Yusef Lateef played a lot of different instruments and Roland Kirk would play different instruments all at the same time using his nose and being blind was truly original.
My mind went to Rufus Harley the second you mentioned unusual instruments! I first heard of him on one of my favorite Sonny Stitt records, "Deuces Wild", where he plays the pipes on the track "Pipin' the Blues". Great record.
McCoy Tyner's koto on Valley of Life on Sahara. The cover of that album is just so badass, like "I'm going to play this weird instrument in the middle of the ghetto, and you're going to like it!"
The first instrument that came to my mind when I saw the title of your video was the bagpipes. And yes, I thought of Rufus Harley, because of the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", included in the Sonny Rollins' live album "The Cutting Edge" (1974). Harley only played on that track. And, obviously, sounded weird to me. I'm still hoping it grows on me.
Hello Kenny, a great topic. I'd have to say the Sitar which was played by Ravi Shankar on many collaborative jazz albums and associations with notable jazz musicians such as John Coltrane, Yusef Lateef, Ornett Coleman, and some pop albums. I think banjo is also a somewhat rare instrument for jazz but sounds outstanding in that setting popularized by Bela Fleck. Also there is a notable performance with jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell playing jazz banjo along with fellow guitarists Bobby Broom and Rodney Jones on a live Blue Note recording entitled Generation. I believe Kenny tuned the banjo like a guitar in that performance.
On guitarist Amancio d'Silva's album "Sapana", Clem Alford played the sitar and Jahlib Millar played tabla drums. I would categorize this album as "spiritual jazz". Great album.
Another most unusual one to me was Ray Draper on tuba on the Ray Draper quintet, its just such a stramge choice as a soloist. And maybe the strangest part of it is that John Coltrane is on that record as well, and it has some great tunes like Filidia.
Buddy Emmons "Steel Guitar Jazz" is a fantastic and underrated jazz record featuring the pedal steel guitar. It works surprisingly well. I listen to this record often. His rendition of "Where Or When" is gorgeous. I can't recommend this album enough.
Cool concept. My favorite bag pipe tune, although it's pop rock, was MULL OF KYNTIRE by WINGS. THE room is immersed by the pipes on that song. Btw the 45 single blows the album version away. Keep rockN and keep em coming brother kenny.
When I saw the subject of this video, my mind immediately went to Rufus Harley. Thanks for background as I have never heard his music. Contemporary odd instrument might be conch shells played by Steve Turre.
Kenny…How can I be the only person to mention Maurice White’s Kalimba playing on so many of those early Earth, Wind and Fire Jazz jams?!? 😳 He was the Jimi Hendrix of Kalimba players and YES I consider EWF a Jazz band among many other musical genres they touched on. Just listen to New World Symphony or Sun Goddess off their 1975 Gratitude Album. Dang Kenny…throw me a bone. Maurice was a studio percussionist with Chess Records in the 60’s and EWF does not get the love they deserve in the Jazz World. From 1969-1975 they experimented with so much psychedelic soul and Jazz. In my opinion there is no greater band that included elements of jazz, R&B, psychedelic soul, gospel, free jazz as well as rock in their music. I also feel they’re one of the most influential bands of all time. Zanzibar and Clover off Head to the Sky are incredible Jazz jams and Energy off their 1971 album The Need Of Love shows off those great horn players. Am I standing on this limb alone regarding EWF being one of the greatest Jazz bands of all time Kenny?!? Cmon now Kenny! I’ll end on this…regarding sound quality Zanzibar on my mid fi system is amazing on CD on my headphones with Larry Dunn’s electric piano literally lifting me up and taking me for a magic carpet ride. Where is the Love Kenny!!
I have seen EWF in person and Maurice White play that instrument in person and it was a awsome experience. Although EWF had elements of jazz just like Tower of Power, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears and to a lesser degree Van Morrison did, overall, I would not consider it jazz.
