Another jazz legend has gone. Drummer Charli(e) Persip left us on August 23.
A longtime associate of Dizzy Gillespie, Charli, who dropped the e from his name in the 1980s was equally at home driving big bands as contrasting as the ensembles of Dizzy, Lionel Hampton and Harry James, as he was in a small group of which there were too many to list.
My own particular memory was of a rather obscure album he made with Cecil Payne - The Connection. The Freddie Redd album on Blue Note of music from the same play may be better known but Payne's and Kenny Drew's originals for this version don't lose by comparision, helped along as they are by Payne's baritone, Clark Terry, Bennie Green (trombone), Duke Jordan, Ron Carter and, of course, Persip's drumming. I loaned it out many years ago and, well you can guess the rest ...
Nevertheless, it remains in my memory and, what do you know? the full album is on YouTube! I'm pleased to say that time hasn't clouded my memory. Listen to Charlie (as he was then in 1962) pushing the horns to the limit. If anything it's even better than I remembered.
If this had been the only record he ever made his name would have been carved high up in the annuls of jazz drumming. However, he recorded prolifically leaving a rich legacy.
Charli Persip was 91.
One of the greats. May he Rest In Peace..
Lance
4 comments :
A few years ago I picked up a second hand copy of the album. I've always wondered who it might have belonged to...
I have the LP the Connection and it is a great example of Charlie Persip's drumming.
There was a great Gillespie big band album with some fantastic charts by Melba Liston.
It was on Music for Pleasure and I think it was called The Champ.
Gerry R
Spot on Gerry. I have the album and it's another fine example of his drumming. And yes, great arrangements too not to mention the trumpet playing!
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