Flute

[Milestones]

Maybe it's the rarity of the flute (in jazz) that makes it rather interesting to me. The first flute player I got to know was Eric Dolphy. Mingus was one of the first jazz artists I ever explored, and I seemed to find quite a bit of his work featuring Dolphy. Back then I thought Dolphy was making some of the weirdest sounds I ever heard on alto and bass clarinet. Of course, there is much weirder stuff than what he played, plus I've grown to appreciate his talent on these two instruments. But the flute drew me in from the very first moment. I'm still not sure anyone has surpassed Dolphy...maybe James Newton.

My top three recommendations for Dolphy:

• "Meditations on Integration" (Great Concert of Mingus)
  
• "You Don't Know What Love Is" (Last Date)
  
• "Gazzelloni" (Out to Lunch)
  

I've certainly enjoyed Newton, an under-sung giant. It's too bad he's been under the radar for many years now, and he seems to have shifted entirely to Classical.

James Spaulding...another great player, but the flute was second to the main axe of alto.

Many notable players out there, such as Roland Kirk, Lew Tabackin, Frank Wess, Talib Kibwe.

Of course, you have those in a more popular vein, like Herbie Mann and Dave Valentin.

Let's have a discussion on jazz flute.

[king ubu]

some previous flute discussions that might be of interest:

happy reading

[Milestones]

I do like the work of Jerome Richardson...what I've heard of it. He is one of those guys who seemed to pop up on a lot of Prestige blowing sessions.

Unrelated....seems like Organissimo has been around for quite a few years now. When did it start?

[Chuck Nessa]

March 2003.

[Teasing the Korean]

Vibes and alto flute playing a unison line is one of the sensual sounds in all music.

[flat5]

Harmon muted trumpet and flute in thirds or sixths is a useful voicing. Unison too.

Harry Klee

Bud Shank

Paul Horn

Buddy Collette

Frank Wess

Yusef Lateef

Bobby Jasper

etc.