[xax]

Anybody familiar with Billy Root... Is he the second tenor soloist on this track, "B.G. Mambo" from Bennie Green's, Soul Stirrin' release on Blue Note?

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

He's also on Monday Night at Birdland with Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller....

 

[mikelaroche]

I know Billy Root as a Kenton bari player, some amazing work on "Live at the Tropicana". Here's a 1998 article on him:
http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/1998/Sep-06-Sun-1998/news/8081593.html

 

[sonnymobleytrane]

Here's a recording from 12 years ago. I would be curious as to how he sounds.

http://www.woofyproductions.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=WPCD94

 

[sideC]

Billy Root was a Philly legend when I was coming up there in the '70s. He and another Philly legend, Ziggy Vines, played tenor on Clifford Brown's last recording, done at a place called Music City, a Philly music store.

 

[LiAm84]

I've been listening to him a lot recently. What a great player. He had a really earthy and barking tenor sound. Anybody know what mouthpiece he used? It has a bit of a Selmer Soloist vibe to it?

Here are some nice examples of his playing Red Rodney:

 

[mrpeebee]

I've been listening to him a lot recently. What a great player. He had a really earthy and barking tenor sound. Anybody know what mouthpiece he used? It has a bit of a Selmer Soloist vibe to it?

He sounds a lot like Sonny Rollins on the 'Sonny Side Up' up recording with Stitt and Gilliespie (recorded in 1957):

Not sure what Sonny played in that time, but it could indeed be a Selmer Soloist.

 

[Eroot64]

I know this is an old thread but I found it while searching the web for my dad Billy Root. He would be happy to know that people are still interested in his playing, he passed several years ago from Parkinson's. On a bright note his original Saxes live on , a musician and fan of dads bought and restored his Baritone and Tenor, and he plays them professionally in Philly. Pop used to spend hours at the Music store opening and sorting reeds, often dozens of boxes to pick the best and make a box, then he would bring them home put one on try it(playing the same short scale that is embedded in my brain lol). 9 out of ten times he would say "peace of crap" and break it replacing it with another one going through the same process. I still have a few boxes of his reeds and mouthpieces that I keep as mementos. Lastly one important note that he wanted everyone to know, I helped him with his last recording here in Vegas at a small local club (I did the photos). He didn't know at the time but he already had fairly advanced dementia at the time. he was able to pick the band and was very happy with the group, particularly Vinnie "Tanno' Neapolitan , a life long friend and UNBEALIVABULE trumpet player. Dad hated the recording, he knew he had lost much of his ability and was heartbroken about it. He never picked up the instrument again. In his memory I ask that for those who know this story pass it on to anyone who may judge him by this last piece of work. I only mention this because several years ago on a post I found on the Blue Note forum some one was putting down the recording and didn't know how truly great a player he was. If anyone is interested in any interesting or funny stories about Dad I would be happy to share them. Thanks to everyone for keeping his memory alive.

 

[baylistenor]

I remember him being listed at The Bulls Head Barnes Bridge in the late 80s - I missed him !
Also got interviewed in Cadence back in the day which was interesting.
Top player.

 

[Afrikan57]

Whew...Check out Billy Root's solo on the cut 'Dishwater' from the Lee Morgan/Wynton Kelly album 'Dizzy Atmosphere'. Root...smokes!! Along with everyone else on this session. Al Grey, Kelly, Morgan etc. They be pumpin'! Twelve minutes of energy in which they were feedin' off each other. Check it out on YouTube!

 

[MrBlueNote]

Great interview with Billy here:

http://jazzprofiles.blogspot.com/2014/11/billy-root-interview-with-gordon-jack.html

His anecdotes are gold.

 

[BarryIsaac]

I know this is an old thread but I found it while searching the web for my dad Billy Root. He would be happy to know that people are still interested in his playing, he passed several years ago from Parkinson's. On a bright note his original Saxes live on , a musician and fan of dads bought and restored his Baritone and Tenor, and he plays them professionally in Philly. Pop used to spend hours at the Music store opening and sorting reeds, often dozens of boxes to pick the best and make a box, then he would bring them home put one on try it(playing the same short scale that is embedded in my brain lol). 9 out of ten times he would say "peace of crap" and break it replacing it with another one going through the same process. I still have a few boxes of his reeds and mouthpieces that I keep as mementos. Lastly one important note that he wanted everyone to know, I helped him with his last recording here in Vegas at a small local club (I did the photos). He didn't know at the time but he already had fairly advanced dementia at the time. he was able to pick the band and was very happy with the group, particularly Vinnie "Tanno' Neapolitan , a life long friend and UNBEALIVABULE trumpet player. Dad hated the recording, he knew he had lost much of his ability and was heartbroken about it. He never picked up the instrument again. In his memory I ask that for those who know this story pass it on to anyone who may judge him by this last piece of work. I only mention this because several years ago on a post I found on the Blue Note forum some one was putting down the recording and didn't know how truly great a player he was. If anyone is interested in any interesting or funny stories about Dad I would be happy to share them. Thanks to everyone for keeping his memory alive.

I was just listening to his recordings with Red Rodney on youtube. What a great tenor sound and flow of ideas. I had never heard of him before.

 

[mascio]

I was just listening to his recordings with Red Rodney on youtube. What a great tenor sound and flow of ideas. I had never heard of him before.

The album "Red Rodney Returns" is a real masterpiece. It is one of those records where everything is just right. Billy Root sounds like Bird on tenor. He's something else!

 

[Mr Tumnus]

"He would be happy to know that people are still interested in his playing..(..)..In his memory I ask that for those who know this story pass it on to anyone who may judge him by this last piece of work. I only mention this because several years ago on a post I found on the Blue Note forum some one was putting down the recording and didn't know how truly great a player he was. If anyone is interested in any interesting or funny stories about Dad I would be happy to share them. Thanks to everyone for keeping his memory alive."

He's wonderful on this too, I just discovered it