Frank Hewitt - WE LOVED HIM (on smalls records)

[ghost of miles]

Listening once again to WE LOVED YOU (ordered the new one, hoping to get it by early next week). It's almost like listening to late Bud Powell, but a Powell more coherent & confident, less prone to collapse. Like where Powell might have gone if confinement, abuse, illness, and self-abuse hadn't conspired to do him in. Not to say that Hewitt doesn't have his own unique spark--he surely does. And I say this as someone who likes late Powell; but man, I think I like Hewitt even more.

[JohnS]

I missed most of this thread when I was off line for weeks following my house move so I got a bit behind with all the appreciation here. Just caught up with Frank with 'Not Afraid To Live'. It was Nate's review in Cadence which finally got me to get the credit card out (and excellent value from Caiman). Fascinating piano jazz. I'll be getting more.

[Nate Dorward]

Hey thanks for the kind words on the review--it's a pleasure to try to get Hewitt's music down on paper & I'm glad people are catching onto his work.

[ghost of miles]

Jsngry, you had a chance to hear the new one yet?

[JSngry]

Not yet...

[ghost of miles]

Not yet...

As I recall, sir, you and I share that fine astrological sign known as Sagitarius, meaning that your birthday must be imminent. As is Christmas...

Myself, I'm hoping Santa delivers a mess o' Mighty Quinn re-issues.

[JSngry]

Birthday? Never heard of such a thing. Stopped having them last year.

[ghost of miles]

Birthday? Never heard of such a thing. Stopped having them last year.

Hey, me too! I fear turning into the entity that my own LTB would refer to as "Old Man Crankoos."

I've listened to 400 HUNDRED SATURDAYS several times now & played a couple cuts on the radio, and I do not think it will disappoint... thanks again, sir, for starting this thread--I assure you DEEP attention is being paid (well, not that kinda DEEP, but you know).

[JSngry]

You're more than welcome. You got the power to dissemenate over the airways, so do it!

As for the other thing, I've been turning exponentially crankier the last few months as the Big Hawaii approaches. Been thinking about having an opulent commemorative bash with the theme of "A Half Century Of.....What, Exactly?"

Oh well, Frank Hewitt gives me hope that if I stay active and true, even if if it requires (as I'm sure it will, at least in these parts) being part of the sub-underground, a handfull of people will appreciate my endeavors after I'm dead. So, as Peggy Lee so eloquently put it, let's break out the booze and have a ball!

[ghost of miles]

You're more than welcome. You got the power to dissemenate over the airways, so do it!

As the tune goes, "More than you know"... Doing a Night Lights program devoted to Hewitt that will air Dec. 17.

Edited November 28, 2005 by ghost of miles

[JSngry]

[lkaven]

I had a nice time talking to Ghost of Miles earlier this week about Frank Hewitt. He's got a good program and there ought to be more DJs around like him. I supplied him with some unreleased Hewitt performances that he can use during his program, so if you tune in, you might get to hear some prime Hewitt that you won't be able to hear on disk for a while yet.

Luke

[ghost of miles]

Wanted to mention in this thread that the Night Lights program I did on Hewitt, including interview segments with Luke Kaven, is now archived. Much thanks to both Luke and Jim Sangrey again. This is one of a number of programs that we'll quite possibly re-produce as we ramp up for syndication, so thoughts, comments, feedback, etc. more than welcome.

[Kalo]

Wanted to mention in this thread that the Night Lights program I did on Hewitt, including interview segments with Luke Kaven, is now archived. Much thanks to both Luke and Jim Sangrey again. This is one of a number of programs that we'll quite possibly re-produce as we ramp up for syndication, so thoughts, comments, feedback, etc. more than welcome.

Listening right now. Great show! Beats most of what we get in Boston. I'm excited about the prospect of syndication. I'd love to have your show available locally.

I write for The Boston Globe on occasion and would love to help with the launch of your show on the local airwaves. Please keep us advised of any developments...

Edited January 19, 2006 by Kalo

[ghost of miles]

Wanted to mention in this thread that the Night Lights program I did on Hewitt, including interview segments with Luke Kaven, is now archived. Much thanks to both Luke and Jim Sangrey again. This is one of a number of programs that we'll quite possibly re-produce as we ramp up for syndication, so thoughts, comments, feedback, etc. more than welcome.

Listening right now. Great show! Beats most of what we get in Boston. I'm excited about the prospect of syndication. I'd love to have your show available locally.

I write for The Boston Globe on occasion and would love to help with the launch of your show on the local airwaves. Please keep us advised of any developments...

Kalo, thanks much! Just saw your post today... I'll certainly keep you advised. Does WGBH play Hewitt at all? Steve S. posts here from time to time as SteveBop.

[Joe G]

I'll add my praise: Excellent show, David.

[Clunky]

At last got my copy of "Four hundred saturdays"...

each Volume seems to get better and better.

Just wonderful music and beautifully recorded.. roll on Volume 4.

[Clunky]

anyone heard the new Hewitt CD "Fresh From The Cooler" there are some clips on CDbaby which sound excellent...added to my list

Edited October 22, 2006 by Clunky

[kh1958]

http://cdbaby.com/cd/frankhewitt4

[adh1907]

On 8/1/2005 at 7:46 PM, lkaven said:

Someone commented here on Frank modifications to Night In Tunisia. As you probably figured out, it wasn't a clam, but one of Frank's quirky ways of reworking a tune. I thought I would share comments from Chris Byars, who was the regular saxophonist in Hewitt's Saturday night quintet, on what was going on in that tune:

 

Chris Byars:

 

"The thing that makes "Tunisia" sound so bizarre is the note Frank keeps hammering in the left thumb on the A sections - a C# that goes through both Eb7 and D minor chords. Combine that with his altering of the last two notes of the melody (which should end G# A, he ends F and G together to F# and G# together) it gives the tune a different harmonic content. It's great because as hip as it is, this tune is so, so, so, so cliché at this point - it needed some innovation."

Reactivating an old thread, but getting on top of my mess of CDs, I replayed 3 Frank Hewitt recordings. This track really jumped out, Night in Tunisia, sounds  so odd and original. I almost thought he’s got the changes wrong but it’s so deliberate and different. Wow. 

Interesting story in the sleevenotes about Hewitt visiting Bud Powell, who was half naked and playing Embraceable You. Hewitt leaving and coming back hours later to Powell playing Embraceable You,  half naked. 
 

Anyone still listening to this genius? 

[colinmce]

I came across the first two volumes over the last couple years and really enjoy them. I should seek out the rest.