Billy Taylor, God bless him, one of the first GREAT jazz educators/pianists to introduce the music to the world. Under - rated as a pianist. What a group, sax gods in full swing!
A perfect peek into the post-war era of smooth sailing, sonorous serenity. A lovely respite before the age of anxiety pulled music in other directions.
I love everything about this. Thank God for whoever had the wherewithal to digitize and archive classic broadcasts like this for us to enjoy decades later!
Some didn't like the highbrow nature of "official culture" programs like this in the 50s. But are we really enjoying the alternative? Now the establishment doesn't involve itself in programs like this, and all you see is mass culture as determined by the media corporations. Dreadful.
How did this get on TV on a seemingly square time? From Wikipedia ....The Subject is Jazz was a television program that aired on NBC in 1958. Hosted by Gilbert Seldes with the musical direction of Billy Taylor, the show featured prominent jazz performers. One episode featured Ed Thigpen playing drums with his hands with Billy Taylor on piano. Other episodes featured Duke Ellington, Wilbur de Paris, Aaron Copland, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Willis Conover, Lee Konitz, Cannonball Adderley, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Marshall Stearns and others.
Can u believe that once upon a time there was a country playing these musics on tv every day and especially weekends,,,, before it,s music which is known and called THE ONLY FORM OF AMERICAN ART was ruined
The opening theme is Lady Bird; the closing theme is Half Nelson. The two tunes are based on the same chord progression. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bird_(composition)
Never seen a mellophone before it sounds good. I think this music is like smart and yet so complete feeling wise. It's hard to describe intellect without pretension because I don't see it much, myself included.
Love seeing these musicians--all of whom were on so many great albums of that period--in their prime. There's a clip of Bill Evans with George Russell, possibly from the same show. Thanks for posting, way back in 2010.
Not to slight the other players, but I was struck by Ed Safranski's propulsive bass playing (he won the Downbeat and Metronome magazines reader's poll for bass from 1946 to 1953 and played with the best!). His Wikipedia entry is scant, but I found a better bio here: sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/jazz/jazz---early-years/eddie-safranski
what is doing warne with his mouth? I never seen someone playing the saxophone with the moving of the jaw, incredible player. We feel what he is feeling when he play, there a kind of enormous spontaneity in his playing.
Magnífica versión de este tema, Half Nelson, con dos saxofonistas, que fueron dos baluartes del "cool jazz". Una de las varías razones por las que Lee Konitz fue un 'grande del jazz", es porque impuso un sonido "propio" el cual, aparte de ser muy hermoso, lo hacía fácilmente reconocible. Mención aparte para el extraordinario pianista Billy Taylor.
Actually, they play both; "Ladybird" at the beginning and "Half Nelson" at the end. Also, Don Elliot is playing the Mellophone, not trumpet. Classic performance! :)
Don plays trumpet on the in head (Ladybird). He was a fine jazz trumpeter. He took up mellophone so that he would get more blowing space--at the time he did so, he was in a group with Chet Baker, who took all the trumpet solos.
Charlie Parker used to hire Warne on gigs. He has always been one of my favorites, Lee too. Great new style Bird admired. Being 'white cats', Lee & Warne never got the accolades they deserve.
Their mentor, Tristano, frowned on ostentation and fame seeking. Konitz sort of overcame this; Marsh didn't. In any ART, there's the underlying mantra, "You can't sell out to the masses." Keep it PURE!
The whole point of this segment was to explain the concept of the contrafact, when the chord changes of one tune are used as the basis of another, different melody. They play Ladybird in and Half Nelson out, with Half Nelson being the contrafact over Ladybird changes.
Hey Warne Marsh fans! Nows the time! Join forces and let's get the documentary by his son K.C. made: www.seedandspark.com/studio/warne-marsh-improvised-life
@@sandsybabes and Trumpet was the right choice! Gives a slightly boppish/Clifford Brown sort of feel to the combo sound . The mellophone, with its trombone-like sonorities, contributes to the affect (Don Elliot was a consummate pro).