Ms. Coltrane, used the Wurlitzer electronic keyboard (organ), for John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme", with great effect. With Leroy Jenkins, on violin. My personal favorite version. Rufus Harley, also performed with Sonny Rollins, I think, Sonny's version of "Alfie", live of course.😂❤🎉 Mr. Played bagpipes, tenor saxophone, & possibly soprano. They are great musical technicians, Imho, thanks.
haven't pressed play yet. hoping for a yusef lateef oboe mention. rufus harley on bagpipes is definitely mentionable, but not a lot of folks know about him. okay, pressing play now!👍🏻 EDIT: yes, definite props for highlighting rufus. and dorothy ashby - she's incredible! for mine, definitely yusef lateef when he would play oboe in cannonball adderley's group. also ahmed abdul-malik, who made his name playing bass for monk, but mostly played oud on his own sessions.
Kenny... I love this topic. I'm familiar with all the musicians you covered except Art Van Damme and I'm going to check him out now that you mentioned him. I think Dorothy Ashbey was ahead of her time (wonderful musician) On the Alice Coltrane album (you showed) there's a lady that's fantastic on the Oud....Okay, maybe not rare, but Eric Dolphy blows my mind (even now) playing jazz on bass clarinet...Bennie Maupin too.
This one took me a minute to remember, but the Codona albums had more non-standard jazz instruments than could possibly fit in the comment section here, but you're talking about albums with instruments from India, Brazil, Mali, and Zimbabwe, plus dulcimer (don't want to start a fight over whose instrument that is).
I just listened to the Rufus Harley Courage album, and one of the songs that jumped out at me was his take on (Sunny), which the Stanley Turrentine version is probably my favorite version. The question of what is the most unusual instrument I've ever heard on a jazz album would actually be someone's voice that I thought was unique being used as an instrument. The voice and instrument belonged to Leon Thomas, which I probably should have had him down on my list of best male singers of all time a few weeks ago. I've had people listen to some of his songs like (Sun song) with, them not knowing right away if it was an instrument being used or his voice. Also, since I gave you the Billy Bang recommendation last week, I came across a live video that might grab your interest? (The video is The Billy Bang Quintet VF 2006) performance on the (Some Real music channel). I can't say the violin is a unique instrument but he uses it in a unique way. The second to the last song on the video is probably my favorite and enjoy. 👍
I've heard Leon Thomas and his amazing voice many times since the early 70s but I think Bobby McFerrin's voice on the "Round Midnight" song on the "Round Midnight" soundtrack album is amazing too 😊
Check out bluegrass banjo player Bela Fleck playing jazz with the Marcus Roberts trio. There are a number 5 string banjo,players that are very adept at jazz However banjo is certainly not as unusual as bagpipes!
I had to laugh when a jazz bagpipe recording was whipped out. Before I became concerned about stylus wear in the run out groove , I used to enjoy going to sleep listening to that great Alice Coltrane record, it has some very relaxing tunes. But I don't consider the harp an unusual instrument. there used to be a jazz French horn player who led his own group, but I don't know his name. I bet Kenny has one of his records somewhere. I guess the weirdest sound in jazz was when the occasional ocarina popped up.
One of your clips popped up in my feed of your take on the American music awards l. I also don't & haven't taken the American music awards seriously since the 80's when I think it was the last time awards were being given for actual talent & not popularity. Although you can consider me to still be young, I was born in the mid 70's & had a chance to experience living through the 80's, which songs that had come out previously to that decade were still popular & gave me a taste for quality radio listening which gave me a taste in album buying as I got older.Throughout the 90's going into the 2000's is where my radio listening habits dwindled as far as newer artist and music which shifted me going back to older music from the 80's and further back. I pray that your daughter will be o.k. as this hurricane approaches. 👍
Thank you very much for your prayers for my step daughter, it's much appreciated and I will continue to keep you and the state of Florida in my prayers. I was 13 when the first American Music Awards was broadcast and I did not like the concept of the show then and I still do not like it because it's a glorified popularity contest.
Definitely Dorothy Ashby on harp. Bill Barber on tuba, Miklós Lukács on cimbalom, Mihály Dresch on tárogató (Sorry, but I didn't find english version 😁), I need to check the records of Van Gelder studios, because I saw a jazz euphonium player, but I didn't remember his name....
