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Double Bass Paul Warburton on Working with Bill Evans

#22
Marcus Johnson said:
Paul, I have that "piano jazz" recording on CD with Marian.... the one that goes into rhythmic displacement, playing over the bar lines, etc. I was struck by Bill's humility, good humor, and overall sweet nature. Maybe he had a dark side, but judging by that particular recording, he sure seemed like someone worth knowing. Cool that you were part of it.... thanks for sharing that.
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Marcus, i've been known to use this tape as a 'teaching tool'. In other words whether it be a bassist or whatever instrument, you can learn a whole lot by playing along with Bill!
You may have to tune your bass to the tape. I think Bill did
' All of You' in Eb.
I tried to find a 'dark side' to Bill for over a month, but it just wasn't there. I ended up feeling that Bill just played the cards he was dealt.
 
#24
jsbarber said:
Paul - any specific thoughts on playing with Joe Jones? From what I've read, he was "the" drummer in that era. Is there anything in particular that comes to mind about playing with him that was unique?
Jim
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The most unique part of Joe's playing to me was how fast he could find
' THE POCKET ' and his solo's were just always OUTSTANDING.
So many different sounds!
A funny side bar to all this....when the chick from the Denver Post asked me who was playing drums, I said Philly Joe Jones......
The article comes out with: "and Silly Joe Jones on drums!!!!!"
I was so embarassed...I couldn't imagine anyone who hadn't heard of Joe. :eek:
 
#25
Thanks, Paul. Some of the most compeling material ever on TB. You're in a very special "club" of players to have done that gig and it was nice to walk in your shoes for a minute. I got to hang with Marty Morrell for a week - (I think) the drummer who clocked the longest time with Bill - doing a Broadway show here in town. Even with his longevity he didn't seem to have any thing bad to say about the gig either(dark side) except for the skimpy pay. After leaving the gig he went on to Toronto to do studio work for 25 years. Very solid and tasty player.

Ike
 
#26
Ike Harris said:
Thanks, Paul. Some of the most compeling material ever on TB. You're in a very special "club" of players to have done that gig and it was nice to walk in your shoes for a minute. I got to hang with Marty Morrell for a week - (I think) the drummer who clocked the longest time with Bill - doing a Broadway show here in town. Even with his longevity he didn't seem to have any thing bad to say about the gig either(dark side) except for the skimpy pay. After leaving the gig he went on to Toronto to do studio work for 25 years. Very solid and tasty player.

Ike
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Actually Ike, Marty was looking for a hang...so I gave him my ex wifes # Ha! Yeah she turned into a Bill groupie......He probably called you from the same show he was playing when he called me. I think my ex deserved a call from Marty!
 
#27
Bob Branstetter said:
I posted this question on Ken Smith's Bass forums and after reading Paul's reply, I feel that it should be on TalkBass too for those who are not members on Ken's site.

Paul, did you ever talk with Bill after playing with him in '64?

Yeah, I saw him serveral times, including 2 unforgettable times. First time when Ray Iverson brought Bill, Eddie, and Marty into the Senate Lounge here in Denver. The guys asked me to play. I did, but wished I hadn't......Eddie at this time had that nice Morelli, but strung with nylon wrapped strings....ouch!
The second time was when I was playing a commercial gig, subbing for another bass player. The bass player who took me to the airport for my gig with Bill was a Bill Evans groupy, so I knew Bill was in town.....sure enough this guy shows up with Bill.
The piano player was hell-bent on making sure I played a STRICKLY TWO BEAT bass kinda thing.....he lectures me with " yeah, we all know you're a hot shot jazz bassist " Goes to great lengths to assure himself of a jazz free gig!!! All before the gig.
You can see it coming can't You!!!!!!!!!
So Bill and Jerry walk in along with about 10 of Denver's hippest jazz musicians.
I say to this piano player while i'm coaxing out of my bass the most obvious 2 beat imagiinable: " LOOK, it's Bill Evans!"
" NO! " he says " Yes " I say.....now this ******* wants to start playing hip, playing his finest Bill voicings and looking at me like...." Come on, let's go...... " NO WAY MF " I'm playin' 2 beat. One of my proudest moments!
Bill's hip to what's going on on the bandstand, as well as about 10 of this guys peers!
To make matters worse for this guy, I introduce him to Bill. He says" Oh Bill, i'm sorry you had to hear me under these conditions!" Bill says "No problem, we all have had to do this. I noticed Paul was just playing 2 BEAT"
I really come out of this unscathed by anyone because when I play two-beat, I try to sound like Percy Heath!
I'm very proud of this!
One of the last times I saw him, it was some jazz fest. in L.A. He told me I would be perfect for Stan Getz. Funny, I ended up with Stan later on.
Then he called me too late when he had Mike Moore in Boulder. He wanted to get together to " See how it felt " This never happened.
Unfortunately I went to hear him in SF right before he died. He was playing brilliantly, but he was on his way out...he gave me a last hug. It was like hugging a skeleton.......This was, clearly, Bill's darker side.....too bad...for us
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:confused:
 
