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Sam Rivers
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Sam Rivers, one of the true giants.
I was fortunate to have seen him many times. In trio settings mostly but also sitting in with a local group playing standards (at 5AM), with Braxton Altschul and Holland doing Conference of the Birds and most recently here in Boston with a big band. He was never less than great or less than original. I had the good fortune to meet him and it was a real honor. also meeting his son who is an MD in this area..
Sam, thank you for all the great music and for being an inspiration.
I was fortunate to have seen him many times. In trio settings mostly but also sitting in with a local group playing standards (at 5AM), with Braxton Altschul and Holland doing Conference of the Birds and most recently here in Boston with a big band. He was never less than great or less than original. I had the good fortune to meet him and it was a real honor. also meeting his son who is an MD in this area..
Sam, thank you for all the great music and for being an inspiration.
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3,550 Posts
To my mind, Sam Rivers defined what "free jazz" could really be. I am fortunate to have been there for a lot of it and I will never forget what I heard and what I learned from him and his music.
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4,668 Posts
I remember seeing his saxophone ensemble "The Winds of Manhattan" in the mid 80's, it made quite an impression on me.
He was part of one of the most important times in jazz history, not many are left from that era.
It heartens me to read that he remained active and creative until the end.
Condolences to his friends and family.
He was part of one of the most important times in jazz history, not many are left from that era.
It heartens me to read that he remained active and creative until the end.
Condolences to his friends and family.
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11 Posts
When i saw the Sam Rivers Trio six years ago my first thought was "i hope i have that much energy when i'm 82". My second thought was "i wish i had that much energy now". Truly the most enjoyable and memorable jazz concert i've ever attended --- i couldn't believe there were only three guys up there making all that music. And Sam's evident joy in performing made it all the more special. Sam, you will be missed.
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3,228 Posts
Sam was nothing less than inspirational. His recording with Anthony Williams, "Spring" was one of the first reordings recommended to me by my first jazz teacher when I was 15 and I still swoon when I hear hs ideas. "Beatrice" will always be one of my favorite tunes to listen to and play. He will be missed. Thank you for all the great music and inspiration Sam.
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29 Posts
When I recorded Beatrice we had a hard time finding Sam's method for appointing rights to record since he had stopped dealing with ASCAP and BMI as publishers. A friend who is a promoter of Jazz music gave me his home number and I called him. Beatriice answered the phone! She informed me that she never liked the tune until the royalty checks started to roll in. She was really nice and had Sam call me back. He was equally wonderful to speak with and very reasonable about the business we conducted. Most impressive was his verve when speaking about his then current music. It was like he was 25 and in the NY loft scene. It was an epiphany for me. He was still searching eand creating at a fairly advanced age. A year later i saw him and he was great. He, wayne Shorter and Sonny are ageless in their pursuit of the music.
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Here's one of my prized possessions, picked up when I crossed paths with the classic Sam Rivers Trio while I was on the road.
Austin, Texas circa 1978
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Note that tickets were $3 !
Austin, Texas circa 1978
Note that tickets were $3 !
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3,550 Posts
Let's listen to one of the classic pieces featuring Sam, Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul and Dave Holland: Conference of the Birds. Sam is jamming with the birds now, I suspect.
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10,062 Posts
Oh, that's so funny! One of the great jazz love songs and its subject liked it only for its royalty checks.
As for Sam - what a career. I was fortunate to hear the Rivers/Holland/Altschul Trio in New Haven in the late 1970s. The audience was tiny but the music was great. Fast forward 25 years or so and Sam is back at or (or still at it, just getting noticed again) with a new trio that stopped in Chicago. I imagine that surviving as a performer of avant jazz brought a lifetime of challenges with it, but I'm grateful that he persevered so long and fruitfully.
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Sam told me that he really only had about 2 years of steady work in his life. He said it was because Dizzy hired him for that period.
Incredible.
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346 Posts
RIP Master Sam!
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27,454 Posts
You know, Sam was know as a progressive player but ironically, I was first introduced to him sitting on the tatami floor of a Japanese jazz pianist and her American boy friend's very small crib in the countryside outside Tokyo in around 1967, when they played a tape for me of him playing all standards in a more traditional context.
I really, really dug what I was hearing but couldn't place or categorise it, and they told me that it was a "new thing" player playing conventional tunes. I have no idea what the recording was and I haven't found it since, but I've never forgotten it. Then later, of course, I was introduced to the "real" Sam Rivers playing. I've always dug this guy's playing and writing and really respected that he cold even keep active with his big band at his age. RIP Sam.
I really, really dug what I was hearing but couldn't place or categorise it, and they told me that it was a "new thing" player playing conventional tunes. I have no idea what the recording was and I haven't found it since, but I've never forgotten it. Then later, of course, I was introduced to the "real" Sam Rivers playing. I've always dug this guy's playing and writing and really respected that he cold even keep active with his big band at his age. RIP Sam.
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537 Posts
thanks for posting this- just beautiful. Another one of the all time greats passes on.. very sad. RIP Sam Rivers
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483 Posts
He was an amazing musician. I always loved his playing and writing. His large ensemble recordings changed my life.
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