Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Mark Whitecage was born on June 4, 1937 in Litchfield, Connecticut and began playing in his father’s family ensemble as early as age six. In his youth he listened a lot to Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster, Lester Young and Stan Getz. He moved to New York City in the 1970s and was loosely associated with the loft scene with INTERface, a quartet with clarinetist Perry Robinson, bassist John Shea and pianist John Fischer. Fortune smiled and he met Gunter Hampel and ong tours with Hampel’s Galaxie Dream Band became a way of life, which helped him to build up a network outside the US.
In the 1980s, he played with Gunter Hampel’s Galaxy Dream Band, Jeanne Lee, and Saheb Sarbib. After touring solo in Europe in 1986, he put together two bands as a leader, Liquid Time and the Glass House Ensemble. By the Nineties he was releasing his first album with Liquid Time which was chosen by Cadence Magazine as one of the year’s best albums.
He worked in the Improvisers Collective from 1994, and began releasing albums on CIMP in 1996. Late in the decade he worked with Anthony Braxton, including in performances of Braxton’s opera, Trillium R. He also played with William Parker, Perry Robinson, Joe Fonda, Dominic Duval, Joe McPhee, Steve Swell, Richie “Shakin'” Nagan and Sikiru Adepoju.
His marriage to clarinetist Rozanne Levine led to him performing together with Perry Robinson in a trio called Crystal Clarinets. Alto saxophonist and clarinetist Mark Whitecage, who recorded fifteen albums as a leader and another 60 as a sideman, transitioned on March 7, 2021.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Billy Robinson was born on May 31, 1939, in Fort Worth, Texas. His jazz roots go back to his father’s nightclub where he played boogie-woogie piano as a child, and watched the adult musicians perform. At the beginning of his musical career he played with John Carter, Ornette Coleman, and Dewey Redman. Living and playing in San Francisco, California in the mid-1960s towards the end of the decade he relocated to New York City, where he collaborated with Charles Mingus in 1969.
During the late 1960s, Robinson converted to Islam and remained a practicing Muslim for the rest of his life. A move to Montreal, Canada is where he married his first wife in 1970. Short-lived, four years later he married Suzanne Cyr and moved to Ottawa, Canada in 1978 and performed sporadically at the local level.
Following his recording debut on Archie Shepp’s Attica Blues, Billy released his first album titled Evolution’s Blend as a leader in 1972. Then in 1973 he played on the Sadik Hakim track Grey Cup Caper. From 1972 to 1998 he was a part of six recording sessions.
Tenor saxophonist, composer, educator and bandleader Billy Robinson, who was dubbed The Mystic by Freddie Hubbard, transitioned from a heart attack on August 11, 2005, in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of 66.Bestow upon an inquiring mind a dose of a Fort Worth saxophonist to motivate the perusal of the genius of jazz musicians worldwide whose gifts contribute to the canon…
Billy Robinson: 1939 ~2005 | Tenor SaxophoneMore Posts: bandleader,composer,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,saxophone
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
David Kenneth Brooks, Jr. was born May 29, 1922 in Fayetteville, North Carolina, the older brother of Tina Brooks. His first professional gig was with the medicine show of Pepper McAllister.
He served in the Army during World War II where he played with James Moody. He moved to New York City after his discharge in 1944, where he played at Minton’s Playhouse and the Harlem Grill. He toured North Carolina in a band alongside Sonny Payne in 1947, then played with George Barkley at the Baby Grand in New York. He first recorded with Barkley around 1947 or 1948, then went on to play with Sonny Thompson from 1948 to 1957.
In 1958 he worked with Jimmy McCracklin and in 1961 with Phil Upchurch. While doing session work with pop musicians in the 1960s. From 1967 to 1973 he played at the Fantasy East in New York City with alto saxophonist Charles Williams and Don Pullen, recording three albums as a trio for Mainstream Records.
