In the early 1980's ex Basie trumpet player Joe Newman paid two visits to the Corner House in Heaton. Neither visit won the hearts of the accompanying musicians who were all top local pros and well used to backing musicians of Newman's calibre e.g. Al Cohn, Lockjaw, Sweets, Stitt, Tate and many others.
1981 saw Newman backed by Malcolm Saul (piano); Pete Stuart (bass) and Ronnie Pearson (drums). The trumpet player gave them a hard time resulting in Pearson leaving the stand.
A couple of years later Newman returned this time with Bill Harper (piano); Derek Dixon (bass) and Dennis Healey (drums). Again he vented his spleen at the trio and Bill Harper once told me that Healey let the former Basie man know in no uncertain terms what he could do with his trumpet despite the near physical impossibility of it!
I can vouch for this as I was at both sessions although I thought it was Al Grey who sent Pearson for an early bath. Perhaps the drummer was red carded twice! Lance
1 comment :
Joe Newman had a huge chip on his shoulder about UK rhythm sections.
As one bassist said to him 'it was good enough for Sonny Stitt so **** off!'
Post a Comment