International Jazz Day

Esther Phillips who in another time was known as Little Esther ---- Watts Towers Jazz Festival ----  July 16, 1983 ---- photo by Mark Weber

Esther Phillips who in another time was known as Little Esther —- Watts Towers Jazz Festival —- July 16, 1983 —- photo by Mark Weber

THE THURSDAY JAZZ RADIO SHOW

April 30, 2o15 Jazz @ Noon every Thursday (starts at 12:07 after the satellite news) Host MARK WEBER KUNM Albuquerque, USA 89.9 FM (Mountain Standard Time) also streaming on the web > KUNM.org Current time zone offset: UTC*/GMT -6 hours (*Coordinated Universal Time)/Greenwich Mean Time)

INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY

To me, an artist’s life is a long journey
toward peace & tranquility ——-

One hopes for that

possible eventuality, some sort of acceptance
and salvation, a release into serenity ——-

I sometimes wonder what the message is when I hear
a 70-year-old tearing the shreds out of a saxophone
for an hour or more? That sort of thing I can
understand coming from a 20-something,
so,
I realize that maybe we do not share the same
vision of the artist’s path?
Then again, maybe
this saxophonist is way ahead of me and has
discover’d life to be a cosmic joke?

Obviously, it depends on what you need from art
and the practice of making it —
it being purely play,
as good a way to occupy one’s life as any —-

It’s amazing that poetry (art) ever gets done at all
in this world we’ve created of
so many distractions ——-

Everybody’s journey is personal, that is obvious, mine
is to the heart of the sun, sayeth Umma Gumma, to
where pure peacefulness emanates in effusive glory

International Jazz Day

Charlie Haden & Bobby Bradford in duet -- February 17, 1980 -- Century City  Playhouse, Los Angeles -- photo by Mark Weber

Charlie Haden & Bobby Bradford in duet — February 17, 1980 — Century City Playhouse, Los Angeles — photo by Mark Weber

Jimmie Smith, drums; Larry Gales, bass; Plas Johnson, tenor saxophone; Dolo Coker, piano ----  UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom -- May 14, 1980 -- photo by Mark Weber ----Dolo was a bopper of  the first rank, he moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and became a mainstay on the scene working in  television and in the clubs w/Dexter, Pepper, Leroy Vinnegar, Teddy Edwards, Blue Mitchell, Harry Edison,  Frank Butler, Herb Ellis, Supersax, etc ---- it's hard to believe he only lived to age 56, he always  seemed so senor to me when we talked, but brain cancer took him out in 1983 -- I have some great  records of him we'll spin on the New Mexico airwaves

Jimmie Smith, drums; Larry Gales, bass; Plas Johnson, tenor saxophone; Dolo Coker, piano —- UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom — May 14, 1980 — photo by Mark Weber —-Dolo was a bopper of the first rank, he moved to Los Angeles in 1960 and became a mainstay on the scene working in television and in the clubs w/Dexter, Pepper, Leroy Vinnegar, Teddy Edwards, Blue Mitchell, Harry Edison, Frank Butler, Herb Ellis, Supersax, etc —- it’s hard to believe he only lived to age 56, he always seemed so senor to me when we talked, but brain cancer took him out in 1983 — I have some great records of him we’ll spin on the New Mexico airwaves.

Horace Tapscott & Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra ---- Watts Towers Jazz Festival -- July 16, 1983 ----  Dadesi Komolafe flute solo w/ strings: Melvin Moore, violin; David Bryant & Roberto Miranda, basses;  Larry Gales, cello; poet Kamau Daaood sitting on steps; saxes: Ernie Roberts, Gary Bias, Dadesi;  Thurman Green, trombone, and I didn't catch the drummer's name -- photo by Mark Weber ---- (David  Bryant is behind Roberto) -- 10-piece ensemble + poet

Horace Tapscott & Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra —- Watts Towers Jazz Festival — July 16, 1983 —- Dadesi Komolafe flute solo w/ strings: Melvin Moore, violin; David Bryant & Roberto Miranda, basses; Larry Gales, cello; poet Kamau Daaood sitting on steps; saxes: Ernie Roberts, Gary Bias, Dadesi; Thurman Green, trombone, and I didn’t catch the drummer’s name — photo by Mark Weber —- (David Bryant is behind Roberto) — 10-piece ensemble + poet

Sun Ra Omniverse Arkestra -- April 2, 1981---- Myron's Grand Ballroom, downtown  Los Angeles -- photo by Mark Weber

Sun Ra Omniverse Arkestra — April 2, 1981—- Myron’s Grand Ballroom, downtown Los Angeles — photo by Mark Weber

