• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Clifford Brown

Mar 14, 2003
8,127
10,484
Seattle, WA
I was searching for something today and found the "was Miles Davis overrated" thread. Kind of glad I didn't see that when it was live, because those things never go well, but discussions of Miles' greatness, invariably lead me to Brownie, who I think was generally the perfect jazz musician in fundementally every way except longevity, through no fault of his own.

I don't really want to offer that up to debate, because I don't want to suggest disrespect to the other greats, but let me ask:

What would have happened if he had lived? No way of knowing what kind of phases he would have gone through, but would he be a household name? Would jazz have developed differently? He had such a huge impact in such a short period of time, I just can't help but wonder.

Anyone up for a theoretical discussion?

Troy
 
Not without more coffee. The Brown/Roach group was really without peer (until the Davis Quintet) in terms of a popular, touring stable unit. Sonny sounded great, but the group with Harold Land was probably my favorite.
 
TroyK said:
I was searching for something today and found the "was Miles Davis overrated" thread. Kind of glad I didn't see that when it was live, because those things never go well, but discussions of Miles' greatness, invariably lead me to Brownie, who I think was generally the perfect jazz musician in fundementally every way except longevity, through no fault of his own.

I don't really want to offer that up to debate, because I don't want to suggest disrespect to the other greats, but let me ask:

What would have happened if he had lived? No way of knowing what kind of phases he would have gone through, but would he be a household name? Would jazz have developed differently? He had such a huge impact in such a short period of time, I just can't help but wonder.

Anyone up for a theoretical discussion?

Troy
Some great points...all I can say is maybe more players today would have a bigger, more beautifull sound and Clifford's phrasing would be a model for any up coming jazz artist. I'm guessing Lafaro,Blanton,and others who passed on to soon would of added more to the Art..