#34
Paul, your "Silly Joe Jones" comment reminded me of a radio interview I was doing live once... the woman interviewing me was listing some of the guys I worked with, and she said "the famous jazz singer Johnny Hendrickson" (referring to Jon Hendricks). I was polite in correcting her, but had there not been a live mic in front of me, I can't guarantee that my response would have been civil!;)
 
#35
Marcus Johnson said:
Paul, your "Silly Joe Jones" comment reminded me of a radio interview I was doing live once... the woman interviewing me was listing some of the guys I worked with, and she said "the famous jazz singer Johnny Hendrickson" (referring to Jon Hendricks). I was polite in correcting her, but had there not been a live mic in front of me, I can't guarantee that my response would have been civil!;)
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:eek: :eek: :eek:
 
#37
Many thanks,
I was about 16 when Bill played at Keystone Korner in SF in 1980 just before he died. IT was epic for me. Got me so into jazz, there were so many years there when I was younger when you couldn't even find ANY video of Bill playing. It was just an aural mystery, and now with youtube there is just so much. Even 30 seconds of Scotty.
Did anyone ever find that Jazz Workshop footage by Comrade Conrad? That would be great to see (and hear)
I grew up in Sausalito (for a bit) and dreamed of the days when Bill played the Trident (its just some tourist trap now) Someone once played me a bootleg of Denny and Charlie (and Jerry) playing the blues at the Trident. Charle played different every chorus it was great to hear him so full of moxy.
The photo above is a great addition. Really roomy bandstand, looks like you could really strech out.
Thanks again
P.S> it would be great to hear some more of your wisdom and bass approach ala the ask a pro forum with Lynn. With all the cats you have played with Paul you must be just full of great advice. ITs so hard for young cats to get close to the way it really went down. To hear these stories is like water for the parched.
piro
 
#38
flatback said:
Many thanks,
I was about 16 when Bill played at Keystone Korner in SF in 1980 just before he died. IT was epic for me. Got me so into jazz, there were so many years there when I was younger when you couldn't even find ANY video of Bill playing. It was just an aural mystery, and now with youtube there is just so much. Even 30 seconds of Scotty.
Did anyone ever find that Jazz Workshop footage by Comrade Conrad? That would be great to see (and hear)
I grew up in Sausalito (for a bit) and dreamed of the days when Bill played the Trident (its just some tourist trap now) Someone once played me a bootleg of Denny and Charlie (and Jerry) playing the blues at the Trident. Charle played different every chorus it was great to hear him so full of moxy.
The photo above is a great addition. Really roomy bandstand, looks like you could really strech out.
Thanks again
P.S> it would be great to hear some more of your wisdom and bass approach ala the ask a pro forum with Lynn. With all the cats you have played with Paul you must be just full of great advice. ITs so hard for young cats to get close to the way it really went down. To hear these stories is like water for the parched.
piro
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+1
whenever i even mention this forum to my 18 year old musician friends, i HAVE to say that "THERES A GUY ON THE FORUM THAT PLAYED WITH BILL EVANS!" :hyper: :hyper: :hyper:

we do need a forum thread called "ask the esteemed paul warburton"

thank you for gracing us with your presence.
 
#39
Wow! I got nervous just reading that! Evans has always been my idol.

I sounds like we both caught his last show at Keystone Corner in SF.

What an incredible experience you had ...and a great re-telling of it as well, Paul.

You mentioned that despite his drug use, Bill seemd to play the same anyway. Do you think there were other factors in Chuck and Larry leaving or did they just not want to be around it?



bob
 
#40
For an amazing display of Bill's strength through self-inflicted adversity, check out his final recordings, the "Paris concerts". Although he was dealing with a lot of physical issues at the time, it remains one of the strongest of his performances. I haven't heard it in awhile, but I remember an absolutely staggering solo intro to a tune.... "Nardis", maybe?.... and just the highest level of performance throughout.

What can I say... I love the guy.
 

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