Lewis Jordan on his roof in the Haight overlooking San Francisco -- September 1, 1978 -- photo by Mark Weber

Lewis Jordan on his roof in the Haight overlooking San Francisco — September 1, 1978 — photo by Mark Weber

Remembrance reveal thyself --------- Arlen Asher and Bobby Shew -- March 12, 2o15 -- Albuquerque ---- photo by Mark Weber

Remembrance reveal thyself ——— Arlen Asher and Bobby Shew — March 12, 2o15 — Albuquerque —- photo by Mark Weber

Lee Konitz Quartet in Albuquerque ---- March 12, 2o15 ---- George Schuller, drums; Dan  Tepfer, piano; Jeremy Stratton, bass -- photo by Mark Weber ---- Before Lee arrived the rumor  was that he has been singing on his performances, and I'm happy to report his "syllabification," (Lee's word)  which strikes me as the most  correct term for his way with vocalization (rather than scat) was wonderful, it struck me (if I may  be permitted to stray into the realm of psychoanalysis) as a person in their later years returning to  something of his youth: Lee's being his early studies with Lennie ---- ("We are all of us palimpsests, we  carry the past around, it comes surging up . . ." -- Penelope Lively) ---- And his tone on the alto  was deeply heart-felt, a beautiful human sound ---- James Newton, who was in attendance (he and  George have a Dolphy connection) said to me about Lee's sound: "Every note has so much history in it, wow"

Lee Konitz Quartet in Albuquerque —- March 12, 2o15 —- George Schuller, drums; Dan Tepfer, piano; Jeremy Stratton, bass — photo by Mark Weber —- Before Lee arrived the rumor was that he has been singing on his performances, and I’m happy to report his “syllabification,” (Lee’s word) which strikes me as the most correct term for his way with vocalization (rather than scat) was wonderful, it struck me (if I may be permitted to stray into the realm of psychoanalysis) as a person in their later years returning to something of his youth: Lee’s being his early studies with Lennie —- (“We are all of us palimpsests, we carry the past around, it comes surging up . . .” — Penelope Lively) —- And his tone on the alto was deeply heart-felt, a beautiful human sound —- James Newton, who was in attendance (he and George have a Dolphy connection) said to me about Lee’s sound: “Every note has so much history in it, wow”

We spent a lot of time in this room at Horace's listening to music -- Horace liked  to record the concerts of Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and that's mostly what  we listen'd to, a lot, and smoked a lot, also ---- this photo is taken from the vantage  of the big couch ---- a Sunday afternoon on 11th Avenue in Los Angeles  with Horace Tapscott and his granddaughter (Renee's child) in the den ---- Cecelia  told me that that was Horace's "security blanket" -- photo by Mark Weber -- April 18, 1981

We spent a lot of time in this room at Horace’s listening to music — Horace liked to record the concerts of Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra and that’s mostly what we listen’d to, a lot, and smoked a lot, also —- this photo is taken from the vantage of the big couch —- a Sunday afternoon on 11th Avenue in Los Angeles with Horace Tapscott and his granddaughter (Renee’s child) in the den —- Cecelia told me that that was Horace’s “security blanket” — photo by Mark Weber — April 18, 1981

George Cables & Frank Morgan in duet ---- Sunday afternoon in Jack Duganne's studio --  Santa Monica, California -- May 11, 1980 -- photo by Mark Weber

George Cables & Frank Morgan in duet —- Sunday afternoon in Jack Duganne’s studio — Santa Monica, California — May 11, 1980 — photo by Mark Weber

James Newton and I go way back ---- we both grew up in the suburbs east of Los Angeles, separated  by Kellogg Hill ---- One of my favorite memories is a car-full of us (my blue Volks bug) driving down  the freeway at night singing at the top of our lungs "The sound of joy is enlight'ment / Space, fire, truth, is  enlight'ment / Space fire / Sometimes it's music / Strange mathematics / rhythmic equations //  The Sound of thought is enlight'ment . . ." singing along with John Gilmore and June Tyson from the Foundation Maeght 1970  Sun Ra Arkestra recordings ---- photo by Mark Weber in palimpsest with James Newton -- February 6, 2o15  Albuquerque ---- Note the New Mexico squint (the mid-afternoon sun is bright out here)

James Newton and I go way back —- we both grew up in the suburbs east of Los Angeles, separated by Kellogg Hill —- One of my favorite memories is a car-full of us (my blue Volks bug) driving down the freeway at night singing at the top of our lungs “The sound of joy is enlight’ment / Space, fire, truth, is enlight’ment / Space fire / Sometimes it’s music / Strange mathematics / rhythmic equations // The Sound of thought is enlight’ment . . .” singing along with John Gilmore and June Tyson from the Foundation Maeght 1970 Sun Ra Arkestra recordings —- photo by Mark Weber in palimpsest with James Newton — February 6, 2o15 Albuquerque —- Note the New Mexico squint (the mid-afternoon sun is bright out here)

Alan Silva at the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach -- June 7, 1979 ---- performing with  a Cecil Taylor Quartet of Ramsey Ameen, violin; Michael Carvin, drums;  Alan on bass -- photo by Mark Weber

Alan Silva at the Lighthouse, Hermosa Beach — June 7, 1979 —- performing with a Cecil Taylor Quartet of Ramsey Ameen, violin; Michael Carvin, drums; Alan on bass — photo by Mark Weber

Master of Ceremonies Marl Young presiding over the Blue Mitchell Memorial  at Local 47 -- June 10, 1979 ---- I always thought that Marl was the union president,  you saw him all over town (checking union cards and always in good spirits) but  reading his LA TIMES obituary I see he was Local 47 Secretary -- photo by Mark Weber

Master of Ceremonies Marl Young presiding over the Blue Mitchell Memorial at Local 47 — June 10, 1979 —- I always thought that Marl was the union president, you saw him all over town (checking union cards and always in good spirits) but reading his LA TIMES obituary I see he was Local 47 Secretary — photo by Mark Weber

Frank DeLaRosa and Teddy Edwards ---- June 10, 1979 -- photos by Mark Weber

Frank DeLaRosa and Teddy Edwards —- June 10, 1979 — photos by Mark Weber

I caught Sarah Vaughan at least a half dozen times over those years, she  lived in Los Angeles, as did Carmen and Ella, and it is one of my great regrets  that I never saw Ella perform ----   One of my favorite Sarah stories is standing in the  wings at Bridges Auditorium watching her sing, standing next to Mel Torme and someone  who must have been Mel's son because they looked exactly alike, and as Sarah held  one of those long vibrato swoons Mel and his son looked at each other with eyebrows  raised and silently mouthed WOW ---- For this shot I happen'd into her outside the  union hall and asked if I could snap her picture, I had the 28mm wide angle on the  camera and had no time to switch lenses and focusing wide angle lenses is difficult,  especially in the dark (that's why there's a flash on this shot) but  you need to get it right, not that I was taking too much time, but Sarah barked  at me, "Hurry up! HURRY UP!" which was pure Sarah, it was almost a rite of passage  to be barked at by Sarah, I'd seen her bark at Basie, too, so I joined the club ----  photo by Mark Weber --  June 10, 1979 ---- Pavarotti said that you must have the  nerves of a thief to be a singer, and I might add, you must also be brave when you  photo Sassy

I caught Sarah Vaughan at least a half dozen times over those years, she lived in Los Angeles, as did Carmen and Ella, and it is one of my great regrets that I never saw Ella perform —- One of my favorite Sarah stories is standing in the wings at Bridges Auditorium watching her sing, standing next to Mel Torme and someone who must have been Mel’s son because they looked exactly alike, and as Sarah held one of those long vibrato swoons Mel and his son looked at each other with eyebrows raised and silently mouthed WOW —- For this shot I happen’d into her outside the union hall and asked if I could snap her picture, I had the 28mm wide angle on the camera and had no time to switch lenses and focusing wide angle lenses is difficult, especially in the dark (that’s why there’s a flash on this shot) but you need to get it right, not that I was taking too much time, but Sarah barked at me, “Hurry up! HURRY UP!” which was pure Sarah, it was almost a rite of passage to be barked at by Sarah, I’d seen her bark at Basie, too, so I joined the club —- photo by Mark Weber — June 10, 1979 —- Pavarotti said that you must have the nerves of a thief to be a singer, and I might add, you must also be brave when you photo Sassy

Here's another shot of Sarah Vaughan, with trumpeter (and my hang  buddy) Lammar Wright Jr at Hollywood Bowl -- June 19, 1982 -- photo by Mark Weber

Here’s another shot of Sarah Vaughan, with trumpeter (and my hang buddy) Lammar Wright Jr at Hollywood Bowl — June 19, 1982 — photo by Mark Weber

My drawing of Muhammad Ali ---- photo by Mark Weber -- October 1978, Upland CA

My drawing of Muhammad Ali —- photo by Mark Weber — October 1978, Upland CA

9 Comments

  1. Mark Weber

    4 THINGS

    1) The quote from Penelope Lively comes from her memoir DANCING FISH AND AMONITES (2o13) written during her 80th year —- “….layers of time inviting interpretation . . . where everything exists at once, today, yesterday and long ago all juxtaposed . . . this vision was . . . the presence of the past, whether in an Oxfordshire field or in someone’s life . . . we are all of us palimpsests, we carry the past around, it comes surging up whether we want it, it is an albatross, and a crutch.” pp173-174 [a palimpsest is writing that has reappeared on ancient manuscript, having been rubbed off to be re-used for subsequent writing but over time the earlier text becomes visible]

