Re: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 27-Apr-99 RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopk.. by Kristen [EMAIL PROTECTED] Not their best, but it gives me a will to live some days is WSQ's Ellington record. Helps me soar sometimes. That may get played next week, but I think I'll stick with a Duke recording as his 100th birthday is tomorrow. Maybe something from _And His Mother Called Him Bill_, a tribute to Billy Strayhorn and my favorite Ellington album. I know a couple who put Charles Gayle records on for their infant son. He loves dancing to aggressive saxophone music. That kid's going to lead an interesting life. Carl Z.
RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
Twang-provisations: Kudos to Carl Z. for opening his show with WSQ's Dock of the Bay. Carl, your radio shows make me want to go back into the booth at 4am like I used to in Buffalo. I used to do a Saturday night from 1 am to 7am playing taped NPR stuff until 3am to 4am when I had an hour to play what I wished. It was great, I played what I wanted and no one bothered me...well that is until I shattered the airwaves with the Charles Gayle Quartet. That one woke the Program Director up. Ironically, Gayle was from Buffalo and had taught at UB in the 70's. My argument to the PD was that it was my job to keep drunken drivers awake at the wheel. He didn't buy it. Not their best, but it gives me a will to live some days is WSQ's Ellington record. Helps me soar sometimes. I also love the David Murray Special Quartet version of In a Sentimental Mood with Elvin Jones-Drums, Fred Hopkins Bass, and McCoy Tyner on piano. It's one of those tunes I'd live to hear a really talented steel player do. No kidding. Dan Rigney http://www.moths.com
RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins
A fullblown WSQ thread. Damn, I love this list! ~Greg ___ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/
RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
Greg says: A fullblown WSQ thread. Damn, I love this list! Yeah, I've been enjoying this thread too. I'm chiming in late, but hasn't anyone mentioned Julius Hemphill? He was my fave of the bunch. Saw him a lot over the years and followed him from his B.A.G. days in St Louis to his New York phase and untimely death three years or so. It's not crucial, but I always thought Julius was the initial organizer of the WSQ. Many years ago a friend was doing an album cover for Julius (right after his "Coon Bidness" album) and we met up with him at some sort of loft show in the East Village. That night he had Olu Dara on cornet (first time I ever heard of him was that night) and Philip Wilson on drums, from the old Butterfield Blues band, etc. After a couple of sets Wilson was blasted and Barry Altschul started playing drums instead!! Good stuff. Dara was very Miles Davis-y at that time, epitome of "cool" sound, etc. --junior
Re: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 26-Apr-99 RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopk.. by "Ph. Barnard"@eagle.cc.u Yeah, I've been enjoying this thread too. I'm chiming in late, but hasn't anyone mentioned Julius Hemphill? He was my fave of the bunch. Saw him a lot over the years and followed him from his B.A.G. days in St Louis to his New York phase and untimely death three years or so. It's not crucial, but I always thought Julius was the initial organizer of the WSQ. You'll get no argument from me Junior. I wish I'd seen him before he died. BLATANT PLUG WRCT plays lots and lots of folks like WSQ, Dave Douglas, Sun Ra, Fred Hopkins, Kahil El'Zabar and the like (also Mingus, Ella, Chet Baker). Saturday evenings between 4-10pm and Sunday mornings between 7am-noon are most reliable, but there are at least half a dozen such shows on our schedule, and most any MP3 player can play them at www.wrct.org./BLATANT PLUG Carl Z.
RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
On Mon, 26 Apr 1999 11:48:49 +, Ph. Barnard wrote: Yeah, I've been enjoying this thread too. I'm chiming in late, but hasn't anyone mentioned Julius Hemphill? He was my fave of the bunch. Saw him a lot over the years and followed him from his B.A.G. days in St Louis to his New York phase and untimely death three years or so. It's not crucial, but I always thought Julius was the initial organizer of the WSQ. Hemphill's biggest role in influencing the direction of the WSQ was in his compositions. In the early days, Lake and Murray did a little composing, and Bluiett was responsible for that incredible signature tune Hattie Wall, but Hemphill did about 90% of the writing. I would say that most of the tunes folks knew them for, with the exception of Hattie Wall, were Hemphill compositions - Steppin, Bordertown, My First Winter. My personal favorite Hemphill record was recorded in 1993 - Five Chord Stud. While recent heart surgery prevented him from playing, he did all the composing and conducting for a saxophone sextet featuring Tim Berne, Marty Erlich, and James Carter. That is one excellent record. Kids, can you say "Blues-Drenched"? ~Greg ___ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/
Re: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins-- Julius?? Hello!!
