I loved the captions for the photos. "Bitches Brew" changed my life. I didn't know music like that existed. It was my gateway to jazz, for better or for worse.
A fine memoir! I’m a bit younger than your dad (74.) My children are in their 40s and in their early 20s were (gently) amused by my fidelity to the vinyl medium. Now, they requested turntables for Christmas—I obliged—and they’re arguing over who gets what in the collection. I have to (gently) remind them that I’m still here. But at least I know that it’ll stick around after I hit the road.
Loved this! Your dad had some great LPs! I’m most impressed that you paid attention to them and took the time to really listen. What a great gift he left to you.
Not only did your dad have excellent taste in a compact collection, he must have taken the same drugs I did: Mongo, Cal Tjader (I wrote the liner notes for an out of print CD compilation), Willie Bobo, psych-funk Miles were all part of the very young stoner life. Having had these high school sound trips in the mid-late 1960s gave my teenage/early college freelance career a kickstart, esp. when Santana happened and "Latin rock" spin-off groups made records, because I knew the source material.
For the love of God, please sit down with your Dad and let him tell you what each album meant to him. There’s a great book there, plus you will have his memories forever.
He went to Hofstra—did he know Ellie Greenwich then?
I took have a deep fascination with my dad's records, I wish I could unpack the way his taste affected mine but I know my parents music influenced me more than their intentional parenting practices (: Thought provoking and beautifully written I whole heartedly enjoyed reading this and reflecting with my morning coffee. Subscribe.
I posted a note yesterday which nobody read about finding a Bix Beiderbecke anthology in my dad's record collection and becoming hooked for life.
My brother bought Bitches Brew when it came out around 1970, and then took me to see John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In retrospect it seems Jazz died out when it lost the dance beat and most of the 60s-70s instrumental stuff was a little pretentious. It was actually the Disco musicians who were putting out truly innovative jazz which kept the crucial dance component. Last night was listening to Jazz Dance Disco Jazz by Dazz which had hot jazz riffs but a solid dance beat. Nobody is listening to 70s instrumental jazz but Disco is still hugely popular.
Not to be elitist but unless one knows how to dance one cannot truly appreciate the birth and evolution of jazz and its origins in New Orleans prostitution.
I’m new here; but do you already know Frankly Jazz, the low-budget but oh, so very cool show from the Perry Mason version of Los Angeles?
Notes on YouTube indicate that the program, featuring Frank Evans as your classy host, ran for a half-hour, but as the videos are very short, 9-10 minutes, I rather think they were seriously chopped up, reedited for YouTube).
Lots of now-famous people, many who were famous then, appear on the show, Lou Rawls, Joe Sample I think, Frank's friend 'Hank' Mancini (!) and many more.
Anyway, the sophisticated, modern, international jazz culture.
I never liked "The Take Five" album even though I should. I love some Paul Desmond with Jim Hall records.
I never liked "bitches Brew" even though I adored another album from that era, "A Tribute to Jack Johnson" I'm a big Sun Ra fan, its not like I can't take some tom foolery.
I think what is going on here is that I didn't give either album a fair chance to grow on me. They are both so popular that I snobbishly thought "this can't be for hardcore jazz fans." I sincerely didn't love either on a first try.
That is some Italo-Lebanese Glocken-Travel-Agent Funk right there.
I loved the captions for the photos. "Bitches Brew" changed my life. I didn't know music like that existed. It was my gateway to jazz, for better or for worse.
A fine memoir! I’m a bit younger than your dad (74.) My children are in their 40s and in their early 20s were (gently) amused by my fidelity to the vinyl medium. Now, they requested turntables for Christmas—I obliged—and they’re arguing over who gets what in the collection. I have to (gently) remind them that I’m still here. But at least I know that it’ll stick around after I hit the road.
Loved this! Your dad had some great LPs! I’m most impressed that you paid attention to them and took the time to really listen. What a great gift he left to you.
