Melba Liston and her bones

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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

Recorded mostly in December 58 Melba Liston leads an all star bone band, icluding Slide on Tuba!

<YOUTUBE id="8s-kcloC-fI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s-kcloC-fI</YOUTUBE>

Hope you enjoy.....
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afugate
Posts: 671
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by afugate »

[quote="Vegasbound"]Recorded mostly in December 58 Melba Liston leads an all star bone band, icluding Slide on Tuba!

<YOUTUBE id="8s-kcloC-fI">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s-kcloC-fI</YOUTUBE>

Hope you enjoy.....[/quote]

New to me. Dang that's good! :good:

--Andy in OKC
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

New to me too. It doesn't get any better than that, what a lineup of players!
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baroquetrombone
Posts: 48
Joined: Apr 16, 2018

by baroquetrombone »

This is great! Thanks for posting.
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u_11561man
Posts: 29
Joined: Aug 22, 2019

by u_11561man »

Thoroughly enjoyed, thank you.
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SwissTbone
Posts: 1138
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by SwissTbone »

Cool album. Thanks!
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CalgaryTbone
Posts: 1460
Joined: May 10, 2018

by CalgaryTbone »

Thanks for posting! Had no idea that Slide played tuba, and I thought all of the classic trombone/rhythm section albums were common knowledge these days. Nice to discover another one - particularly one so good!

Jim Scott
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King2bPlus
Posts: 49
Joined: Apr 01, 2018

by King2bPlus »

I've had this LP for years. Hadn't listened in a while though. Just digitized it.
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Burgerbob
Posts: 6327
Joined: Apr 23, 2018

by Burgerbob »

Learned about her from a children's book I was gifted. Great album and player!
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mbarbier
Posts: 367
Joined: May 17, 2018

by mbarbier »

It's an excellent book! My kid and I read it all the time- the album is incredible too. Glad it's getting a thread!
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bkessler
Posts: 51
Joined: Oct 23, 2019

by bkessler »

Wow, thanks! I’ll join the chorus of “New to mes.” Great album, great players.
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bassclef
Posts: 337
Joined: Mar 23, 2018

by bassclef »

I've listened to this several times since it was posted last week. So good!
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boneapart
Posts: 85
Joined: Aug 13, 2018

by boneapart »

Arranger credits cited?
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

[quote="boneapart"]Arranger credits cited?[/quote]

"Blues Melba" (Melba Liston) – 6:33

"The Trolley Song" (Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane) – 2:30

"Pow!" (Leonard Feather) – 4:04

"Wonder Why" (Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn) – 4:03

"Christmas Eve" (Slide Hampton) – 5:00

"What's My Line Theme" (Granville 'Sascha' Burland) – 4:24

"You Don't Say" (Melba Liston) – 3:57

"The Dark Before the Dawn" (Hampton, Feather) – 3:23
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Doug_Elliott
Posts: 4155
Joined: Mar 22, 2018

by Doug_Elliott »

Each player has a very distinctive voice but I don't know them to recognize. Is solo order listed for each tune?
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

01. Christmas Eve (Slide Hampton) 4:57

02. Whats My Line Theme (Sascha Burland) 4:18

03. You Dont Say (Melba Liston) 3:55

04. The Dark Before The Dawn (Feather-Hampton) 3:18

05. Pow! (Leonard Feather) 4:01

06. Blues Melba (Melba Liston) 6:30

07. The Trolley Song (Martin-Blane) 2:31

08. Wonder Why (Brodzsky-Cann) 3:58

09. Insomnia (Melba Liston) 3:29 *

10. Very Syrian Business (Frank Rehak) 4:22 *

11. Never Do An Abadanian (Rehak-Davis) 5:07 *

12. Zagred This (Melba Liston) 4:41 *
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

[quote="Doug Elliott"]Each player has a very distinctive voice but I don't know them to recognize. Is solo order listed for each tune?[/quote]

Doug this is all that is listed

Baritone Saxophone – Marty Flax (tracks: 9 to 12)

Bass – George Joyner (tracks: 3, 6, 7), Nelson Boyd (tracks: 9 to 12)

Drums – Charlie Persip (tracks: 3, 6, 7, 9 to 12), Frank Dunlop* (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8)

Guitar – Kenny Burrell (tracks: 3, 6, 7)

