When I asked Steve (at the Vanguard, at the time) how he felt playing with Ron and Al, his face brightened way up and he said, "Like a kid in a candy store!"
Tommy Flanagan was a national treasure! I first listened to him when he was a sideman on the Coltrane LP, "Giant Steps." When I lived in Jersey City from 1979 to 1990, I saw him perform at Bradley's, Jazz Forum, and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. I was able to talk to him at Joanna's. I last saw him perform at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. The performance I most recall is with Mr. Flanagan and Barry Harris live on the west side of Manhattan!
Riverside Arts Festival outside concert produced by Mark Morganelli. He now owns a jazz club north of the city. He used to have a jazz club called the "Jazz Forum" on Cooper-Union!
That’s a super piece, Ethan - thanks for it from Adelaide, about as distant as you can get from NYC (though I have made the pilgrimage to the holy of holies that is the Vanguard). I’ve loved SK’s music since I first heard ‘Playground’ [that moment on ‘Gentle Thoughts’ (a reworking of ‘Thoughts of a Gentleman’ from ‘Ecstasy’) when the rhythm comes in with such a glorious, relaxed, open swing, I want SK’s solo to never end!] and ‘Life’s Magic’ is a favourite – so good to see it written up so well. I don’t know the TF date, so now I have some homework to do. I hope to get back to NYC sometime soonish, and will try very hard to get to one of your gigs – in the meantime, I’ll keep reading and listening from afar. Thanks so much for all of your work, and cheers from the Antipodes.
The Antipodes is where another of my favorite pianists is from: Mike Noch. He's collaborated with Howie Smith here in Cleveland and I understand is writing an autobiography.
When I asked Steve (at the Vanguard, at the time) how he felt playing with Ron and Al, his face brightened way up and he said, "Like a kid in a candy store!"
Tommy Flanagan was a national treasure! I first listened to him when he was a sideman on the Coltrane LP, "Giant Steps." When I lived in Jersey City from 1979 to 1990, I saw him perform at Bradley's, Jazz Forum, and the Charlie Parker Jazz Festival. I was able to talk to him at Joanna's. I last saw him perform at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. The performance I most recall is with Mr. Flanagan and Barry Harris live on the west side of Manhattan!
Riverside Arts Festival outside concert produced by Mark Morganelli. He now owns a jazz club north of the city. He used to have a jazz club called the "Jazz Forum" on Cooper-Union!
Tommy Flanagan and Barry Harris together? wow! Do you remember what the venue was?
They appeared together playing a duet or two in the Thelonious Monk documentary "Straight No Chaser", and a clip is on Youtube.
That’s a super piece, Ethan - thanks for it from Adelaide, about as distant as you can get from NYC (though I have made the pilgrimage to the holy of holies that is the Vanguard). I’ve loved SK’s music since I first heard ‘Playground’ [that moment on ‘Gentle Thoughts’ (a reworking of ‘Thoughts of a Gentleman’ from ‘Ecstasy’) when the rhythm comes in with such a glorious, relaxed, open swing, I want SK’s solo to never end!] and ‘Life’s Magic’ is a favourite – so good to see it written up so well. I don’t know the TF date, so now I have some homework to do. I hope to get back to NYC sometime soonish, and will try very hard to get to one of your gigs – in the meantime, I’ll keep reading and listening from afar. Thanks so much for all of your work, and cheers from the Antipodes.
wow, thanks so much!
The Antipodes is where another of my favorite pianists is from: Mike Noch. He's collaborated with Howie Smith here in Cleveland and I understand is writing an autobiography.
speaking of George Mraz and Al Foster, the Mike Nock session IN OUT AN AROUND with Brecker is a whole other kettle of fish than the Flanagan sides