Not only did your dad have excellent taste in a compact collection, he must have taken the same drugs I did: Mongo, Cal Tjader (I wrote the liner notes for an out of print CD compilation), Willie Bobo, psych-funk Miles were all part of the very young stoner life. Having had these high school sound trips in the mid-late 1960s gave my teenage/early college freelance career a kickstart, esp. when Santana happened and "Latin rock" spin-off groups made records, because I knew the source material.
Really awesome Dan. I can see the basement in my mind. Love you cuz.
All my love to Aunt Gail and Uncle Dennis.
Great story. I wish my three children had half an interest in any of my old vinyl records.
We, at Record Lung, are interested!!!
For the love of God, please sit down with your Dad and let him tell you what each album meant to him. There’s a great book there, plus you will have his memories forever.
He went to Hofstra—did he know Ellie Greenwich then?
I took have a deep fascination with my dad's records, I wish I could unpack the way his taste affected mine but I know my parents music influenced me more than their intentional parenting practices (: Thought provoking and beautifully written I whole heartedly enjoyed reading this and reflecting with my morning coffee. Subscribe.
I posted a note yesterday which nobody read about finding a Bix Beiderbecke anthology in my dad's record collection and becoming hooked for life.
My brother bought Bitches Brew when it came out around 1970, and then took me to see John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In retrospect it seems Jazz died out when it lost the dance beat and most of the 60s-70s instrumental stuff was a little pretentious. It was actually the Disco musicians who were putting out truly innovative jazz which kept the crucial dance component. Last night was listening to Jazz Dance Disco Jazz by Dazz which had hot jazz riffs but a solid dance beat. Nobody is listening to 70s instrumental jazz but Disco is still hugely popular.
Not to be elitist but unless one knows how to dance one cannot truly appreciate the birth and evolution of jazz and its origins in New Orleans prostitution.
https://substack.com/@elmer123851/note/c-196988809?r=jnvs8&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
Oh, man, I owned all those records in the late ‘60s. Wish I had them back.
I know, Spotify is not the same, but it’s better than feeling sorry for dumb things I did forty years ago. Alas.
Deepest playlist of classic jazz tracks I ever saw, BTW. Overwhelming treasury, like Smog’s hoard of gold:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1x7TzCfKamyyOoR5OC7Nxn?si=dm_YHdPaS526Zjqkh0xogQ&pi=DJQcjLScThC-m
It's amazing to realize that the teens of the 1950s are now in their 80s 😯
Passion, honesty, humor, and quiet analysis, awakening us to the beauty and history contained in the everyday. Great essay and many thanks.
I’m new here; but do you already know Frankly Jazz, the low-budget but oh, so very cool show from the Perry Mason version of Los Angeles?
Notes on YouTube indicate that the program, featuring Frank Evans as your classy host, ran for a half-hour, but as the videos are very short, 9-10 minutes, I rather think they were seriously chopped up, reedited for YouTube).
Lots of now-famous people, many who were famous then, appear on the show, Lou Rawls, Joe Sample I think, Frank's friend 'Hank' Mancini (!) and many more.
Anyway, the sophisticated, modern, international jazz culture.
The videos
https://m.youtube.com/@FranklyJazzTV/videos
as set up by Frank Evans’ son, will, if you start at the right place, keep playing episodes one after another.
Here is that 'play all' button:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waXMpjv8KAI&list=UUeQnDAKYuqiMCTtS1yEsAyQ&feature=plcp
But in any case, don’t miss
The Young Rabbits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBvHv0VNz6o
Freedom Sound,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0juc6uztEso
and Miles Stone episodes... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6O-hw00NUQ
LATER !
I never liked "The Take Five" album even though I should. I love some Paul Desmond with Jim Hall records.
I never liked "bitches Brew" even though I adored another album from that era, "A Tribute to Jack Johnson" I'm a big Sun Ra fan, its not like I can't take some tom foolery.
I think what is going on here is that I didn't give either album a fair chance to grow on me. They are both so popular that I snobbishly thought "this can't be for hardcore jazz fans." I sincerely didn't love either on a first try.
I'll give both a new listen.