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

[simmonssomer]

----- 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 8:37 PM
Subject: Re: [78-L] Happy 100th, Prez! - unknown alternate Decca take


> 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
>
I can say the same for every male's libido.

Al Simmons