I heard Mile's band with Trane, Philly Joe and Paul Chambers at Jazz City, in Hollywood around 1959. Red Garland wouldn't fly. always drove and got hung up in Texas visiting his relatives. At one point, Philly was nodding on the stand, still playing, Miles looked over and yelled, "Wake up MutherFu****." Philly sprang back to life and didn't miss a beat. There were only 4 people in the club; my friend Dave, I and others across the room. During a break, Miles sat down at our table, wearing shaded, and stared at us for 15 minutes, he never said a word and at the end of the break, went back on stage to play. Maynard Ferguson's big band was across the street at Peacock Alley and the room was full.
I’m insanely jealous….i was born in 1962. I did see, however, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich “share” the round, rotating stage at the old Valley Forge Music Fair. I might have been 15, and I was mesmerized.
Well, the blues are more popular than Jazz, so yes, you do have a chance. If you tell jokes between songs, you'll increase your popularity, buying drinks for the crowd also helps and shows the management what a good sport you are.
In 1958, I went to a concert featuring Shelly Manne and his group. There were 3 people there and the band was burning.
Always play as if it was your last gig and this was how you want to be rememered.
Thanks for the encouragement! I'll keep that in mind and play as if it's my last gig. I did play and sing like there were 300 people there anyway...well not exactly maybe, after all the listeners feedbacking energy is different. Jokes? No good for me, stories...Better. As far as buying the audience a drink... Yeah, why not? Only thing is, I did not make enough money that eve to buy them some. Anyway, they all got home happier than they came and that's all that matters. All? Mostly. Better.
You did the right thing, and yes happier is better. I once knew a Spanish drummer, Ramon something. He was at the begining of his career. I met him in Majorca via his girlfriend, Robert Graves' daughter. So long ago, 1962.
“Jones had a special rim shot that he liked to hit immediately after a Miles solo: it became known around jazz as a Philly lick. Soon, other musicians began asking their drummers for it, too.” - is this actually a thing?
It wasn't just a one-time rimshot after Davis finished a solo, it was a rimshot played on the fourth beat of every other measure. He didn't do it all the time, he just did it to goose the soloist a little, maybe for 5 to ten measures at a time. You can hear him do it on the recordings.
I thought that might be what he was referring to. I’ve read that this was inspired by what guitarist Ray Crawford would play with the drummerless Ahmad Jamal trio. If you listen to the Jamal trio, Crawford is clearly emulating what a conga player would play. So it’s maybe drummer influencing guitarist influencing drummer…
A little drummer talk (I am one.) - this would be referred to as cross sticking. (Laying the stick across the snare drum). Rim shot is when you strike the drum normally but catch the rim at the same time for a loud crack. Philly Joe was also a master of the stick shot (hitting one stick with the other). Just sharing for whoever might be interested.
Grabbing this book! As a huge jazz head and jazz singer I was turned on to these guys as a child. Miles was my first concert. Great post. I never knew they had this sort of oil and water situation in the beginning. Thank you for this!
I still have the album 'Used to be Duke' by the Johnny Hodges band featuring John Coltrane on Tenor Sax. My understanding is that Coltrane loved Hodges style and Hodges took him under his wing.
I think Hodges broke up the band to go back with Ellington (most of the band were ex Ellington)
Clearly Coltrane had a pretty straight ahead style at this stage, certainly not the style we have come to expect.
Coltrane's ballad album was my path to appreciating Coltrane. He was such a good ballad player, a very tender approach to the songs, unhurried, very much in the moment, and sensitively backed by Tyner, Garrison and Jones.
I was too. I was 7 at the time. Could have been at either movie house, The Grand or the Landis on either end of Landis Ave. I agree, very improbable place for Trane to usher in the New Year.
Not much a jazz aficionado so feel a bit out of place here. My collection of jazz albums is limited but Kind of Blue is so good it is immediately seen as a premier disc of any genre. Appreciate this article.
I heard Mile's band with Trane, Philly Joe and Paul Chambers at Jazz City, in Hollywood around 1959. Red Garland wouldn't fly. always drove and got hung up in Texas visiting his relatives. At one point, Philly was nodding on the stand, still playing, Miles looked over and yelled, "Wake up MutherFu****." Philly sprang back to life and didn't miss a beat. There were only 4 people in the club; my friend Dave, I and others across the room. During a break, Miles sat down at our table, wearing shaded, and stared at us for 15 minutes, he never said a word and at the end of the break, went back on stage to play. Maynard Ferguson's big band was across the street at Peacock Alley and the room was full.