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 26-Apr-99 RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopk.. by "Greg Harness"@excite.co My personal favorite Hemphill record was recorded in 1993 - Five Chord Stud. While recent heart surgery prevented him from playing, he did all the composing and conducting for a saxophone sextet featuring Tim Berne, Marty Erlich, and James Carter. That is one excellent record. Kids, can you say "Blues-Drenched"? Tim Berne (who used to release records on Columbia) now leads Bloodcount, which WSQ/Lake/Hemphill fans might enjoy. Carl Z.
RE: Oliver Lake - Fred Hopkins
Twang swang: Transcript of one of Fred Hopkins last interviews at this new avant jazz site out of DC: http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Nook/4381/index.html When I saw Fred at Artpark, it was like he was dancing with the instrument, eyes closed and a smiling all could see for miles. Barry NYC posse-Sorry I didn't make the Kelly Willis gig. Sister was in town and had to stay in Rockland until after dinner. We got to Arlene's at about 11pm. It was a bit of a nuthouse as the band before us had a huge following and colored hair. How was the show ? Dan http://www.moths.com
Re: Oliver Lake
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 23-Apr-99 Re: Oliver Lake by "Greg Harness"@excite.co One of my desert island records is the World Saxophone Quartet's *Dances and Ballads*, and Lake's originals - 'West African Snap', 'Adjacent', and 'Belly Up' - are a big part of why I like that album so much. One of my great regrets is never having seen the Quartet play while Julius Hemphill was still alive. Amazing players, amazing composers, and their covers (including songs by Duke Ellington and Otis Redding) were inspired and fun to hear. Carl Z.
RE: Oliver lake
Progressive jazz and twang: I never saw all four together, but I have had the pleasure of seeing the three surviving members of WSQ in three separate gigs -- two I booked. Saw David Murray's Quartet with the late Fred Hopkins on bass at Artpark. Presented Hamiet Bluiett duo with Ronnie Burrage - for Hallwalls at the Calumet in Buffalo. Presented Trio 3 - Oliver Lake-sax, Andrew Cyrille drums (just won a Guggenheim) and Reggie Workman on bass. - for Hallwalls at the Calumet in Buffalo Three of the finest times. Dan Rigney
Re: Oliver lake (Fred Hopkins. WSQ, David Murray, etc)
Saw David Murray's Quartet with the late Fred Hopkins on bass at Artpark. I've been lucky to see David Murray in many incarnations, very often with Fred Hopkins. I was sad to see how he passed away - he seemed very young (I don't know his age, but he PLAYED young). He always seemed to have the best time on stage, kind of a lil' clown, and he and Murray (and he and Andrew Cyrille especially) were so in sync with each other. He was a real treasure and I hope he's remembered. Murray always has the best bands with him. One note about the WSQ is how when I first saw them I was expecting alot of serious pomp, but they provide some of the most patying jass shows you can see. They have a new record with African vocals which, while not as good as their best, shows that as a quartet they really stretch themselves. I feel David Murray is making some of the most important music going on today (if music can be important - he shows it). He's been experimenting the last few years with combining African heritage world music with his soulful, funky jass style and it works so damn well - not on record, alas, as much as in person. If Fo Deuk Revue comes to your town in any form, check it out. When I saw him half a year ago he had Senegal rappers, traditional Senegal pop music, Amira Buraka reading beat poetry, and, of course, the great sounds of David Murray himself. Kick ass stuff. keep dancing, -ldk
Re: Oliver lake (Fred Hopkins. WSQ, David Murray, etc)
Cactus wrote: If Fo Deuk Revue comes to your town in any form, check it out. When I saw him half a year ago he had Senegal rappers, traditional Senegal pop music, Amira Buraka reading beat poetry, and, of course, the great sounds of David Murray himself. Kick ass stuff. Kick ass stuff indeed. I saw them in NYC last summer and was especially knocked out by the organist, whose name I didn't catch. Murray joked that he was "the new guy." Any idea who he was? Tom Smith
Re: Oliver Lake
Carl Abraham Zimring wrote: Could be, though he's spent plenty of time in Chicago, played with plenty of Chicago-based musicians, and put one one of the finest displays of saxophone playing I've ever seen in a Chicago club. I've always been a fan of his playing, and even moreso of his compositions. One of my desert island records is the World Saxophone Quartet's *Dances and Ballads*, and Lake's originals - 'West African Snap', 'Adjacent', and 'Belly Up' - are a big part of why I like that album so much. ~Greg ___ Get your free, private email at http://mail.excite.com/
Re: Oliver Lake
Excerpts from internet.listserv.postcard2: 22-Apr-99 Oliver Lake by "Greg Harness"@excite.co I thought Lake was from St Louis. Could be, though he's spent plenty of time in Chicago, played with plenty of Chicago-based musicians, and put one one of the finest displays of saxophone playing I've ever seen in a Chicago club. Carl Z.
