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Double Bass Wasn't RED a GREAT Player?

#41
alavakian said:
No, I don't know Red Mitchells' wife Diane. The only contact I ever had with Red (we called him "Keith") was very briefly at Julliard in 1947-48 where we studied bass with Fred Zimmerman, along with Al Strazza, Stuart Sankey and a few others who went to fame. I remember he had a great interest in engineering. I also remember Red dropping out quite early. For some reason unbeknowns to us, Red and Zimmerman did not get along. He went to study with someone else and the rest is history.
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Holy **** you're older than me! How refreshing. I had no idea Red went to Julliard, or that he studied with Z.
Yeah, I knew about the engineering. He was heavy into electronics and made his own amps and speaker cabinets.
The only teacher of note that I know he studied with was when he got to L.A. and studied with Herman Rhineshagen. (as did Mingus)
 
#42
Speaking of Mingus, there's a touching story in one of my Mingus books telling of the time when Red came to visit Charles in the hospital when he was diagnosed with ALS. Mingus had just had a bass come from California, and it was sitting in the hospital room. He called that bass the "French Lady" (I dunno which bass this is). Red picked it up and tuned it in 5ths and played it. Afterwards, Charles slowly got up, went over to the bass, plucked a few notes then his arm fell down. It was the last time he ever played the Bass. :crying:
 
#43
MingusFingus said:
Speaking of Mingus, there's a touching story in one of my Mingus books telling of the time when Red came to visit Charles in the hospital when he was diagnosed with ALS. Mingus had just had a bass come from California, and it was sitting in the hospital room. He called that bass the "French Lady" (I dunno which bass this is). Red picked it up and tuned it in 5ths and played it. Afterwards, Charles slowly got up, went over to the bass, plucked a few notes then his arm fell down. It was the last time he ever played the Bass. :crying:
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Hey Mingus, which book is this? Not the UNDERDOG?
 
#47
Yeah, I'm an old geezer. Reinshagen was also Zimmerman's teacher. All of us Zimmerman students also had to learn French bow. They assigned Anselme Fortier (also NY Philharmonic). I didn't do too well although nowdays I do pick up the French bow occasionally. For some reason Fortier scared the hell out of me, as did my piano teacher. I dreaded
going to their classes.
 
#48
Ya know, I really think that's one reason I am self-taught.
Those old school teachers would, at times, work at being intimidating IMHO.
When I teach, I try to bring it off as more of a hang. Of course, students are a little shocked when I ask 'em for $500!
Just kidding!
 
#50
Paul Warburton said:
Ya know, I really think that's one reason I am self-taught.
Those old school teachers would, at times, work at being intimidating IMHO.
When I teach, I try to bring it off as more of a hang. Of course, students are a little shocked when I ask 'em for $500!
Just kidding!
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Amen to that. My theory teacher at UW was a clone of Dr. Sardonicus.
 
#53
Chris Fitzgerald said:
And how does this go together with your own description of how you taught your musical "son"? :D
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Durrl is talking about Eric Gunnison the great Denver jazz pianist who calls me Dad. I, in turn, call him Son.
Eric has the biggest ears in the human race....one time through a tune and he's got it. It's as if he can see the right changes in my eyes.....that's how fast he is!
You'll have to refresh me on my "description"?
 
#54
it's been years since i've owned a record featuring Red Mitchell, but i just picked-up a great Warne Marsh record -- the Warne Marsh Quartet - Music For Prancing, recorded in 1957

the entire band sounds great
Warne Marsh w/ Stan Levy on Drums and Ronnie Bell on Piano as well as Red Mitchell on bass

Red was one bad m.f. He swings really hard and takes some great solos on this recording

my only complaint is that this record is too short
 
#55
I just got loaned a copy of a recording made in 1980 (prolly Warne's tapes) but recently released by FRESH SOUNDS of Warne and Red playing duo at Sweet Basil's (man, I miss that joint. I've been avoiding going by Sweet Rhythm in case it don't measure up).

I've heard good things about MUSIC FOR PRANCING, there's a lot I enjoy about Red's playing from this period.
 
#56
Thanks Paul and all you guys the great Red Mitchell comments. I had the wonderful experience of playing with Red for two weeks at the Village West nightclub in NYC in the 80's -- he played piano and sang, and I played bass. What an incredibly humbling,fantastically beautiful and eye-opening experience for me. One of my favorite stories comes from that period in the eighties. Red told me that he got a call from Marian McPartland's manager. Marion had a gig and she told her manager to "find a bass player who sounded like Red Mitchell..." So of course the manager just called Red -- which he was very tickled about. A couple of my fav recordings (which you have probably already mentioned, Paul -- I haven't checked your list yet): "All Night Session" w/ Hampton Hawes, and the Artist House duet record with Lee Konitz...impeccable. Or "f**kin beautiful" as Red used to say.
 
#58
If you dig Warne's playing, you should definitely check out Jimmy Halperin. He's really come into a very wonderful thing in the last couple of years especially.
There are 2 trio records out CYCLE LOGICAL form 2003 that is more a straight ahead bass and drums (Don Messina and Bill Chattin) and JOY AND GRAVITAS that is a little edgier ( Dominic Duval and Jay Rosen).
 
#60
Chuck H.O.P. -- very good, Ed. I guess I should sign in with my real name (John Goldsby)...the chop_1992 name has a long and boring history.

Anyway, the post was not about me -- it was about Red. And how he is one of my all-time favorites -- apparently one of the all-times favs of a lot of talkbassers.
 

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