Rhythm Sections

[Chebass88]

@ Bob G - I'll check those tunes out. I really like when bands do their own arrangements of covers. Arturo Sandoval's version of "Blackbird", Buddy Rich's version of "Norweigan Wood" stand out as two examples frequently played on my ipod.

@ JM3 - are you saying there is more to music in the DC area than Go-Go?

[JM3]

Does smooth jazz count? This scene is jacked up with venues - its trending 20 something...the rock scene is active. I'm pretty much the best at what I'm trying to do here...and that's sad actually...ha

[Joe Murphy]

Does smooth jazz count?

Sure, especially if it's Kenny G... then each infraction counts as a -4.

[bob g]

...
I play new orleans music-
...

In the small world category, my grandfather was a jazz pianist of some renown in his day. He started professionally in the taverns in the south side of Chicago when he was twelve in the early 1920s playing Chicago style jazz which, at that time, was basically New Orleans north. His glory years were the 30s - 50s. He was known for his stride style, particularly for keeping everyone together with his strong left hand. I don't have to tell you guys this but, for those who don't know, in those days the piano was part of the rhythm section along with a tuba. He told me that he listened to King Oliver and Kid Ory as he was coming up. I have his 78s and there is plenty of Jelly Roll Morton in there. When Bop took off "Traditional Jazz" was relabeled Dixieland and, for most purposes, pushed aside and marginalized. It's great that you play some of that old tradition.

[JM3]

I recently started a grant process to hold a song contest for jelly roll Morton tunes. The contest would be for the best rearrangement of a jelly roll tune done in any genre. I wanted to serve jello shots (hey,Im from Nola) at the event. The idea was to see radical reinterpretations of those old almost forgotten compositions. I won a few grants but got bored with having to walk that walk. I'm recontextualizing a lot of king Oliver's jelly roll stuff with abelton live and electronica/ambient stuff. I like it.
I hire a lot of college guys- they know none of that stuff.

It's a deep well,, on the subject of rhythm sections, it was a Nola bassist working with count basie that did the tuba in as a bass. Counterintuitive but true- who was your grandfather? He must have known the main cats- including the nefarious melrose brothers

[bob g]

I recently started a grant process to hold a song contest for jelly roll Morton tunes. The contest would be for the best rearrangement of a jelly roll tune done in any genre. I wanted to serve jello shots (hey,Im from Nola) at the event. The idea was to see radical reinterpretations of those old almost forgotten compositions. I won a few grants but got bored with having to walk that walk. I'm recontextualizing a lot of king Oliver's jelly roll stuff with abelton live and electronica/ambient stuff. I like it.
I hire a lot of college guys- they know none of that stuff.

It's a deep well,, on the subject of rhythm sections, it was a Nola bassist working with count basie that did the tuba in as a bass. Counterintuitive but true- who was your grandfather? He must have known the main cats- including the nefarious melrose brothers

Mel Grant, yes, he knew a few of the heavy hitters, but less than one would imagine because everyone was on the road, working the clubs and passing in the night, so to speak. Unfortunately the color barrier was such that he never played on stage with the black musicians. I saw a photo once of him and group of black players in a hotel room with some instruments and bottles of booze laying about. I didn't think much of it. But understanding those times from their perspective it meant that Grandpa had to go to the "Colored" hotel to see the dudes. They could never go to his place to swing after the show.

Your contest sounds like a riot.

[tertius]

Bill Bruford and Tony Levin/John Wetton, in various flavors of Crimson.
Also Terry Bozzio and Tony Levin. (Bozzio Levin Stevens).

Pretty much every Zappa rhythm section ever. Especially those with Ruth.

[Frankie]

Is there a better rhythm section than Baker and Bruce of Cream?

I listened to the live at the Fillmore version of Spoonful through more than half of my six bench top sets tonight. While Clapton gets the spotlight the other two are fantastic. So, who is better?

.

^^^Whiteboy bullshit.

Hendrix.

[bob g]

^^^Whiteboy bullshit.

Hendrix.

Um, Mitchell and Redding were white boys.

If you're talking leads, a Clapton vs Hendrix thread might be worth while. If you're talking race, I don't get your point.

[Chebass88]

...Pretty much every Zappa rhythm section ever. Especially those with Ruth.

I agree - YCDTOSA Volume 2 (The Helsinki Concert) showcases that era well - with Ruth Underwood on percussion, Tom Fowler on bass, & Chester Thompson on drums. Also has Nappy (Napoleon Murphy Brock) on sax. The dexterity and skill demonstrated on "Whipping Floss" is exactly what professional musicians should be able to do. Her playing on "St. Alfonso's Pancake Breakfast" is awesome.