
fasstrack Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 Furthermore not only is Frank Morgan a fine altoist, he did great as not only the Wizard but the Fortune Teller too. And as to that fine fellow Jim Hall, he protects us all in his other capacity as head of Travel and Safety. I'd go on but it's time for meds-and Cuddles withholds the drool towel when I'm late. And let's not even DISCUSS Nurse Diesel. (Humor me, I think I'm funny...) Quote
Steve Reynolds Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 although he is only 47 or 48 Tony Malaby is quite a bit better than he was 12-15 years ago. Lucky for me I get another chance tomorrow night to hear and experience his magisterial brilliance up close and personal. Especially on the tenor saxophone, he has refined his own voice to suhc an extent that he sounds like no one else - I told him I think Evan Parker with a groove and melody - which was much less personal on those older records or like on Tom Varner's Second Communion. Mat Maneri is better than he was 10-12 years ago and he was great then (if he wason his game - his brilliance is sometimes a variable thing!) but the last 3 to 4 times I have seen him the last 9 months or so, he is playing at such a high level it is pretty hard to verbalize. Evan Parker got so much better technically from the days of his 20's and 30's as compared to his 40's through 60's (present) Some listeners (not me) still prefer the early pre mid/late 80's Evan Parker - but not this listener. Quote
Pete C Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 Two of my favorite live Billy Hart performances were with Joanne Brackeen's trio with Cecil McBee, and Quest. Quote
AllenLowe Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 Doc Cheatham always felt he did not become a real soloist until his 70s. Quote
Pete C Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 Doc Cheatham always felt he did not become a real soloist until his 70s. He acquits himself well on Machito's Kenya. Quote
fasstrack Posted June 22, 2012 Report Posted June 22, 2012 (edited) Doc Cheatham always felt he did not become a real soloist until his 70s. That's b/c he got branded a lead player---a result of being so good. That's where the work was and no one not being kept turns down work. He didn't have a career like Phil Woods, known for both. But in the late '70s he started pushing himself. Maybe in part he figured he'd better develop soloing before it gets too late. It had to be partly the challenge of doing it. The gig at Sweet Basil gave him a golden opportunity to get it together. He sang also, charmingly, (Guess I'll Get the Papers and Go Home) and had a lot of sitting in by guys like Benny Powell. That gig was a big party. I'm the sorriest person I didn't take his invitation back at the West End. I let another insecure musician on the gig get me uptight---foolishly. But Doc was a great personality, with a great face and smile, and his warmth came out in his playing. I remember running into him at Alex Music on 48th street, I think in 1995. He was trying out mouthpieces---looking for a shallower one. Later I saw him in the street. He said 'isn't it a beautiful evening?' and smiled a mile wide. Edited June 22, 2012 by fasstrack Quote
flat5 Posted June 30, 2012 Report Posted June 30, 2012 Had a thought about Harold Land's later sound. Mr. Land played oboe. Perhaps he changed to a double embouchure on tenor. Quote
six string Posted July 1, 2012 Report Posted July 1, 2012 I think Jessica Williams has gotten better with age. Once she proved that she could play as fast as reasonably expected she slowed down and put more care into each note and created some very beautiful albums in recent years. Not that I didn't like her early music because I did and I still do. As I've aged I've found myself gravitating to artists playing fewer notes per bar unless it's really called for and having been a fan of Jessica's for a very long time I'm very happy that her playing has changed to suit my personal preferences. I thought she'd always been old. I'm a great fan of her playing but I don't detect that she's playing better now that when I first heard her many years ago. She's always played beautifully. What do you mean by "I thought she'd always been old." ?? Did you mean good instead of old? When I say she's gotten better in no way do I mean she was not good before. She was great imo and she's become even greater in recent years. The difference? She's slowed her playing down for the most part and makes every note count. Many musicians feel like they have to "prove" they are worthy by playing fast and Jessica can play as fast as anybody out there. She doesn't feel a need to play "who's the fastest gun in town" game anymore. So I really like what she's saying these days but make no mistake, I liked what she was saying back in the 80s and 90s too. Which is whay a also said I was still waiting on James Carter. I saw him a couple of times in his earlier days and he was a little too bombastic to me yet you can hear the shear talent this guy has. One of these days I hope he figures that out. To be clear also, I'm not comparing Jessica to James or vice versa. Quote
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