Gary Moore (also a huge fan of Jazz) hosted the "I've Got A Secret" tv show, not Steve Allen. Steve Allen had many Jazz Artists on his late night tv shows which included Miles Davis, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and more!
You are incorrect. Look at the Wikipedia page for the the show as it will state that Steve Allen replaced Gary Moore in 1964. Also see the link to the video with Steve Allen as the host of the show in the description section of my video.
Sun Ra Arkestra used drum machines, synths, hand made drums, strings, Ukuleles, Mandolins, Kotos, Koras, Hammond Solovox, Crumar Electronic Valve Instrument, Clavinet, Timpani, bells, shakers, shells, bassoon, many African instruments etc, etc.
Talking of rare jazz harmonica players. In the UK in the fifties there was a zany radio comedy show called ‘The Goon Show’ starring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. Spike played jazz trumpet himself and had two musical guests on every episode. One was Max Geldray ,a Dutchman, who played jazz harmonica. Was he the first? I’m not sure. There was also the Ray Ellington Quartet who were no slouches playing jazz. I still listen to The Goon Show today, available on Spotify and Amazon. I listen for the humour; the jazz is a bonus. I’m trying to imagine you listening to an episode. Try ‘The Canal’ with guest Valentine Dyall. I dare you.
My nomination would be Sidney Bechet playing the E-flat contrabass sarrusophone on "Mandy, Make up Your Mind," in a band with Louis Armstrong. It's a deep bass reed instrument, playing an octave lower than the baritone saxophone. Bechet plays a big solo on it, really putting that horn through its paces! ua-cam.com/video/kx37RvmUwlo/v-deo.htmlsi=fPd8xJ9DbA9Eo_ki As for Rufus Harley, I first saw him on that 1960s TV game "To Tell the Truth." A close friend who plays the Highland bagpipes assures me that Harley's piping technique definitely showed that he was self-taught, as it revealed many characteristics that differed considerably from traditional piping technique.
Billy Joel deploys some accordion on his more jazz influenced tunes. I've heard it deployed on gypsy jazz and titles Toots was affiliated with. The jazz cut on Atlantic wasn't cut well and obviously Van Gelder wasn't involved. It tough to make good sounding records. Too bad the electric bass guitar isn't an obscurity on jazz recordings. I like my upright bass! No compromise!
Yusef Lateef played a lot of different instruments and Roland Kirk would play different instruments all at the same time using his nose and being blind was truly original.
Came here looking for someone playing a balloon 😢
Yusef Lateef's records made a lot of use of Eastern instruments in the 1950s, like the arghul and rubab
Thank you very much for mentioning Yusef Lateef as he was a great musician with a amazing creative spirit.
L Shankar invented the 10 string double neck violin and plays it on jazz and Indian classical albums. It sounds great!
My mind went to Rufus Harley the second you mentioned unusual instruments! I first heard of him on one of my favorite Sonny Stitt records, "Deuces Wild", where he plays the pipes on the track "Pipin' the Blues". Great record.
Thank you for recommending that album ✌️
Kenny, you are a cool cat! And I’m impressed with your dedication to collecting great music, on my favorite format
Awesome! Thank you! 😊 ✌️
McCoy Tyner's koto on Valley of Life on Sahara. The cover of that album is just so badass, like "I'm going to play this weird instrument in the middle of the ghetto, and you're going to like it!"
The first instrument that came to my mind when I saw the title of your video was the bagpipes. And yes, I thought of Rufus Harley, because of the song "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot", included in the Sonny Rollins' live album "The Cutting Edge" (1974). Harley only played on that track. And, obviously, sounded weird to me. I'm still hoping it grows on me.
I was hoping you mentioned Rufus Harley. Here in Philly, he often played at outdoor festivals. He would walk around the event playing.
