What’s that they say about the Reaper reaping in threes? Frank Morgan left us this morning here in Minneapolis. He would’ve turned 74 on the 23rd of this month. I caught a disappointing gig of his at the Minneapolis Jazz Festival last summer. Lukewarm playing and a set list that sadly included bromidic pap like “Suicide is Painless”. On record it’s another matter. From his 1985 Contemporary comeback, made after decades of incarceration, insolvency and obscurity, through a prolific string on High Note he dovetailed his Bird-bred alto in a multitude of settings. My favorites include the three volume Live at the Jazz Standard Series with a dream rhythm section of George Cables, Curtis Lundy and Billy Hart in tow, and his 1986 album of duets with Cables, Double Image. My biggest regret is not having made more of an effort to hear his various concert gigs here, most often at the Saint Paul basement bastion of jazz, The Artists' Quarter. Here’s to you Mr. Morgan, many thanks for the music.
Posted by derek on December 14, 2007 2:56 PMOdd, he was playing downstairs at Sunset here in Paris just a couple of weeks ago when I went to check out Han Bennink and Benoit Delbecq. Was toying with the idea of checking out his set.. wish I had now.
Posted by: Dan Warburton at December 15, 2007 8:32 AMNot to forget his lovely Antilles disks. "Suicide Is Painless" is perhaps not cheese per se. Bill Evans had a nice way with it, just as Bobo Stenson redeems, of all tunes, "Send in the Clowns."
Posted by: Dean C. Rowan at December 20, 2007 9:35 AMNot to forget his lovely Antilles disks. "Suicide Is Painless" is perhaps not cheese per se. Bill Evans had a nice way with it, just as Bobo Stenson redeems, of all tunes, "Send in the Clowns."
Posted by: Dean C. Rowan at December 20, 2007 9:46 AMOscar Peterson is dead.
Posted by: hauser at December 24, 2007 10:47 AM.................................................. © 2003 - 2006 bagatellen ..................................................