I’m insanely jealous….i was born in 1962. I did see, however, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie and Buddy Rich “share” the round, rotating stage at the old Valley Forge Music Fair. I might have been 15, and I was mesmerized.
A good age to be mesmerized by music, it stays with you forever.
Haha! Such a great anecdote, thanks for sharing
Wow 4 people.? I had 3 in October in a blues club in Barcelona, maybe I got a chance...
Well, the blues are more popular than Jazz, so yes, you do have a chance. If you tell jokes between songs, you'll increase your popularity, buying drinks for the crowd also helps and shows the management what a good sport you are.
In 1958, I went to a concert featuring Shelly Manne and his group. There were 3 people there and the band was burning.
Always play as if it was your last gig and this was how you want to be rememered.
Thanks for the encouragement! I'll keep that in mind and play as if it's my last gig. I did play and sing like there were 300 people there anyway...well not exactly maybe, after all the listeners feedbacking energy is different. Jokes? No good for me, stories...Better. As far as buying the audience a drink... Yeah, why not? Only thing is, I did not make enough money that eve to buy them some. Anyway, they all got home happier than they came and that's all that matters. All? Mostly. Better.
You did the right thing, and yes happier is better. I once knew a Spanish drummer, Ramon something. He was at the begining of his career. I met him in Majorca via his girlfriend, Robert Graves' daughter. So long ago, 1962.
This was an instant purchase. Can’t wait to put it in my reading slot.
Forever after Philly Joe's tenure as drummer, Miles would never hire another without Joe's approval.
Even Tony Williams!
Huh, did not know that...
Historical jazz of biblical importance, the Kind of Blue backstory never gets old.
I was born in Vineland NJ some years later. I can hardly imagine a jazz venue in my hometown…
“Jones had a special rim shot that he liked to hit immediately after a Miles solo: it became known around jazz as a Philly lick. Soon, other musicians began asking their drummers for it, too.” - is this actually a thing?
As soon as I read that I heard it, and yes.
If anyone could point to a recorded example of this, I would appreciate it. I’m here to learn! The term “rim shot” gets used in various ways.
Any recording with Miles and Trane.
It wasn't just a one-time rimshot after Davis finished a solo, it was a rimshot played on the fourth beat of every other measure. He didn't do it all the time, he just did it to goose the soloist a little, maybe for 5 to ten measures at a time. You can hear him do it on the recordings.
I thought that might be what he was referring to. I’ve read that this was inspired by what guitarist Ray Crawford would play with the drummerless Ahmad Jamal trio. If you listen to the Jamal trio, Crawford is clearly emulating what a conga player would play. So it’s maybe drummer influencing guitarist influencing drummer…
A little drummer talk (I am one.) - this would be referred to as cross sticking. (Laying the stick across the snare drum). Rim shot is when you strike the drum normally but catch the rim at the same time for a loud crack. Philly Joe was also a master of the stick shot (hitting one stick with the other). Just sharing for whoever might be interested.
Grabbing this book! As a huge jazz head and jazz singer I was turned on to these guys as a child. Miles was my first concert. Great post. I never knew they had this sort of oil and water situation in the beginning. Thank you for this!
Fire & ice indeed!
Very interesting article.
I still have the album 'Used to be Duke' by the Johnny Hodges band featuring John Coltrane on Tenor Sax. My understanding is that Coltrane loved Hodges style and Hodges took him under his wing.
I think Hodges broke up the band to go back with Ellington (most of the band were ex Ellington)
Clearly Coltrane had a pretty straight ahead style at this stage, certainly not the style we have come to expect.
Coltrane's ballad album was my path to appreciating Coltrane. He was such a good ballad player, a very tender approach to the songs, unhurried, very much in the moment, and sensitively backed by Tyner, Garrison and Jones.
What a beautiful taste of jazz esoterica! Thanks for the intro to Kaplan's new book.
OK, back to work....
I was too. I was 7 at the time. Could have been at either movie house, The Grand or the Landis on either end of Landis Ave. I agree, very improbable place for Trane to usher in the New Year.
I have to dust off my original 6 eye purchased newl
The drummer I liked best with Miles was Jimmy Cobb.
Just bought it
Not much a jazz aficionado so feel a bit out of place here. My collection of jazz albums is limited but Kind of Blue is so good it is immediately seen as a premier disc of any genre. Appreciate this article.
Man, what a great story.