Live version of Ahmad Jamal's "Poinciana"

[Shrdlu]

Most of you will have been familiar with the 1958 live version of "Poinciana" for a long time.

I just found this version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cytUz9KkK9M

This rivals the 1958 version. The percussion swings like crazy. High recommended!

The percussion guy has a pair of the Latin Percussion Giovanni Hidalgo "Galaxy" tumbas. It's hard to make out which sizes he has, but it looks like the requinto and quinto. Usually, if a guy has just two, they are the quinto and the conga. Although I am mainly a reed player, I have all four in this range: requinto, quinto, conga and tumbadora. Nice pieces of kit. I have most of LP's gear, including about 15 cowbells. I just love Latin percussion sounds.

It would be great to have all of that Jamal concert available. They don't look exhausted after "Poinciana".

I also like the original (studio) version of that piece, which has Ray Crawford on guitar instead of Vernel on drums.

The trio with Israel and Vernel plays a sensational version of "Darn That Dream" here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2--wlJmYN0

 

[kh1958]

The drummer is Herlin Riley, I believe.

[Dave James]

Wow...very nice.  Ten minutes of pure pleasure.  Thanks for posting.

Edited July 24, 2020 by Dave James

[Teasing the Korean]

A couple of weeks ago, I heard this from the next room and went to the family room to hear what it was.  My wife was watching this via YouTube on TV.  Agree, it is a cool performance!

[medjuck]

Just when I thought I never wanted to hear it again.  I like the way he interpolates "I'm Glad there is You" a couple of times.

Edited July 25, 2020 by medjuck

[Shrdlu]

Glad you guys are enjoying it.

The bell used in the middle section is the Latin Percussion "Salsa" bell. I have it here. It is the perfect pitch for this, and it adds so much.

The tempo is absolutely perfect. 

Best thing I have heard in a long while.

[Teasing the Korean]

When you guys have a second, you should check out Les Baxter's avant-garde arrangement of "Poinciana."  He keeps the melody in the major key, but harmonizes it in the relative minor.  it is by far the darkest and weirdest version of "Poinciana" that I've ever heard.

It begins at the 11:18 mark:

 

[Larry Kart]

1 hour ago, Teasing the Korean said:

When you guys have a second, you should check out Les Baxter's avant-garde arrangement of "Poinciana."  He keeps the melody in the major key, but harmonizes it in the relative minor.  it is by far the darkest and weirdest version of "Poinciana" that I've ever heard.

It begins at the 11:18 mark:

 

That is weird indeed.

[Teasing the Korean]

49 minutes ago, Larry Kart said:

That is weird indeed.

AND BEAUTIFUL!

[mikeweil]

The percussionist is Manolo Badrena. Most of you will know him from his tenure with Weather Report.

Edited July 25, 2020 by mikeweil

[JSngry]

4 hours ago, mikeweil said:

The percussionist is Manolo Badrena. Most of you will know him from his tenure with Weather Report.

Ok, so on that stage, there is a way to connect Jaco Pastorious & Israel Crosby.w/o interruption by anything except death, But in this game, death is not a factor.

17 hours ago, Teasing the Korean said:

When you guys have a second, you should check out Les Baxter's avant-garde arrangement of "Poinciana."  He keeps the melody in the major key, but harmonizes it in the relative minor.  it is by far the darkest and weirdest version of "Poinciana" that I've ever heard.

It begins at the 11:18 mark:

 

I like that! Imagine being one of the hired guns who showed up to play that session, you got blahblahblah all day long from different sessions, this one's no different, yeah, read it down tweak as needed, then take it, and then ok, next, downbeat, and THAT starts happening...WHOA!

[JSngry]

In the context of Jamal and dynamics, sudden and wide-range, check this one out:

Don't get lulled by the opening, before it's over it's done all kinds of things with dynamics and textures. and Johnny Desmond then....better than Sinatra, imo.

[Teasing the Korean]

3 hours ago, JSngry said:

I like that! Imagine being one of the hired guns who showed up to play that session, you got blahblahblah all day long from different sessions, this one's no different, yeah, read it down tweak as needed, then take it, and then ok, next, downbeat, and THAT starts happening...WHOA!

I love how he ends it on the Hendrix chord, 11 years or so before Hendrix recorded!

Les Baxter does not get the respect he deserves, IMO.  He is often dismissively placed in the "lounge music" category, but his arrangements have all kinds of incredible stuff going on.  He is the missing link between Duke Ellington an Sun Ra. 

 

Edited July 25, 2020 by Teasing the Korean