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Double Bass Gil Scott-Heron

TroyK

TroyK

Mar 14, 2003
8,127
10,484
Seattle, WA
#1
I don't want to start a political thread here, but betwixt us jazz guys, I would have really liked to have seen Gil Scott-Heron as the featured poet at the innaugration today. I'm not quite sure who the one they chose was and wasn't quite sure where she was going with her poem. I think GSH could have been an important voice for this historic event. It certainly would have been a good story to have him speak today...of course he would have had to watch his language, but I'll be he and President Obama could have worked that out.

And, since it's DC, I would have had Butch playing bass reunited with Herbie Hancock and maybe Sonny Rollins and Victor Lewis.
 
#3
I know what you mean, but I think it would have been okay. Certainly they would have had to talk about it first. He chose a very controversial conservative for the benediction, a little equal controversy from the poet to balance it the other way would have not been fatal.

But his voice and his place in history would have been meaningful today...and quite a bit hipper.
 
#4
Hey guys, it was a damn good show, poet and all, and I was riveted throughout.

Too bad the Chief Justice ****ed up the Presidential Oath but **** happens in a live show! :)

I kept on looking at that beautiful sheet of ice and wishing I was there with my skates........
 
#6
Gil's stuff is now on EMusic and I'm strongly tempted.

But that points to the essence here. Obama rose above the temptations of a dissolute youth. Gil, for all that he is a powerful artist, keeps going to jail for Peruvian Whoopee.

On the one hand, poor Gil. On the other hand, the featured speaker at Portland's MLK event yesterday spoke of visiting prisoners with Rev. Jesse Jackson. Rev. Jackson would get the guys all riled up, talking about, "Are you ready to WORK to SHUT this prison DOWN forEVER?" When the cons say, "Yeah!", Rev. Jackson replies quietly, "Well then don't keep coming back."
 
#7
I would have been very moved if Gil had spoken today. Granted he is not a "perfect" role model, but then significant complaints could be made about several of the featured speakers/attendees, so if "we" were honest about it Gil is just as fitting to be there.

Edit: Good point/anecdote, Sam, I'm going to chew on that one.
 
#8
Some fine people were involved in the event today and it was an absolute historic moment in time for many many reasons. I realize that I suggested a few flawed people and I realize I have no talent for politics (WHICH WE'RE DOING A GOOD JOB OF NOT ACTUALLY DISCUSSING HERE!), but I was thinking about both of them today.

Event aside, what if the President of the US called GSH today and said "What you've done matters." Would that be a life changing event for him?

Anyway, I'm not complaining. I was all goose-pimply watching, just the unity and inclusiveness and excitement that I've never seen. The closest that I could think of as I sat with my infant son on my lap this morning was a very faint memory I have of watching the moon landing on a B&W TV in the office of a KOA campground when I was about 2. I wish my son was a little older so that he might remember.

And yeah, I would have loved to have had a little jazz and a few of my flawed heros brought in with open arms, flaws and all. But, I know it was a great day for them anyway.

But, come on an uplifting, updated, hope-filled, celebratory version of "We deal in too many externals, brother!" would have really taken things up a notch.
 
#10
TroyK said:
And yeah, I would have loved to have had a little jazz and a few of my flawed heros brought in with open arms, flaws and all. But, I know it was a great day for them anyway.
Click to expand...

I dunno. Still trying to get over the Kenny G infiltration into the White House party scene myself. You know, it could of been John Klemmer instead.:D

Yes, this is a great day! "The Times, They Are A Changin"":)
 
#11
Jake deVilliers said:
As a kid in 1967 I marched with Dr. Martin Luther King and a million other people from Central Park to the UN.

When I turned on the TV this morning I kept expecting them to sing "We Shall Overcome"...:)
Click to expand...

I didn't know that about you, Jake! Man, that must have been something. Watching this morning was very compelling.

Hey, if we can put a pause to all this love and togetherness for one second, I'd just like to point out that I was born in 1967, grandpa.
 
#12
I love GSH,..... have since I first owned his LP's in the "70's.

He would have been a bad choice for the innaugaration.

His history of drug abuse and incarceration is enough to make some folks NOT listen. He would of brought division to a situation that is about UNITY.

He said it himself. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".
 
#13
Like I said, I have no talent for politics. You're probably right.

Maybe we can hope for a new GSH recording or book, though. I read a quote from him recently, when he was asked what he thought about the 60's, he said "I think the 60's are over." In addition to his recordings, I have read both of his novels. I think he has layers of complexity and balance and is not as lopsided as he appears. I do think that he could have read something inclusive and inspirational today. But, people would have critized his background and quoted some of his more incendiary prose from the old days and he certainly would have been risky in the moment.

From a jazz history standpoint, most of our great innovators and expressionists had drug and sometimes legal problems and we still value who they were and and what they gave us. But, we're not talking about jazz fans here, so you're right.

Shame, he's someone who I think about and hope he's okay. I think he's got a great mind and a great talent.

But it's a new day in the US and you and I have talked me out of my idiotic and sentimental idea now. Let's all hope for good things for everyone.
 
#16
In my day job, I edit political coverage for a Washington-based publication so I was up to my eyeballs in everything inauguration day. I think the poem was too academic and too safe. I couldn't help thinking it was a shame Langston Hughes (great poet, stellar jazz writer) wasn't still around.In fact, as I said out loud in the office at the time, the benediction, which quoted from what is commonly referred to as "The Black National Anthem" was a better poem than the actual poem!

I'll keep tabs on who shows up as guests in the President's Box at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (It's right across the street from my office.) It would be great to see President Obama show up himself for some of the great jazz and classical performances.

As for "We Shall Overcome," while it wasn't sung at the ceremony, it did have a place at the Lincoln Memorial concert over the weekend. And there was a funny musical moment that probably didn't show up on the television coverage. When President Bush was introduced at the ceremony, folks on the Mall started singing "Na, na, na, na,na, na, na, na, hey, hey, goodbye." No matter what you think of the guy, it was a notable moment.
 
#18
Okay, so while I do have a bias for Gil Scott-Heron and I do now admit that it wouldn't have been a safe choice, I'm glad that I'm not the only one who thought that the poem that was read was....bland. Stephen Dunn would have been better safe choice. There are about 1,000 poor, but talented slam poets who would have lent a great voice.

I was watching it with friends, we were all caught up in the moment and during the poem we all just kind of looked at each other and all I could think of was "da da da da da da da da... I'm looking at a lady and she's shaking her umbrella, while she fixes her stockings, she is waiting for the bus, then it starts to rain and I order eggs...da da da da da da da da...."
 
#19
Its funny you're ripping the 'poem' but not the super-safe rendering of that pathetic excuse for a hymn, 'Tis a Gift to be Simple'.

I thought it was banal in the extreme though obviously intended to show how inclusive the new administration intends to be. Bluegrass and jazz are both American art forms that have huge African influences and would have made me happier.

The Nashville Bluegrass Band with the Fairfield Four would have been perfect! :)
 
#20
Yeah, I would have loved to have had some jazz too, but the classic piece was done well with very good musicians, so I'm willing to let that go.

I heard on TV this morning that one of Obama's appointees was someone who he met in line at the financial aide office at Harvard when he was in law school and whoever was talking said "and I happen to know that he still has her Miles Davis/John Coltrane record".
 

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