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Bebop Spoken There

Dave Puddy: "Eventually we paid our entrance money [to Eel Pie Island] and fought our way to one of the many bars where we could buy our Newcastle Brown and retire to the back of the heaving dancefloor. There must have been lights somewhere, but my memory remains of being in some dark cavernous wonderland." - (Just Jazz July 2020)

Dave Rempis: “Ten years from now, I can see musicians streaming concerts in real time and charging a minimal amount for people to watch.” - (DownBeat September 2013)

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11,618 (and counting) posts since we started blogging just over 12 years ago. 753 of them this year alone and, so far, 17 this month (July 5).

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As we all know there are no live gigs taking place in the immediate future. However, any links to jazz streaming that are deemed suitable - i.e. with a professional approach - will be considered for posting.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Tonight's Blue Note: Lou Donaldson - The Scorpion.

Lou Donaldson (alto sax); Fred Ballard (trumpet); Melvin Sparks (guitar); Leon Spencer Jr. (organ); Idris Muhammed (drums).

One of the later Blue Notes (1970) the album is, in the main, based around the seventies' disco beat that Donaldson capitalised on with his big dance floor groover - Alligator Boogaloo which is included here.

To be honest,  this isn't the hard driving sax player from his earlier days. Here he has hit a commercial seam and he mines it to the full.


Having said that, he blows funky alto and some nice ballad work on Laura and some swingy playing on The Masquerade is Over. We didn't know it then but this is what eventually morphed into smooth jazz. Not quite yet but the morphing wasn't far away.

Music for a dance party - a dance party these days? - Yes but not one to enjoy whilst social distancing.

I often wonder, when the roll is called up yonder over there, where musicians such as Blue Note hit men Donaldson and Donald Byrd will stand. Will they be on the right hand or the left hand of Parker and Gillespie?

I'll tell you when I find out. In the meantime, The Scorpion is about as dangerous as the family cat.
Lance
at

1 comment :

Russell said...

What makes you think you're heading there and not the other place?!

Monday, April 20, 2020 7:48:00 am

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