He starts on trumpet, but then solos and plays Half Nelson on his custom-built Conn "Elliotphone." I own the only one in the world not in Don Elliot's family.
Can you believe that network TV in America ever aired such high culture? Heavy and is needed today more than ever.
Everytime I hear Warne Marsh It's like a time-traveler has come from the future
This is the real swing...R.I.P Mr Konitz
Warne Marsh is absolutely magic!
One of the greatest.
Warne Marsh is a genius!
Love the sound of the mellowphone in addition to all the others.
Billy Taylor, God bless him, one of the first GREAT jazz educators/pianists to introduce the music to the world. Under - rated as a pianist. What a group, sax gods in full swing!
A perfect peek into the post-war era of smooth sailing, sonorous serenity. A lovely respite before the age of anxiety pulled music in other directions.
WW2 was over and optimistic times were ahead, for sure! Then Coltrane showed up.
I love everything about this. Thank God for whoever had the wherewithal to digitize and archive classic broadcasts like this for us to enjoy decades later!
Some didn't like the highbrow nature of "official culture" programs like this in the 50s. But are we really enjoying the alternative? Now the establishment doesn't involve itself in programs like this, and all you see is mass culture as determined by the media corporations. Dreadful.
jdtoddjazz
Excellent point.
There's not one damned thing that *_isn't_* superlative about this. Thank you so much for digitizing and sharing this treasure!
RIP Lee Konitz. Thank you for the music.
Give this a thousand stars.
How did this get on TV on a seemingly square time? From Wikipedia ....The Subject is Jazz was a television program that aired on NBC in 1958. Hosted by Gilbert Seldes with the musical direction of Billy Taylor, the show featured prominent jazz performers.
One episode featured Ed Thigpen playing drums with his hands with Billy Taylor on piano. Other episodes featured Duke Ellington, Wilbur de Paris, Aaron Copland, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, Willis Conover, Lee Konitz, Cannonball Adderley, Willie "The Lion" Smith, Marshall Stearns and others.
I know a tenor player who took a lesson with Lee and he never took his tenor out of its case. Lee made him learn to sing the low Bb !
mellophone solo. very cool.
Can u believe that once upon a time there was a country playing these musics on tv every day and especially weekends,,,, before it,s music which is known and called THE ONLY FORM OF AMERICAN ART was ruined
FANTASTIC!! Cool school. When music was music!
And what about that solo by Billy Taylor. Very much in the Tristano School and a gem.
Ah simply fantastic!!! Always with us Lee!
great post,,would love to see this show and series in it`s entirety.,,they were blowing on lady bird and then played half nelson out,,very cool.
I believe that is Don Elliot on "mellophone". Wonderful players.
Half nelson, love the complexity of this tune, played by my top favourite sessionmen of the day.
It's "Lady Bird" by T. Dameron
The opening theme is Lady Bird; the closing theme is Half Nelson. The two tunes are based on the same chord progression. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Bird_(composition)
@@jazzdrumbrushes o snap...
Yes
@@jazzdrumbrushes Miles wrote Half Nelson on Tadd's changes for Ladybird.
Never seen a mellophone before it sounds good. I think this music is like smart and yet so complete feeling wise. It's hard to describe intellect without pretension because I don't see it much, myself included.
Mundell's solo is a gem, he never get enough credit, and Konitz's tone is awesome..
+Brad Conroy I totally agree with you; a real gem.
Love seeing these musicians--all of whom were on so many great albums of that period--in their prime. There's a clip of Bill Evans with George Russell, possibly from the same show. Thanks for posting, way back in 2010.
What a joy a nice tight combo is! Good rhythm section, good soloists, catchy tune...Yes!
Thigpen...a master of the brushes...
