Comments on: The coolest guys ever.

By: rootlesscosmo

rootlesscosmo — Sun, 04 Jun 2006 17:15:15 +0000

I bought "Kind of Blue" shortly after it was released in 1959, and I am here to tell you it was astonishing. Bebop--"classic" bebop of the 40's, the era of Charlie Parker and Bud Powell--was already diverging down new paths; just "sounding like Bird" was turning stale. The Jazz Messengers (Horace Silver, Art Blakey et al.) were taking a direction toward a "churchier," funkier style, good listening but sort of a creative retreat (or so it seemed to us young beboppers); "Kind of Blue," the writing, Bill Evans's playing, and above all Coltrane--listen to his solo on "Blue in Green," my candidate for the most beautiful 16 bars in jazz--were really moving ahead, which for bebop, a "make it new" modernism if ever there was one, was the highest, bravest achievement.

By: basset

basset — Mon, 29 May 2006 00:34:21 +0000

yeah, as I remember he made some remark about Steve looking like “a stick insect”… when I saw Steve perform in Nashville a few weeks ago he just looked old. Rick looks like he might be twice as big as he was in the old days, but what the hell, I do too… and both of ‘em can still play…

By: Danny

Danny — Sun, 28 May 2006 20:05:47 +0000

Yeah, I know what you mean. The interview was on one of their recent dvd releases (Yesspeak). He also made the comment that they are just the same today as they were back then except now they each weigh individually what they then weighed collectively. Pretty funny stuff. Of course, he is wrong about Steve. Steve is gaunt and I think rather unhealthy looking for being a longtime committed vegan.

By: basset

basset — Sun, 28 May 2006 02:20:35 +0000

“a spot of tea” sounds appropriate but kinda out of character for Wakeman… even thirty-plus years later, I still remember standing at the foot of the stage in Louisville during the “Topographic Oceans” tour and watching him pound what looked like a whole case of warm Stroh’s during the show without missing a note, then come back for more in the encore.

By: Nance

Nance — Sat, 27 May 2006 12:57:58 +0000

Ash, one of my favorite memories of NO was when we wandered past Preservation Hall as the music was starting. This would normally be a place I’d avoid like herpes; I had visions of a bunch of horrible tourists watching a group of criminally bored musicians playing “Saints” for the 12 billionth time. I was right about the tourists, but to my utter surprise, the band was smokin’. They played “I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate” with real energy and joy. I treasure that moment as much as the night we saw Ellis Marsalis play at some bar with a few of his students, kids no older than teens, all dressed in coats and ties, serious as hell and really good.

By: ashley

ashley — Sat, 27 May 2006 05:53:04 +0000

In New Orleans, a trumpet is still a way out of poverty.

By: Jim from Fla

Jim from Fla — Fri, 26 May 2006 16:01:37 +0000

Amazing video, amazing music. Thanks for sharing the clip. What a great way to start the weekend!

By: Danny

Danny — Fri, 26 May 2006 14:56:20 +0000

Amazing clip. Funny how some of the guys were on break on stage or only slightly off-stage, having a smoke during each other’s solos. Reminds me of an interview where Rick Wakeman was explaining how he would have a spot of tea during Chris Squire’s bass solos. He remarked that it was a wonderful way to spend a bass solo.