[78-L] Happy 100th, Prez! - unknown alternate Decca take

[Julian Vein]

simmonssomer wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Milan P Milovanovic" <milanpmilovanovic4 at gmail.com>
> To: <78-l at 78online.com>
> Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 3:59 PM
> Subject: Re: [78-L] Happy 100th, Prez! - unknown alternate Decca take
> 
> 
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Julian Vein" <julianvein at blueyonder.co.uk>
>> To: "78-L Mail List" <78-l at klickitat.78online.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 5:21 PM
>> Subject: Re: [78-L] Happy 100th, Prez! - unknown alternate Decca take
>>
>>
>> Milan,
>> It's still a mediocre trumpet solo, whoever it is. Young's solo is
>> reminiscent of Chu Berry on and off-day, rather than when he was "flying".
>>
>> I don't hear that flowing four-four rhythm that the later Basie band is
>> famous for. The rhythm seem to be pulling in different directions, the
>> result being something close to two-beat.
>>
>> Judging by Prez's performance here, I can't see what all the fuss is
>> about--nothing innovative about it at all. Sounds like a string of
>> cliches strung together.
>>
>> However, broadcasts tell a different story, as if it was a different
>> band. Perhaps, realising they'd been screwed by Decca, they didn't feel
>> like giving their best? If you pay peanuts, you get a monkey's 
>> performance.
>>
>>      Julian Vein
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Julian,
>>
>> according to Basie autobiography, yes, Basie was disappointed about the
>> contract with Decca.
>> But even if we accept it was not first rate band at this moment, could we
>> thing that maybe alternative take of the same tune can give some other
>> perspective, and some interesting moments?
>> As for Bird, I think that Pres is certainly someone from whom I would like
>> to hear every single note he played.
>>
>> Milan
>>
> It was very early in the game. First session for the full band. Freddy Green 
> not yet in the guitar chair. Some less than proficient players in the reed 
> section. Three of the four saxes in that section were held together with 
> rubber bands.They couldn't yet afford decent instruments.  Earl Warren not 
> yet there either.
> Aside from that, the band had been brought up to twelve pieces (plus Basie) 
> not very long before. So they do sound a bit scuffly at that junction.
> There are line checks from The Chatterbox of The Hotel William Penn in 
> Pittsburgh on Feb, 8,10,12 that will bear out the fact that they were far 
> from hitting their stride. They were just learning how to walk.
> Check 'em out on opening night at The Savoy Ballroom in June of 1937though, 
> and hear that band come alive.
> As far as Julian's comments about Lester Young, I must say that I do not 
> understand his point of view.
> 
> Al Simmons 
> 
> _______________________________________________
Al & Milan,

A poor performance is a poor performance, whatever the reasons.
I can make allowances for out-of-tunedness and bad balance/recording, 
but not for uninspired playing.

I was listening to Bird's "Cool Blues" on the radio this afternoon. I 
don't think it was the master take and it was one of Parker's least 
impressive efforts, full of cliches (corny licks) and lacklustre in 
performance. And that was recorded after his rehabilitation!

As an aside, Pres went from being an innovator (regardless of 
instrument) to a great tenor player to a not-so-great tenor player to a 
so-so tenor player and, finally a poor tenor player.

      Julian Vein


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