Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Lars Gunnar Victor Gullin was born May 4, 1928 in Visby, Sweden. A child prodigy on the accordion, by age thirteen, he played clarinet in a military band and later learned the alto saxophone. After moving to Stockholm, Sweden in 1947 he became a professional musician as a pianist. Planning on a classical career he studied privately with classical pianist Sven Brandel.
He filled the baritone chair in Seymour Österwall’s band in 1949 by chance, it was enough for him to decide that it was an instrument with possibilities. He was influenced by baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan for the first time on the Birth of the Cool recordings. He worked as a member of Arne Domnérus’s septet for two years from 1951.
Gullin began working with visiting American musicians, recording with James Moody, Zoot Sims and Clifford Brown. Most importantly, he first performed with Lee Konitz in 1951, an association which was to be repeated several times in future years.
In 1953 formed his own group, probably the only regular group he was to lead. It was short-lived, breaking up later that year after Lars was responsible for causing the group to be involved in an automobile accident, although no one was seriously hurt. The next year, 1954, he won the best newcomer award in the American DownBeat magazine. Later his albums were leased to Atlantic Records in the United States and toured several European countries with Chet Baker in 1955.
The remainder of his career was blighted by his own narcotics problems and sometimes he survived on artists’ grants from the Swedish government. During most of 1959 he was active in Italy, he played with Chet Baker again and with the jazz alto saxophonist Flavio Ambrosetti, making radio broadcasts with him in Lausanne, Switzerland.
He recorded with Archie Shepp in 1963. One of his last major statements was his Aeros aromatic atomica suite recorded in 1973. A recording jointly led by Lee Konitz and pianist Lars Sjösten, Dedicated to Lee … Play the Music of Lars Gullin was recorded in 1983 and issued by Dragon Records. Baritone saxophonist Lars Gullin transitioned from a heart attack on May 17, 1976, brought on by his long-term addiction to methadone.
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The Jazz Voyager
Crossing the country once again and heading to California to catch a rare performance of Nilson Matta and Jovino Santos Neto with Ami Molinelli. The club they will be hanging out at is located at 222 Healdsburg Avenue in Healdsburg 95448.
The club is 222 which was disclosed to me by a jazz fan. The space is a performing arts center presenting various world-class events in the areas of jazz, film, poetry, choral music, and more. They are committed to embracing innovation and developing performances for the 21st century while strengthening the interaction between artists, audiences and the community.
Two Brazilian musicians, multi~Grammy nominee Matta and three-time Latin Grammy nominee Neto, both with successful international careers, join forces to present a new project with original music and new interpretations of pieces by renowned Brazilian composers.
Matta is known for his work with Trio da Paz, Don Pullen African Brazilian Connection, Joe Henderson, Yo Yo Ma, and Nilson Matta’s Brazilian Voyage. Neto is a master pianist, flutist, composer, arranger, and conductor from Rio de Janeiro. They are joined by percussionist Ami Molinelli as a special guest, enriching the contagious rhythm of the dynamic duo for this rare collaboration.
The center’s number is 707-473-9150. For more information on days and time of sets visit https://notoriousjazz.com/event/nilson-matta-jovino-santos-neto.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Harold Land Jr. was born April 25, 1950 in San Diego, California to Harold and Lydia Land. Five years later the family moved to Los Angeles, California where he was raised in a world of jazz through his father’s acclaimed career. His earliest influences were drummer Frank Butler, bassist Curtis Counce, pianist Elmo Hope, trumpeters Carmell Jones and Jack Sheldon. But what really turned him onto jazz piano was a pair of albums by Sonny Clark, Cool Struttin’ and Leapin’ and Lopin‘.
He began piano lessons at the age of seven and began performing in jazz clubs by the age of 16. Crusaders pianist Joe Sample introduced Harold to Wayne Henderson which led to his first professional gig, and to his first two album appearances, including the cult favorite People Get Ready. He credits bandleader Gerald Wilson with giving him his first traditional Jazz gig, which came shortly after his time with Henderson. He accumulated important credits touring with guitarist Kenny Burrell and saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.
Over a career, spanning jazz, funk, and jazz fusion, Land has worked with Marvin Gaye, Roy Ayers, Gerald Wilson, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Lee Morgan, Eric Gale, and Roland Kirk.
He has recorded with Dwight Trible, Fela Kuti, Justo Almario, Gerald Wilson, Roy Ayers, Gene Ammons, Anna Fisher, Spiders Webb, The Freedom Sounds, Paul Humphrey. He performed often with his father and has recorded on three of his albums, Choma (Burn), Damisi, and Xocia’s Dance.
As an educator Land has taught and given workshops at several Los Angeles based music schools and high schools, such as Washington Prepatory High School, Alain LeRoy Locke College Preparatory Academy, Alta Loma Music, and The World Stage.
Pianist Harold Land Jr., who also played with his father, currently performs with his trio.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Burton Franklin Bales was born on April 20, 1916 in Stevensville, Montana and began to play piano at age twelve. By the 1930s he was in California playing in hotels and nightclubs. He played regularly in San Francisco, California in the 1940s, with Lu Watters’s Yerba Buena Jazz Band until he was drafted in 1943 and only recorded with that group on one brief session with Bunk Johnson.
After he was discharged for myopia he led his own band from 1943 to 1946 before taking an extended residency at San Francisco’s 1018 Club. He played with Turk Murphy (1949–50), Bob Scobey, and Marty Marsala, then played mostly solo between 1954 and 1966 where one of his regular gigs was at Pier 23.
He recorded extensively for Good Time Jazz, Arhoolie, ABC-Paramount, and Euphonic. Stride pianist Burt Bales transitioned on October 26, 1989, in San Francisco.
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Three Wishes
When Nica questioned Bud Powell what his three wishes would be if they could be granted he told her:
- “Not to have to go to the doctors and the hospitals.”
- “To go to Japan.”
- “To make a record.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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