[Dixielandjazz] Bill Barber's Jazz Tuba

[Steve Barbone]

Dan Augustine posted Bill Barber's obit. Barber was in the forefront of
"cool" jazz which began in Claude Thornhill's band probably after Gil Evans
starting arranging for it. Thornhill had been using French Horns, Reeds and
a Tuba to play the melody, but not really playing jazz till Evans got there.

What the obit left out is that it was Bill Barber playing MELODY tuba,
rather than acting as a bass, or bottom in both the Thornhill band and later
the Davis Nonet.

Miles loved that sound when he heard it. And when the second recording ban
helped force the dissolution of Thornhill's band, among others. Miles who
had a Royal Roost gig lined up, formed his "Nonet" reducing Thornhill's band
size down to 9, which Miles felt was the minimum number of men needed to get
the sound that had so impressed him. The Nonet went into the Roost opposite
Count Basie in mid 1948.

Miles's first cool band included: Lee Konitz, Gerry Mulligan, John Lewis,
Max Roach, Junior Collins (fr horn), Bill Barber, Al McKibbon, and Ted Kelly
and Mike Zwerin alternating on trombone. Later editions included J.J.
Johnson, Kenny Clarke, Al Haig and Joe Schulman who subbed for the originals
when they were unavailable. Gunther Schuller was on French Horn for the
group's last recording session..

Arrangements were by Gill Evans, Gerry Mulligan and John Lewis who were
prominently credited on the sign outside. Another first.

Note the white players/arrangers in this group which should change some
perceptions. Miles is still often wrongly criticized for categorically
disliking whites by critics who neither knew him, nor his views.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone