Scott Lafaro Book - Page 3

calivox · #41 10-08-2009, 07:33 PM

It was Frank Isola on that date. Swingin' band.

mark

Mark Carlsen · #42 10-09-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calivox

Paul:

We can narrow down when you saw him with Kenton as he was only with the band for a few weeks in March, 1959.

There is one recording of Scott with Kenton and on the recording Scott has a feature on Bernie's Tune. Scott plays the melody with drums and minimal piano and then solos with the band interjecting in places. The middle is typical Kenton blow it out stuff and then Scott takes it out. It's pretty mind boggling playing for 1959. A few other guys could have played like that (Red, Oscar P, Mingus) but not many. Do you, by chance, recall seeing them play that in concert?

mark

+1 on this recording.... I have a lot of the Buddy Morrow stuff as I worked for Buddy back in the early 80's... We had lots of discussions about Scott, one of his favorites was "Golden Trombone" on the Mercury label. There is a cool bass riff on "You'd be so Nice to Come Home to". It's a pretty commercial disc, no bass solo's like the Kenton band, but still worth checking out for some early Scotty...

MR PC · #43 10-09-2009, 05:44 PM

Great post. Now we're cooking with gas!

Paul Warburton · #44 10-10-2009, 08:48 AM

Again, I had a leg up on most of the stuff in the book through many common friends and players that Scott and I both worked with and knew, but one of the sweetest little pearls in the book was how the title to "Gloria's Step" came into being.
Gloria Gabriel was Scott's lady friend that he shared an apartment with in the Village. She was a professional dancer. As the book says, most people thought the title to the tune alluded to her being a dancer, when in fact, it was Scott's listening for her foot steps on the stairs after a days work while he was practicing in their apartment.

MR PC · #45 10-21-2009, 04:04 PM

Just got my Holiday issue of BP Mag with Scott Lafaro on the cover. Incredible tribute to a great artist. This is an important piece for letting bassists who have never heard/heard of Scotty that they have some important bass playing to listen to. And I imagine that "Jade Visions" will become a very, very well read book from now on.

Thank you BP and John Goldsby!

GM60466 · #46 11-03-2009, 11:09 AM

I like the music CD more than the book. The restoration of his bass was an interesting chapter. I always knew he had a great work ethic. It is a shame that he left so early. I can only imagine what he would have added to Miles' Brew

Paul Warburton · #47 11-03-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM60466

I like the music CD more than the book.

Any chance of more specificity?

GM60466 · #48 11-04-2009, 07:09 AM

First, I kept hoping that there would some huge revelation about Scott's playing. You know, like a fairy godmother sprinkled him with magic dust. I'm mean his life was kind of Vanilla, and for a guy with that much talent, I expected some fireworks on the page.

The music CD is pure groove. I try to visualize his fingering patterns while listening. This guy was good!!

Paul Warburton · #49 11-04-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GM60466

First, I kept hoping that there would some huge revelation about Scott's playing. You know, like a fairy godmother sprinkled him with magic dust. I'm mean his life was kind of Vanilla, and for a guy with that much talent, I expected some fireworks on the page.

This guy was good!!

Yes, he was. More like an innovator.
The revelation, IMO, can only be found by listening to him. (As are the fireworks).
If you consider working with Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton all the way to Monk and Ornette Coleman, being 1/3 of a trio that changed the concepts of rhythm section playing forever, being able to play major studio sessions in Hollywood during it's most fertile recording period, then recording major works with the likes of Gunther Schuller and John Lewis in NYC.
"vanilla", then I could only wish my life is so vanilla. A cute post card from Miles Davis with a hint that I might be his next bass player would be cool too.
Congratulations on buying the book and I think you might find it a bit more interesting if you do some more research, and in particular, more listening.

EDIT: I see in your Profile that Pollock style painting is big for you. The Ornette Coleman record "Free Jazz" has a Pollock cover. It features one of the greatest bass duets in recoring history, IMO. Scotty and Charlie Haden.

GM60466 · #50 11-04-2009, 08:40 AM

When I said Vanilla, I was thinking Scott's life outside music.
Like most players, I'm always searching for more of his playing. I would love to look at any of his charts and read his notations.
I've been listening to Scott with Bill Evans this morning. I'm blown away every time I hear it.
Back in the late '60s, I took a few lessons from Eldee Young. One afternoon all we did was listen to Scott's recordings with Stan Getz. He was like the Jimi Hendrix of the bass

Paul Warburton · #51 11-04-2009, 08:56 AM

Ha.
I knew Eldee. I sat in with him here in Denver. He played jazz cello then we switched up and I did that. Remember "Hello Cello?"
Yeah, I know....I'm old.
Nice talkin' to you.