Bassist and occasional contributor to these pages, David Brownlow, has been thinking back to some of the key jazz moments that impacted on him over the years both as a listener and a player. He mentions some of them here and hopes that other readers will follow suit with their thoughts.
The 60s to the Noughties saw many visiting stars in concert - Diz, Stitt, Hawk, Eldridge, Peterson, Ray Brown, Kessel, Brubeck, MJQ, Ellington, Hi-Los, Ella, Gil Evans, Miles, Trane, Dolphy, Elvin Jones, Ronnie Scott, Stan Tracey, Mick Mulligan/George Melly, Keith Jarrett & 'Standards Trio' and others not-quite so memorable !
Circa 1970s Met Red Rodney [pictured left with Bill Harper] at the Corner House. Rodney played with Bird !!
At the Coltrane concert at the City Hall after 5 mins of "Impressions" half of the crowd walked out in disgust, others stayed to shout abuse at the band or walked around in the venue chatting to friends!
1960s/70s/80s. Occasionally played double bass in the trios of Peter Jacobsen, Kenny Morrell, John Hall and George Richardson. What a privilege to work with four of the finest musicians from the region....
At one gig I played at in Walkergate, a waitress carrying a tray of dishes and cutlery collapsed and died there and then in front of the stand! Of course, we just kept on playing....!
Four discs which changed the face of jazz:
1) Jazz at Massey Hall - summarises the whole bebop movement...
2) Portrait In Jazz - Bill Evans/La Faro/Motian. A new star arrived together with a formidable bassist who challenged the way the bass could be played and a whole new conception of the piano trio, all on one LP!
3) My Favourite Things - John Coltrane Quartet - Pointing the way to a new direction in jazz with solos on vamps, scales and modes helped by Tyner's unusual comping and Elvin Jones' elevation of drum technique.
4) Miles Ahead - Gil Evans & Miles Davis: A major collaboration where Gil took jazz orchestration into new areas helping Miles to achieve another development in his fine career.
Dave B.
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