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I'm delighted to be able to host the November TOTM and firstly I'd like to say a big thank you to Taragot for doing such a great job last month That was a very popular thread. This month I'd like to offer a track that I was surprised to see hadn't been featured before on either of the TOTM's as it's become a very popular number over the years.
'The Chicken' is often erroneously attributed to Jaco Pastorius as the composer but it was in fact composed by Pee Wee Ellis the long time saxophonist with James Brown.
Ellis was born Alfred James Ellis on April 21, 1941 in Bradenton, Florida to his mother Elizabeth and his father Garfield Devoe Rogers, Jr.[3] In 1949 his mother married Ezell Ellis, and the family moved to Lubbock, Texas where Ellis was given his nickname "Pee Wee". He gave his first public performance in 1954 at Dunbar Junior High School. After Ezell Ellis was killed in 1955, the remaining members of the family moved to Rochester, New York. While attending Madison High School he played professionally with jazz musicians including Ron Carter and Chuck Mangione. In 1957 he moved to New York City, where he attended Manhattan School of Music and had regular lessons with Sonny Rollins. In 1960 he moved back to Florida working as a bandleader, musical director and writer.
Ellis played with the James Brown Revue from 1965 to 1969. While with Brown he arranged and co-wrote hits like "Cold Sweat" and "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". In 1969 he returned to New York City. He worked as an arranger and musical director for CTI Records' Kudu label, collaborating with artists like George Benson, Hank Crawford and Esther Phillips. In the late 1970s he moved to San Francisco and formed a band with former Miles Davis sideman David Liebman,[4] with whom he recorded "The Chicken", that was to become a favourite of Jaco Pastorius.
There are quite a number of backing tracks available on YT but the best I could find is on my Dropbox link and I've added the Bb and Eb charts.
On the track I've added there is a 4 bar intro and remember its a 16 bar format.
www.dropbox.com
www.dropbox.com
www.dropbox.com
There are many YT videos of various groups such as......
is the one I would recommend listening to if you haven't heard the track before.
I hope you enjoy the track and I look forward to listening to all of the takes on it.
Best, Alex
'The Chicken' is often erroneously attributed to Jaco Pastorius as the composer but it was in fact composed by Pee Wee Ellis the long time saxophonist with James Brown.
Ellis was born Alfred James Ellis on April 21, 1941 in Bradenton, Florida to his mother Elizabeth and his father Garfield Devoe Rogers, Jr.[3] In 1949 his mother married Ezell Ellis, and the family moved to Lubbock, Texas where Ellis was given his nickname "Pee Wee". He gave his first public performance in 1954 at Dunbar Junior High School. After Ezell Ellis was killed in 1955, the remaining members of the family moved to Rochester, New York. While attending Madison High School he played professionally with jazz musicians including Ron Carter and Chuck Mangione. In 1957 he moved to New York City, where he attended Manhattan School of Music and had regular lessons with Sonny Rollins. In 1960 he moved back to Florida working as a bandleader, musical director and writer.
Ellis played with the James Brown Revue from 1965 to 1969. While with Brown he arranged and co-wrote hits like "Cold Sweat" and "Say It Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud". In 1969 he returned to New York City. He worked as an arranger and musical director for CTI Records' Kudu label, collaborating with artists like George Benson, Hank Crawford and Esther Phillips. In the late 1970s he moved to San Francisco and formed a band with former Miles Davis sideman David Liebman,[4] with whom he recorded "The Chicken", that was to become a favourite of Jaco Pastorius.
There are quite a number of backing tracks available on YT but the best I could find is on my Dropbox link and I've added the Bb and Eb charts.
On the track I've added there is a 4 bar intro and remember its a 16 bar format.
Dropbox - File Deleted
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!
www.dropbox.com
Dropbox - File Deleted
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!
www.dropbox.com
Dropbox - File Deleted
Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily. Never email yourself a file again!
www.dropbox.com
There are many YT videos of various groups such as......
I hope you enjoy the track and I look forward to listening to all of the takes on it.
Best, Alex