After a short run with Jimmy McGriff in 1974, Brooks became a member of Bill Doggett’s ensemble, where he remained for two decades from 1976 to 1996. He worked in the middle of the 1990s with Bross Townsend, Carrie Smith, and the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, and toured France with Al Casey in 1999.
He recorded with Wynonie Harris, Phil Upchurch, Charles Williams, Bill Doggett, Bross Townsend, Michel Pastre, Joseph Carter, and Bobby Forrester. Tenor saxophonist David Kenneth Brooks, Jr., better known as Bubba Brooks or Bubber Brooks, transitioned on April 11, 2002.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Arno Marsh was born on May 28, 1928 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and played early on in local dance bands, then played in Woody Herman’s ensemble from 1951 to 1953, where he soloed frequently on Herman’s Mars Records releases.
He led a band in a Grand Rapids residency from 1953 to 1955, then rejoined Herman intermittently through 1958. He recorded with Stan Kenton, Charlie Barnet, Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, and Harry James. After the late 1950s most of Marsh’s activity was in Las Vegas, Nevada leading hotel orchestras. He accompanied Nancy Wilson on record with one of them in 1968, and did a Woody Herman tribute in 1974.
Tenor saxophonist Arno Marsh transitioned at the age of 91 on July 12, 2019.
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Requisites
My Laurie ~ Art Pepper | By Eddie Carter
I’ve listened to and enjoyed the music of Art Pepper for many years. Despite his drug addiction and times spent in prison that interrupted his career, he recorded some great live and studio albums. My Laurie (Trio Records PAP-25037) is a 1978 live performance documenting the final part of a twenty-one-day, nineteen concert Japanese tour by the quartet. It was also the alto saxophonist’s first tour with his group, Milcho Leviev on piano, Bob Magnusson, on bass, and Carl Burnett on drums. My copy used in this report is the 1983 Japanese Mono release.
Side One starts with an original tune from Art’s pen, Ophelia. The quartet gets our fingers popping on the collective melody. Art is up first and sparkles brightly on the opening solo, then Milcho takes an infectiously swinging turn next. Bob comes in and has his say on a lively reading. Carl shares a feisty finale with Art ahead of the ending and the trio’s introductions.
Bésame Mucho by Consuelo Velázquez and Sunny Skylar is one of the most popular and recorded songs in jazz. Pepper stretches himself ambitiously on the vivacious introduction preceding the song’s theme. Art then tugs at our emotions with a heartfelt first solo. Leviev begins the second reading with a tender lyricism that soars briskly to a satisfying finish. Magnusson has a short say next leading to the foursome’s gorgeous exit and the crowd expressing their approval.
My Laurie is Art’s loving tribute to his wife occupying the second side. The ensemble makes a regal introduction into a gentle melody by the altoist. He makes a compelling case with two beautifully expressed readings culminating with appreciative applause from the audience at the song’s end. Sandwiched between Art’s solos is a tender interpretation by Milcho.
The concert was produced by Haruo Serikawa, the recording engineer was Morio Shoya, and the remastering for My Laurie is by James Mooney. The sound quality on Side One is excellent with a vibrant soundstage across the highs, midrange, and low end. On Side Two, there’s a slight bit of harshness during Pepper’s second solo on My Laurie. That said, I hope that won’t dissuade you from seeking out this album for a spot in your library. The highlight for me personally is Bésame Mucho, the quartet gives this old favorite new life with an exceptionally fresh and creative approach. There are three other live records in The Art Pepper Memorial Collection, and I’ll be on the lookout for them. If you’re a longtime fan of his or are just discovering his music, I hope you’ll consider My Laurie by Art Pepper on your next vinyl expedition. He’s in great form here and the rhythm section compliments him splendidly!
~ The Summer Knows, Vol. 2 (Trio Records PAP-25038), I’ll Remember April, Vol. 3 (Trio Records PAP-25041), A Night In Tunisia, Vol. 4 (Trio Records PAP-25044) – Source: Discogs.com ~ Bésame Mucho – Source: JazzStandards.com © 2022 by Edward Thomas Carter
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