RIP Lee Konitz 😢
A bunch of superb musicians at the top of the game.
Not to slight the other players, but I was struck by Ed Safranski's propulsive bass playing (he won the Downbeat and Metronome magazines reader's poll for bass from 1946 to 1953 and played with the best!). His Wikipedia entry is scant, but I found a better bio here:
sites.google.com/site/pittsburghmusichistory/pittsburgh-music-story/jazz/jazz---early-years/eddie-safranski
Good info
Before Ray Brown.
Came to LA and blew the rest away.
They are all awesome musicians. Bravo!
Great solos by all...also the great mundell lowe!
Every single one of these cats are Masters on their instruments
what is doing warne with his mouth? I never seen someone playing the saxophone with the moving of the jaw, incredible player. We feel what he is feeling when he play, there a kind of enormous spontaneity in his playing.
I've heard it called "bubble-gumming" .. the movement of the jaw. Warne soon stopped doing that, from what I understand.
A sonic miracle!!!
yes!!! thank you!!!
GREAT stuff! thank you
Magnífica versión de este tema, Half Nelson, con dos saxofonistas, que fueron dos baluartes del "cool jazz". Una de las varías razones por las que Lee Konitz fue un 'grande del jazz", es porque impuso un sonido "propio" el cual, aparte de ser muy hermoso, lo hacía fácilmente reconocible. Mención aparte para el extraordinario pianista Billy Taylor.
love the camerawork!
Actually, they play both; "Ladybird" at the beginning and "Half Nelson" at the end.
Also, Don Elliot is playing the Mellophone, not trumpet.
Classic performance! :)
Don plays trumpet on the in head (Ladybird). He was a fine jazz trumpeter. He took up mellophone so that he would get more blowing space--at the time he did so, he was in a group with Chet Baker, who took all the trumpet solos.
This is basically a "this is how it's done" demonstration!
there is my teacher and master the great late ed thigpen . i took lesson with 1988
Contrafactual party time. Whoop whoop glug glug shudoopitydoop
jazz mellophonium yessir
Lee!
Charlie Parker used to hire Warne on gigs. He has always been one of my favorites, Lee too. Great new style Bird admired. Being 'white cats', Lee & Warne never got the accolades they deserve.
Probably not in the beginning.
Their mentor, Tristano, frowned on ostentation and fame seeking. Konitz sort of overcame this; Marsh didn't. In any ART, there's the underlying mantra, "You can't sell out to the masses." Keep it PURE!
@@johnlindstrom9994 better late than never. Good comments
Obrigada
Great!! The theme actually played is "Lady bird", not "Half Nelson" (they have almost the same changes)
They play it at the end. I know I'm eight years late telling you!!!
The whole point of this segment was to explain the concept of the contrafact, when the chord changes of one tune are used as the basis of another, different melody. They play Ladybird in and Half Nelson out, with Half Nelson being the contrafact over Ladybird changes.
Hey Warne Marsh fans! Nows the time! Join forces and let's get the documentary by his son K.C. made: www.seedandspark.com/studio/warne-marsh-improvised-life
ahahah epic fail from the tv broadcast, showing "half nelson" score while the group is playing ladybird!
thanks for sharing, great video!
enjoying piece, serenity, and cocaine
Mundell Lowe on guitar ?
Don Elliot is not playing trumpet, It's mellophone or French horn.
he was on trumpet for the head
@@sandsybabes and Trumpet was the right choice! Gives a slightly boppish/Clifford Brown sort of feel to the combo sound . The mellophone, with its trombone-like sonorities, contributes to the affect (Don Elliot was a consummate pro).
trumpet for the head and mellophonium for the solo
He starts on trumpet, but then solos and plays Half Nelson on his custom-built Conn "Elliotphone." I own the only one in the world not in Don Elliot's family.
ah, an analysis
Yeah man immediate swinging from note one at 2:16 .. yeah the rest of it does too u munch.