Double Bass Peacock Blows off Costello...

[damonsmith]

My friend said this:
"__________ (slighty younger famous peer of Peacock, who has a few TB students) and I talked about this when I visited him last time (he's a
good friend of Gary's). I'm not sure why it came up - he told me Peacock
was not rude in his conversation with Elvis - and no one actually heard
that conversation but Gary and Elvis. He told me Gary just said he'd
rather not play on those tunes, and he said it in a respectful way. Fair
enough - the guy has a right to make decisions about who he's going to
play with. _____ also said that was the first time Gary had heard that
Elvis was going to "sit in"...Konitz gave him no advance notice."

 

[Blueszilla]

He told me Gary just said he'd
rather not play on those tunes, and he said it in a respectful way. Fair
enough - the guy has a right to make decisions about who he's going to
play with. _____ also said that was the first time Gary had heard that
Elvis was going to "sit in"...Konitz gave him no advance notice."

From this perspective I agree; we should be able to say yes or no to a gig without further explanation. If he didn't know about it in advance, I can see why he'd be upset.

 

[MingusAmongUs]

See previous posts. HE KNEW ABOUT IT.

 

[Marc Piane]

Even if he didn't... way to ruin a birthday celebration.

Would it have hurt so much to play a couple of pop tunes sung to an old man on his birthday? Jeez.

 

[cnltb]

...Maybe he didn't feel up to the challenge

 

[Marcus Johnson]

Too bad Diana Krall wasn't around to serve as some kind of halfway point moderator between these two disparate musical universes.

 

[musicman5string]

.

 

[deaf pea]

...or Kenny G....

I think you missed the point . . . Ms. Krall is Mrs. Elvis Costello!

 

[damonsmith]

Even if he didn't... way to ruin a birthday celebration.

Would it have hurt so much to play a couple of pop tunes sung to an old man on his birthday? Jeez.

Sounds like it wasn't ruined - they play a totally improvised set that was supposedly great....
There are a lot of perspectives to this. I mean, that quartet was pretty heavy, I know a lot great jazz musicians who would at least be a little nervous to sit in, a case could be made for the arrogance it takes for a dabbler in jazz to show up to sit in with that group - even if invited.

Another consideration: the fee would have been the typical fee for a Lee Konitz gig, not a Costello gig. I think it is more than fair to say that in terms of jazz he has not paid the dues to have that level of band, and Peacock is from that older school.

 

[TroyK]

I know that I participated in this earlier (although evasively), but I feel like we're talking about a Fox News report on Mel Gibson or an US Weekly rumor about a spat between Oprah and Rosie.

I'm certain that every one of the professional musicians in this scenario regrets that this happened, is trying not to talk about it and let the story die and I'm certain that only they have perfectly correct insight into who said what and the sequence of events that led to the blow up.

How about out of respect for all of them (or any one of them if you don't respect all of them) we just let this go?

 

[Marc Piane]

I don't know man. I guess our opinions differ. I just think some people take life to seriously. There are things to stand your ground on and things to just roll with. This seems like a thing to just roll with.

(directed at Damon's post. Troy and I must have been typing at the same time.)

 

[Mississippi Al]

Perhaps Mr. Peacock was afraid of the "Curse of Elvis" many a legend has left this mortal coil shortly after performing alongside Mr. Costello. When you get to music heaven just ask Chet Baker, Roy Orbison and Jerry Garcia

Of course there are also quite a few still standing. I've seen every Costello tour since the Stiff days, including his stints with the Orchestras and his solo gigs. It never ceases to amaze me how he fights the public and continually challenges them to "categorize" his style!

The local radio here in Cleveland Ohio boycotted Elvis for nearly 20 years following the incident with Steven Stills band, and Elvis was right--the reporters never did get the facts straight. Illiterate n****r was how Elvis referred to Ray Charles, which may not exactly make it pardonable but remember those were the days before sensitivity training and lawsuits--and when drug abuse and drunkeness were the norm, almost expected of the new wave punks emerging on the scene. Costello could play his instrument and he played it in tune!

This was a great thread by the way....I hope both parties catch a whiff of it and patch things up!

 

[MingusAmongUs]

Perhaps Mr. Peacock was afraid of the "Curse of Elvis" many a legend has left this mortal coil shortly after performing alongside Mr. Costello. When you get to music heaven just ask Chet Baker, Roy Orbison and Jerry Garcia
...
This was a great thread by the way....I hope both parties catch a whiff of it and patch things up!

+1000

 

[LeftyDan]

I think you missed the point . . . Ms. Krall is Mrs. Elvis Costello!

I think he was kidding..NOBODY seriously mentions Kenny G when Jazz is discussed.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Thanks for links Ed. I'm more confused though...

Why? It's really quite simple.
Peacock was well within his rights not deigning to play with a dweeb pop star who got his ass kicked by a girl.
On the other hand Costello has stayed true to his vision throughout his career and even if you don't care for his work his staying power is to be admired and Peacock was being a big fussy baby for not sucking it up and just playing the damn songs...like it woulda killed him or sumpthin not to be such a crotchety old cow-fart for a change.
On the other hand ****(darn) Elvis I-married-a-manufactured-jazz/pop-icon-am-I-ever-the-****(stuff) Costello.
Clear as mud, huh?


edit: Aw TEATS Chris! Didn't Carlin prove how ridiculous all that is.....25 years ago?

 

[Uncletoad]

What a mess.

I wish I had enough of a place in musical history to do a smackdown on a rock star and feel smug about it.

I get fired from gigs nobody wants.

 

[damonsmith]

I know that I participated in this earlier (although evasively), but I feel like we're talking about a Fox News report on Mel Gibson or an US Weekly rumor about a spat between Oprah and Rosie.

I'm certain that every one of the professional musicians in this scenario regrets that this happened, is trying not to talk about it and let the story die and I'm certain that only they have perfectly correct insight into who said what and the sequence of events that led to the blow up.

How about out of respect for all of them (or any one of them if you don't respect all of them) we just let this go?

- I hear you. What is interesting and productive is hearing the various opinions of bass players about his issue.
We are often treated as just hired sidemen who don't need to be consulted about this kind of thing.

Being talk bass, what would be productive is to look at it from the bass players side and pose the question: What do you do when conditions you find unbearable crop up after the gig was presented in way that was otherwise acceptable?

I have cancelled a few gigs due to musicians I refuse to play with being added after the fact - I am decidedly NOT a "suck it up" sort of person. It would be good to hear others take.

 

[Uncletoad]

I put on a disposable white painters coverall adorned with fingerpaints lovingly done by the chick singer's 3 year old child to do a wedding once for $200.

Everyone at the wedding agreed we looked like dicks.

I guess I fall into the I'll do anything for a gig camp.

 

[deaf pea]

I think he was kidding..NOBODY seriously mentions Kenny G when Jazz is discussed.

good point . . .

Elvis I-married-a-manufactured-jazz/pop-icon-am-I-ever-the-**** Costello.

I guess I AM "out of touch". I THOUGHT that she was a well-repected artist, not just another "Kenny G"-type "pop jazzer".

YMMV

Just to let y'all know . . . I NEVER liked Gary Peacock's (or Eddie Gomez's, for that matter) playing very much (FWIW, I prefer Scotty, Mingus and Haden). But I DO respect GP's right to "say no" . . .

 

[deaf pea]

I get fired from gigs nobody wants.

What a GREAT line . . .