[Dixielandjazz] Fwd: Basie white men

[Marek Boym]

No idea how this got sent in mid-sentence.  Mysterious are the ways of the
computer!  See below for the WHOLE

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Marek Boym <marekboym at gmail.com>
Date: 11 March 2014 00:23
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Basie white men
To: "ROBERT R. CALDER" <serapion at btinternet.com>
Cc: Dixieland Jazz Mailing List <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>

Basie I gather wanted to engage the English saxophonist Tony Coe
>
on tenor.
>
True enough, albeir I could never fathom his reasons - Tony Coe hardly
sounded like a jazz musician to me (despite the fantastic rendition of Bali
Hai).

>
> This less conservative tendencies lifted Al out of his more conservative
> ones.
> A Willie Smith enthusiast on alto (played clarinet and tenor with Al)
>

Willei Smith was another story altogehter.

>
> Tony also does go in for some avant-garde non (in terms of this list) OKOM
>
> but he still congratulated the late and much missed Danny Moss
>

Another great player.  Had he been American, he would probably have become
one ogf the greatest stars.  But he was British, and later - Australian.
Made some fantastic recordings - I suggest his playing at the Bob Barnard
Jazz Parties.  Unfortunately I've never heard him live, and it seems I've
missed my chance (I don't believe in concerts in the hereafter0.

>
> in his campaign to support musical tenor saxophone playing
>
> as contrasted with imitations of John Coltrane
>

Why mention imitations, Robert?  Did Coltrane sound like music?  I know
about the "sheets of sound," but I am not a native speaker, and to us
foreigners "ee" an "i" sound the same.

>
>
> and misapplying them to fashionable non-musical ends.
>

Sounds like coltrane himself.

>
> Great ballad players, Danny and Tony both,
>
>
> Nat Pierce was also a very decent pianist,
>
> and if he very occasionally lacked spontaneity,
> that was in marked comparison with all his many good days.
>
> Some of which were as substitute for Basie.
>

VEry similar, aprce style.  wonderful!

>
>
> Cheers (have had half a bottle of Amphorae - an Israeli "boutique" winery
- 2009 Med Red - great wine, and i probably opened it too soon)