[Jeff Hackworth]

I'm going to subtitle this:
Father Time Takes Care of Us All!
I went to see a show last night in NYC and saw a name player who was someone I had admired going way back.
He was a player know for his great sound and feel.
Unfortunately he has lost both of these and really can't play anymore beyond a very basically amateurish level.
I enjoy hearing players that have aged and mellowed and I certainly don't expect a perfect performance and in fact enjoy the imperfection but this just sounded like someone who has laid-off for years and just started playing again.

The whole band's performance was sloppy and obviously barely rehearsed and the other horn player sounded lame too.
And this is a venerated big name jazz group at a well known jazz venue in Manhattan.
I found myself feeling disrespected by the cynicism that I feel was behind their (the band)being willing to trade on their name for a reunion tour but only being able to back it up at a fraction of what once was.
I respect what they have done in the past but I felt like I was duped.
I'm sure you are wondering who it is, but that's for another day.

The lesson I took from it was keep practicing...don't let that horn gather dust! I've seen other older players who can still play.
I regularly see Lou Donaldson sitting in at the Lenox Lounge in Harlem (playing beautifully I might add) just to stay in shape on the horn.

 

[William Bua]

Rock bands have been doing it for years. They run out of bread and need coke, so they hit the senior circuit road tour. The players didn't lose it, they just don't care about their sound anymore and are going through the motions for the paycheck. Now that's sarcasm!!

 

[Jeff Hackworth]

yeah the oldies circuit is full of this stuff...just sorry to see it in the jazz world.

 

[saxphil]

So, who is it?

 

[Rackety Sax]

Rock bands have been doing it for years. They run out of bread and need coke, so they hit the senior circuit road tour. The players didn't lose it, they just don't care about their sound anymore and are going through the motions for the paycheck. Now that's sarcasm!!

Does that mean I shouldn't go see the Monkees??

Jeff, I know what you mean. But it's a complicated situation. Jazz is a tough business. Even if you have the rep and keep up your playing, there's no guarantee that the gigs will be there, so I can understand why players might get burnt out and let their skills slide. At the same time, they have to eat, so when a gig comes up they are unlikely to turn it down even if they aren't in peak form. Add to that stories about guys like Eric Dolphy living in hovels with the snow blowing through cracks in the walls, and it really increases my admiration for the players who are able to keep their souls intact and chops at a high level over the long term. Health is a related factor. Years ago I heard the great trombonist Curtis Fuller in Chicago sounding very lame, and it turned out he was coming back onto the scene after having a cancerous lung removed.

I understand your disappointment, and I wouldn't have wanted to hear that concert either, but to me what's more surprising is the number of folks who persist and shine through all the adversity.

 

[Jeff Hackworth]

I considered the health question of course and hopefully thats not what's wrong.
This is a very commercially successful group not of the Eric Dolphy variety but with an excellent pedigree.
An artist does have a responsibility to their audience.
If you're not well just make a cameo

 

[Budget Explosion]

Wed. nights can definitely be rough in NYC if it is the start of a five day residency. It seems like the Wed. night show is the rehearsal & like a pre-season NFL game - they both charge full price!

 

[Budget Explosion]

oh, now I see who it was...very disappointing...are any of guys other than the pianist still actively playing?

 

[Jazz Is All]

If it's the long-time jazz group I think you mean, this is a reunion of guys in their 70's who haven't played together for several years. So it does sound like they are in fact doing it for the bread. However, since few jazz musicians ever got rich, they undoubtedly really need it for making ends meet and paying their medicare copay, which is a lot different than the reason most old rockers do it for.

From wikipedia:

In April 2010, X (the pianist) announced a reunion tour with Y (the trombonist) and Z (the tenor player) but not W (the drummer) - the first reunion of these founding members of the _________ since 1974. Concert dates in Oakland and Long Island have been promoted online, with a full 2010 tour schedule expected to be released shortly.

Still, there's no reason why they shouldn't have rehearsed more to be up to speed for the opening night.

 

[Jeff Hackworth]

the pianist was the only one who could still play.
He obviously maintains his playing but he spent a lot of time directing traffic up there .
sheeesh .. how bout a rehearsal !

 

[magical pig]

Is it considered a jazz band?

 

[hakukani]

I was a fan of these guys before they ever changed their name. They were the first real 'jazz' combo for which I owned a recording--a gift from my cousin's boyfriend--, back in 1972 when the only other albums I owned was Santana, Santana Abraxas, Jimi Hendrix The cry of Love, and Chicago I-III.

I'm sorry to hear that age (or at least life) has negatively affected their playing.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

it makes me very sad to think that one of my sax role models "really can't play anymore beyond a very basically amateurish level." I hope that it's a health issue or in some way a bad night and that he can get back to near where he once was with some playing time. I'd hate it if he couldn't play at a pro level now just because he gave up or didn't care -- or worse, that he's lost the ability.

 

[Watsonp143]

Sorry to hear this. They were one of the bands who got me in to jazz in the 60's.

 

[Swampcabbage]

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. As some may know, I recently came down with Bells Palsy - or some other type of facial paralysis. As a result, this got me thinking about how tough it can probably be to hold an embouchure as we age - honestly all of our sphincters are going to get a little tougher to manage - and especially if you had any health issues that may impact your ability to maintain your chops.

So, I wonder how much trouble is just caused by the ability to keep air pressure on the mouthpiece. Now, since I have a GREAT respect for the minds of these legends as well as their chops. I would love to still hear what they have to say. And contribute to their retirements (for some guys touring might be all the have left - or they need the activity to keep their spirits up - either way I feel they deserve some latitude. I wasn't their in the 60's to show my appreciation - I'm here now and so are they - and they aren't going to get much if I buy one of their old records). I digress.

Anyway, I think that developing tools to assist someones chops is not a bad solution in this kind of situation and would not be dissapointed to find someone using something that could help them. Like Stephen Hawking has to express his ideas.

Obviously it could use som refinement. But how many of you would be turned off by someone using something like this.

I am currently just a week into experiancing facial paralysis on the left side of my face. As a result of this device I am back on my Otto Link 8 with a soft reed and playing to D above fork F on tenor - comfortably. Without it - I can barely play one note now - a few days ago it wasn't even that. I have a gig tomorrow and will be playing it. Without something like this I might be looking at losing 3 months of gigs or more.

We use smaller tips and softer reeds. Better horns and ergos. Harnesses, electronics and everything under the sun to make it easier for ourselves (like Real Books and Aebersold's - etc...). I think it is saddest of all that these giants who have all this knowledge and ability that we we only hope to have can be sidelined so easily because of one sphincter muscle. And may be no fault of their own.

I think there is an opportunity here.

 

[death2bbop]

...who are we talking about???

 

[whaler]

Even worse is the ones that never had it that are shoved down our throats. I saw Chet Baker a bunch after his "better days" and I will tell you that one note out his horn was worth the price of admission. I remember hearing Clifford Jordan one night at the vanguard and didn't think it was anything special. I went later in the week (my girlfriend at the time was a friend of the girl that worked the door) and heard him play beautifully.
We've all had our nights when it is just not happening. That is why you need a lot of vocabulary to fall back on when you aren't the most inspired.

 

[saxphil]

...who are we talking about???

I asked too, without reply.
From Jazz Is All's post, I'll guess... is it The (Jazz) Crusaders?

 

[MartinMusicMan]

I'm assuming it's the Crusaders, specifically Wilton Felder. I'd like to be wrong.

 

[saxphil]

I'm assuming it's the Crusaders, specifically Wilton Felder. I'd like to be wrong.

I'll love him still.