[Dixielandjazz] Saint Louis Blues ~ Louis ~ Stan Brager

[Harry Callaghan]

I'm not gonna throw any more trumpeters into the mix right now, but since
the subject of "Kind of Blue" came up........I've heard that many, including
Quincy Jones, regard it as the greatest jazz album of all time.

I am not about to knock it by any means.

However, before you have the jury foreman pass that little piece of paper to
the judge, I say that one should give a listen to an album entitled
"Somethin' Else"

It was recorded in March 1958 and has Miles and Cannonball Adderly as part
of a quintet.

Kind of Blue, recorded a year later has the same two as part of a septet.

My personal preference has always been the former, perhaps because it did
not include John Coltrane, who was never my favorite saxophonist.

Of course I've been wrong before.......look at Ike & Adlai in '56 (but that
shouldn't count against me cause I wasn't old enough to vote at the time)

The only thing I should have added regarding Chet Baker is that until the
day he died, I never forgave him for his vocal rendition of "My Funny
Valentine".

I don't remember the year he recorded it.  I'm reasonably certain that
Lorenz Hart was already deceased but I believe that Richard Rodgers was
still alive at the time and had to suffer through it.

It's always been high on my list of worst ever, right up there with Frank
Sinatra & Dagmar's "Mama Will Bar

As Dino always usta say, "Keep them cards'n'letters comin'"

HC.


On 3/14/10, Stan Brager <sbrager at verizon.net> wrote:
>
>  Thanks for your thoughts, Harry. I’d forgotten about Nat Adderley – a
> wonderfully lyrical player. I agree with you that Chet Baker was mostly a
> Miles clone. He was also the perfect foil for Gerry Mulligan on his first
> several quartet albums in the early ‘50s. His star diminished when Lee
> Konitz joined the quartet.
>
>
>
> Harry James got a bad rap for his big band sides during the forties which
> were well done but lacking in jazz. Yet, remembering his work with Benny
> Goodman, his late 30s small group sides as well as the sides with Teddy
> Wilson’s & Lionel Hampton’s groups and his later big bands in the 50s and
> beyond, I’d put him on the list of excellent jazz players.
>
>
>
> But this is merely my opinion.
>
>
>
> Stan
>
> Stan Brager
>
>
>
> *From:* Harry Callaghan [mailto:meetmrcallaghan at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Sunday, March 14, 2010 5:21 AM
> *To:* Stan Brager
> *Cc:* dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> *Subject:* Re: [Dixielandjazz] Saint Louis Blues ~ Louis ~ Stan Brager
>
>
>
> How y'all are today?
>
>
>
> As to listing our favorite trumpet players, I think it's something that can
> go round and round because it pretty much comes down to "different strokes
> for diffrent folks"
>
>
>
> While the greatness of Miles Davis and what he accomplished in the jazz
> world is certainly something that cannot be denied, as with Marek, he has
> never really been exactly my cup of tea.
>
>
>
> However, I have always had a fondness for Chet Baker, whose style
> was probably more similar to Miles than the others that Stan has mentioned
> here.  I recently saw a documentary on Chet that I found to be quite
> depressing though.  Throughout it I was constantly reminded of the TV ad
> where they show a couple of sunnyside up eggs sizzling in a pan and the
> voiceover says, "This is your brain on drugs"..
>
>
>
> Another trumpeter I have considered to be quite impressive through the
> years was Nat Adderly, who was pretty much overshadowed by his brother
> Julian "Cannonball" Adderly.  If not in the great category, certainly
> several degrees above merely competent.
>
>
>
> Due to the fact that he lost his life in a car accident at the tender age
> of 26, we will never truly know what would have eventually become of the
> career of Clifford Brown and can only speculate.
>
>
>
> And keep an eye, or moreso an ear out for a young lady who is definitely on
> the rise.  I am speaking of Canadian trumpeter Bria Skonberg, who I believe
> to be not more than 23 years old and is currently making her mark across the
> USA.  I am predicting a very
>
> bright future for her.as her work continually demonstrates her ability and
> a willingness to be versatile
>
>
>
> I have avoided naming such figures as Harry James and Doc Severinsen due to
> the fact that I do not believe that the vast majority of their work could
> really be considered jazz but being the big band lover that I will always
> be, I'm sure you will agree with me that they are at least deserving of
> honorable mention here.
>
>
>
> Tides,
>
> HC.
>
>
>
> On 3/14/10, *Stan Brager* <sbrager at verizon.net> wrote:
>
> Richard;
>
> Satchmo's 1929 recording of "St. Louis Blues" is my favorite of the several
> he made. In my opinion, Louis' early work remains the best Armstrong of
> all.
> His work at that time sparkles like diamonds in the sun. I concur regarding
> the later Handy LP and add both the Waller LP and the 1940 session with
> Sidney Bechet to the list of outstanding Armstrong.
>
> If you're asking about other favorite trumpet players, how about Bix
> Beiderbecke, Henry "Red" Allen, Roy Eldridge, Clark Terry, Rex Stewart,
> Ruby
> Braff and Miles Davis.
>
> "Two to Tango" was a popular song when I was a teen. I still don't like
> anyone's version.
>
> Stan
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: richard.flecknell at ntlworld.com
> > [mailto:richard.flecknell at ntlworld.com]
> > Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2010 9:13 AM
> > To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
> > Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List
> > Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Saint Louis Blues ~ Louis ~ Stan Brager
> >
> > Stan, regarding Louis Armstrong many versions. The famous one of his
> > was the earlier 1929 version. My preference is for the one on the 50s
> > WC Handy Album. Will anyone better it.
> >
> > Today, there are probably thousands who play higher, faster, more
> > technically  accomplished trumpet than Louis ever could.
> >
> > Compare their work against his of around 40 years recording ~ from
> > Tears to the pop hit Hello Dolly  ~ any suggestions? No contest.
> >
> > Guess who's my favourite musician then (favorite for those that can't
> > spell).
> > He did make a few duff recordings.  Stan, I'm thinking of Two To Tango.
> >
> > Richard Ole
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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>



-- 
Music you grew up listening to
Or when we're done you'll wish
you grew up listening to.

Callaghan's Corner
on okom.com
7a & 7p Eastern Sat & Sun