GONE TOO SOON - Jazz Legends who died young

[Fiftyfifty]

A story so relevant in the context of the current protests against racism:

A legend and an innovator who died in June 1964 after going into a coma caused by a diabetic condition
He collapsed on stage in Berlin and was brought to a hospital. The attending hospital physicians had no idea that he was a diabetic and decided on a stereotypical view of jazz musicians related to substance abuse, that he had overdosed on drugs. He was left in a hospital bed for the drugs to run their course. Ted Curson remembers, "him being black and a jazz musician, they thought he was a junkie. He didn't use any drugs. He was a diabetic – all they had to do was take a blood test and they would have found that out. So he died for nothing.”

Eric Dolphy (1928 -1964)(36) (Clarinetist, Saxophonist, Flautist and multi-instrumentalist) established the bass clarinet as an instrument in music, extended the boundaries of the alto sax and was among the earliest jazz flautists.

More about him in the next post.....

 

[Fiftyfifty]

More on Eric Dolphy

Recorded 29 albums as leader out of which only 4 were released in his lifetime. The rest came posthumously as appreciation increased after his death.

• Started playing at age 6
• Wide intervals and sax techniques that emulated human/animal voices - Dolphy’s scales were his own He would spend his early days listening to the sounds of the birds early morning and notating their calls. He put what he heard into his music.
• Partnered with Charles Mingus, John Coltrane (41) and Booker Little (23)
• He developed a distinctive style which endeared him to innovators like Coltrane and Charles Mingus. Recorded 12 albums with Charles Mingus, 4 with John Coltrane.
• With Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams, formed the highly regarded rhythm section in Miles Davis’s second great quintet (Miles Davis didn’t like his music He said “Eric plays like someone stepped on his foot”)
• Influenced jazz fusion and rock genres - Hendrix, Zappa & Mclaughlin
• ‘Out to Lunch’ recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson and Tony Williams, considered one of the finest albums in Blue Note history
• Left for Europe to settle there feeling that America was not receptive to his music
  Dolphy had become less popular with the record companies and with the jazz clubs as leader His contract with the Five Spot where his live recording was made was prematurely terminated. He couldn’t find enough work. ‘Out to Lunch’ later became a huge hit.
• In Europe, they loved the complexity of his music. Those who played with him in Europe released an album ‘So Long Eric’ in his memory in 2014.

So long, Eric.....

 

[Fiftyfifty]

You gotta love this version and his technique (called glissando I think)

God Bless the Child" is a song written by Billie Holiday after an argument with her mother over money in 1939.
Them that's got shall get
Them that's not shall lose
So the Bible said and it still is news
Mama may have, Papa may have
But God bless the child
that's got his own

 

[Fiftyfifty]

And here he is with Coltrane on 'My Favorite Things'.

Look at the instrument Coltrane is playing!!! Dolphy's brilliant solo starts at 4:06

 

[Fiftyfifty]

 

[Jayant_S]

Out to Lunch’ recorded with Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson and Tony Williams, considered one of the finest albums in Blue Note history

This album sits alongside Bitches Brew for me. Tried ever so hard to get them and I failed!
What a terribly tragic end to his life

 

[Fiftyfifty]

This album sits alongside Bitches Brew for me. Tried ever so hard to get them and I failed!
What a terribly tragic end to his life

CD, Vinyl or digital, what are you looking for?

 

[Fiftyfifty]

Paul Chambers (1935 – 1969) (33) Double bass

He was among the first jazz bassists to perform bowed solos.

• Had a working knowledge of many instruments, including baritone horn, tuba, string bass & baritone saxophone
• Anchor of trumpeter Miles Davis's "first great quintet" (1955–63) which recorded, among others, the famous ‘Kind of Blue’ album
• His contribution on Kind of Blue is considered to be some of the most rhythmically and harmonically supportive bass playing in the history of jazz. Listen to the famous amazing bass line at the opening of 'So what'
• Impeccable time and intonation, virtuosic improvisations
• Transformed the bass from outlining simple triads to playing intricate melodies
• Accompanied some of the best musicians of that time, including Miles Davis, Wynton Kelly, John Coltrane, Art Pepper, Wes Montgomery, Thelonious Monk and Oliver Nelson

As with many other jazz musicians at that time, he developed severe addictions to alcohol and heroin; so much that he is said to have passed out in the studio during a recording and Wynton Kelly had to fill in as upright bass player!