Piano – Ray Bryant (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8), Walter Davis Jr. (tracks: 9 to 12)

Reissue Producer – Jordi Pujol

Trombone – Al Grey (tracks: 3, 6, 7), Bennie Green (tracks: 3, 6, 7), Benny Powell (tracks: 3, 6, 7), Frank Rehak (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9 to 12), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8), Melba Liston

Trombone, Tuba – Slide Hampton (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8)
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baileyman
Posts: 1169
Joined: Mar 24, 2018

by baileyman »

Notice how the performance is different from today. First of all, the arrangements are playable. By that I mean these virtuosos don't have to bring their entire bag of tricks to bear against the chart. They get to play each note really great rather than rushing to the next. I can't count the number of charts for trombones I have heard that are just too hard for world class players.

Second, these guys and gal play with rhythmic impulse. Even the longer held notes often get a bit of an accent to start, and then come off it a bit. (Don't just hold that note, do something with it! an old pro said.) Even the mp notes behind solos. (For those who have never listened to those notes (or hide them when they play them), they can make or break a chart. Take the solo out and then play the background so it provides the most interest and impulse possible. That's how it should be.)

What I'm describing here is performance practice that seems to be totally dead. It seems the studios and schools enforce an interpretation that is very different, flaccid by comparison. I'd like to be wrong on that. Most everyone who did this in the day is gone.

Another place to go for great ensemble practice is any of the Kai Winding bands, even the ones just playing melody for the beautiful music stations. They're all great.
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ArbanRubank
Posts: 424
Joined: Feb 23, 2019

by ArbanRubank »

[quote="baileyman"]Notice how the performance is different from today. First of all, the arrangements are playable. By that I mean these virtuosos don't have to bring their entire bag of tricks to bear against the chart. They get to play each note really great rather than rushing to the next. I can't count the number of charts for trombones I have heard that are just too hard for world class players.

Second, these guys and gal play with rhythmic impulse. Even the longer held notes often get a bit of an accent to start, and then come off it a bit. (Don't just hold that note, do something with it! an old pro said.) Even the mp notes behind solos. (For those who have never listened to those notes (or hide them when they play them), they can make or break a chart. Take the solo out and then play the background so it provides the most interest and impulse possible. That's how it should be.)

What I'm describing here is performance practice that seems to be totally dead. It seems the studios and schools enforce an interpretation that is very different, flaccid by comparison. I'd like to be wrong on that. Most everyone who did this in the day is gone.

Another place to go for great ensemble practice is any of the Kai Winding bands, even the ones just playing melody for the beautiful music stations. They're all great.[/quote]

I couldn't agree with you more! Add to that some soloists playing in a mono-dynamic, which I believe you were mentioning in the long-held notes. Also, it's great to be square on the beat, but I believe we have become a slave to the pencil-tappers as well as the intonation purists. If an artist wants to slightly rush or lag a part of a phrase for some kind of effect - or start a note flat or sharp - well, that's jazz. I would much rather hear someone play with emotional content, even if it's laid on a little too thick, rather than to hear a purist play "sterile" as I think of it. Technical masters are becoming a dime-a-dozen. I like to listen to those who have "it". She had "it"!
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fsgazda
Posts: 219
Joined: Jun 24, 2018

by fsgazda »

I just performed a lecture recital on low brass music by African American composers, and closed with one of her ballads, "Melba's Tune". I can post the relevant slides from the powerpoint if anyone is interested.
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Vegasbound
Posts: 1328
Joined: Jul 06, 2019

by Vegasbound »

[quote="fsgazda"]I just performed a lecture recital on low brass music by African American composers, and closed with one of her ballads, "Melba's Tune". I can post the relevant slides from the powerpoint if anyone is interested.[/quote]

Please do , I think several of us will be interested
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fsgazda
Posts: 219
Joined: Jun 24, 2018

by fsgazda »

<ATTACHMENT filename="Black Composers.pdf" index="0">[attachment=0]Black Composers.pdf</ATTACHMENT>

I tried to attach the relevant slides. Not sure if it worked.
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KWL
Posts: 123
Joined: Oct 23, 2019

by KWL »

[quote="fsgazda"]Black Composers.pdf

I tried to attach the relevant slides. Not sure if it worked.[/quote]
It worked! Thanks.