    2) complete lyrics to “Enlightment” by Sun Ra : The Sound of Joy is Enlightenment – Space, Fire, Truth is Enlightenment – Space Fire – Sometimes it’s Music – Strange Mathematics – Rhythmic Equations – The Sound of Thought is Enlightenment – The Magic Light of Tomorrow – Backwards are those of Sadness – Forward and Onward Are those of Gladness – Enlightenment Is my Tomorrow – It has no planes of Sorrow – Hereby, my Invitation – I do invite you be of my Space World – This Song is Sound of Enlightenment – The Fiery Truth of Enlightenment – Vibrations come from the Space World – Is of the Cosmic Starry Dimension – Enlightenment is my Tomorrow – It has no planes of Sorrow – Hereby, our Invitation – We do invite you to be of our Space World.

    3) I first titled the photo with Arlen and Bobby: A saxophonist & trumpeter walked into a Lee Konitz concert . . . . . .

    4) Just above the Bradford photo there’s a hidden LINK if you hit that phrase “International Jazz Day”

  2. Mark Weber

    “Umma Gumma” is the title of the 3rd album by Pink Floyd from 1969 which I still love (after this I got swallowed by jazz) and has a long pulsing studio construction + jam called “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”

  3. Daryl

    “Woe to those who look upon the Torah as simply tales pertaining to things of the world, seeing thus only the outer garment… we are bound to penetrate beyond.”

  4. Carol Tristano

    “..to where pure peacefulness emanates in effusive glory.”

    I love that phrase Mark.
    Onward to the sun!

  5. Charley Krachy

    Dig your poem “International Jazz Day” Mark, and as one who is coming up on 75 this year, (and I know a few others)…I still love to get with my horn for an hour or more every day…..still looking for that inner peace, but I think I’m gettin close..!!

  6. Rosalinda Kolb

    Thank you for this poignant, beautiful collage, Mark.

    That smile of Tapscott’s. RK’s work on the easels at those Frank Morgan concerts at Jack Duganne’s. “Bookends” Asher and Shew.

    I still in-habit the Plane of Sorrow but Time, like Water, erodes the sharpest edges…..

  7. Mark Weber

    5) Lee Konitz is actually sitting in a chair in that photo

    6) Even though it’s June in Southern California it can still be brisk down at the ocean in the evenings: Alan Silva wearing a sweater

    7) Bobby Bradford & Charlie Haden had no rehearsals prior to this concert other than telephone discussion

  8. fred voss

    Thanks Mark for the photos,
    especially the one of Sarah Vaughn in all her colors,
    but all of them good
    I’ve been listening to jazz more lately (Monk &
    Ellington) and your photos bring me closer
    to the magic…

  9. Mark Weber

    ——————–playlist————————
    April 30, 2o15
    KUNM
    Host MARK WEBER

    1. Teddy Edwards Sextet w/Conte Candoli “Bear Tracks” –25mar74 Lp FEELIN’S (Muse)
    2. James Newton Quartet “Miss Fanny’s New Dress” –April 1989 cd IF LOVE
    3. Sarah vaughan w/Mundell Lowe & George Duvivier “My Favorite Things” –18july61 cd AFTER HOURS
    4. Frank Morgan Quartet w/George Cables “Georgia on my Mind” –Nov.2003 cd CITY NIGHTS (High Note)
    5. Dolo Coler solo piano “Spectrum” –28nov79 Lp ALL ALONE (Xanadu)
    6. Blossom Dearie “The Shadow of Your Smile” cd LIVE AT RONNIE SCOTTS –March 1966
    7. Teddy Edwards Quartet “A Bag of Blues” cd HEART & SOUL (Contemporary) –24mar62
    8. Esther Phillips w/Onzy Matthews Big Band w/Herb Ellis(g), Lou Blackburn(trombone) “In the Evenin'” –70ct66
    9. Sun Ra Arkestra “Enlightment” + “The Star Gazers” –1979 cd FOUNDATION MAEGHT NIGHTS
    10. Horace Tapscott & Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra “Nakatini Suite”(Cal Massey) –8apr78 cd THE CALL (Nimbus West)
    11. Lee Morgan Quintet w/Jackie McLean, Art Blakey “Nakatini Suite” –28apr60 cd LEE-WAY (Blue Note)
    12. Howard McGhee & Teddy Edwards –5oct79 “Crescnet”(Coltrane) cd JAZZCRAFT RECORDINGS

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