Died of tuberculosis. Just 33. RIP.

 

[Fiftyfifty]

Walkin' sans Miles?

Here's an absolutely amazing video of Walkin' performed at an outing when Miles sat out. Listen to the superb solos, including an amazing demonstration of classy bowed bass by Chambers. Three of the four musicians in this video died young (can you identify them? Its easy.!), such were the times, such is the loss!

 

[Jayant_S]

CD, Vinyl or digital, what are you looking for?

I got both on vinyl, but just couldn't "get" them on repeat listens
Both got sold when my wife heard them!

 

[Fiftyfifty]

I got both on vinyl, but just couldn't "get" them on repeat listens
Both got sold when my wife heard them!

You mean she couldn't hear the birds and animals chirp, moo, purr, bray, grunt and bleat?

 

[Jayant_S]

You mean she couldn't hear the birds and animals chirp, moo, purr, bray, grunt and bleat?

These were the exact words :
"What is this horrible noise? Put it off!"

 

[Fiftyfifty]

From the liner notes on Coltrane's Giant Steps - glowing tribute from the master:

 

[Sushant Sharma]

@Fiftyfifty what a body of work in such a short career of 13 years. Here"s a fact indicative of that

"Miles Davis, Relaxin'
Miles Davis, 'Round about Midnight
Miles Davis, Miles Ahead
Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess
Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain
Miles Davis, Milestones
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
John Coltrane, Blue Train
John Coltrane, Giant Steps
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing
Hank Mobley, Soul Station
Hank Mobley, Workout
Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin'
Wynton Kelly, Kelly at Midnite
Joe Henderson, Four
Oliver Nelson, Blues and the Abstract Truth
Wes Montgomery, Full House
Wes Montgomery, Smokin' at the Half Note
Art Pepper, Meets the Rhythm Section
Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness

Among the albums listed above, we can hear the work of at least five trumpet players, around eight saxophonists, six pianists and at least five drummers. The list, however, represents the work of just one bass player."

Mr. P. C. The Life and Music of Paul Chambers - Rob Palmer

A blog about Jazz featuring CD,and book reviews and postings about the music and its makers.

jazzprofiles.blogspot.com

 

[Fiftyfifty]

What a great post Sushant! And each album in the list is a collectors' item. A list of albums one MUST have. I haven't heard of Capuchin Swing from the list. Must get hold of it.

Cheers!

 

[Sushant Sharma]

You started it Kishore and I am following

I am just glad I know all these guys on the list but haven't heard quite a few of the albums mentioned. True, these albums are a must listen.

 

[Jayant_S]

@Fiftyfifty what a body of work in such a short career of 13 years. Here"s a fact indicative of that

"Miles Davis, Relaxin'
Miles Davis, 'Round about Midnight
Miles Davis, Miles Ahead
Miles Davis, Porgy and Bess
Miles Davis, Sketches of Spain
Miles Davis, Milestones
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
John Coltrane, Blue Train
John Coltrane, Giant Steps
Jackie McLean, Capuchin Swing
Hank Mobley, Soul Station
Hank Mobley, Workout
Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin'
Wynton Kelly, Kelly at Midnite
Joe Henderson, Four
Oliver Nelson, Blues and the Abstract Truth
Wes Montgomery, Full House
Wes Montgomery, Smokin' at the Half Note
Art Pepper, Meets the Rhythm Section
Sonny Rollins, Tenor Madness

Among the albums listed above, we can hear the work of at least five trumpet players, around eight saxophonists, six pianists and at least five drummers. The list, however, represents the work of just one bass player."

Mr. P. C. The Life and Music of Paul Chambers - Rob Palmer

A blog about Jazz featuring CD,and book reviews and postings about the music and its makers.

jazzprofiles.blogspot.com

Translates into a ready made shopping list
Gotta add this album too:

 

[Sushant Sharma]

Translates into a ready made shopping list
Gotta add this album too:
View attachment 47011

haha..yes Jayant. an expensive one nonetheless.

 

[Jayant_S]

haha..yes Jayant. an expensive one nonetheless.

Makes the hunt and discovering good deals more worthwhile

 

[Fiftyfifty]

Makes the hunt and discovering good deals more worthwhile

Do you guys stream?