It must have been great hearing him play that instrument in person 😊
Hello Kenny, a great topic. I'd have to say the Sitar which was played by Ravi Shankar on many collaborative jazz albums and associations with notable jazz musicians such as John Coltrane, Yusef Lateef, Ornett Coleman, and some pop albums. I think banjo is also a somewhat rare instrument for jazz but sounds outstanding in that setting popularized by Bela Fleck. Also there is a notable performance with jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell playing jazz banjo along with fellow guitarists Bobby Broom and Rodney Jones on a live Blue Note recording entitled Generation. I believe Kenny tuned the banjo like a guitar in that performance.
My favorite Rufus Harley tune is Scotch and Soul.
On guitarist Amancio d'Silva's album "Sapana", Clem Alford played the sitar and Jahlib Millar played tabla drums. I would categorize this album as "spiritual jazz". Great album.
I picked up two Rufus Harley disks about 1975, and have been enjoying them sporadically (and sporranically) ever since.
I'm going to have to find some of his vinyl albums at some point.
Great job Kenny, you’ve definitely opened up some new avenues for me to explore. Thanks!
This was a fabulous show. The references illustrate why the '60s were truly the golden era of American art and culture.
I appreciate your comments, thank you 😊 🙏
Another most unusual one to me was Ray Draper on tuba on the Ray Draper quintet, its just such a stramge choice as a soloist. And maybe the strangest part of it is that John Coltrane is on that record as well, and it has some great tunes like Filidia.
Bill Summers used a beer bottle on Herbie Hancock's "Head Hunters" on the track Watermelon Man.
Buddy Emmons "Steel Guitar Jazz" is a fantastic and underrated jazz record featuring the pedal steel guitar. It works surprisingly well. I listen to this record often. His rendition of "Where Or When" is gorgeous. I can't recommend this album enough.
Cool concept. My favorite bag pipe tune, although it's pop rock, was MULL OF KYNTIRE by WINGS. THE room is immersed by the pipes on that song. Btw the 45 single blows the album version away. Keep rockN and keep em coming brother kenny.
Thank you very much for that recommendation Tony 😊....your Jimi Hendrix box opening video was great 👍 👌 👏
When I saw the subject of this video, my mind immediately went to Rufus Harley. Thanks for background as I have never heard his music. Contemporary odd instrument might be conch shells played by Steve Turre.
The conch shells do seem unusual but may be fascinating to hear 😊
Hank Mobley "A Slice of the Top" Kiane Zawadi - Euphonium and Howard Johnson on Tuba. "Cute N Pretty" suggested track.
Magnavox put a blending resistor on their early stereo changers to correct the problem you mentioned
Kenny…How can I be the only person to mention Maurice White’s Kalimba playing on so many of those early Earth, Wind and Fire Jazz jams?!? 😳 He was the Jimi Hendrix of Kalimba players and YES I consider EWF a Jazz band among many other musical genres they touched on. Just listen to New World Symphony or Sun Goddess off their 1975 Gratitude Album. Dang Kenny…throw me a bone. Maurice was a studio percussionist with Chess Records in the 60’s and EWF does not get the love they deserve in the Jazz World. From 1969-1975 they experimented with so much psychedelic soul and Jazz. In my opinion there is no greater band that included elements of jazz, R&B, psychedelic soul, gospel, free jazz as well as rock in their music. I also feel they’re one of the most influential bands of all time. Zanzibar and Clover off Head to the Sky are incredible Jazz jams and Energy off their 1971 album The Need Of Love shows off those great horn players.
Am I standing on this limb alone regarding EWF being one of the greatest Jazz bands of all time Kenny?!? Cmon now Kenny! I’ll end on this…regarding sound quality Zanzibar on my mid fi system is amazing on CD on my headphones with Larry Dunn’s electric piano literally lifting me up and taking me for a magic carpet ride. Where is the Love Kenny!!
I have seen EWF in person and Maurice White play that instrument in person and it was a awsome experience. Although EWF had elements of jazz just like Tower of Power, Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears and to a lesser degree Van Morrison did, overall, I would not consider it jazz.
Illinois Jacquet playing bassoon on Round Midnight.
Ms. Coltrane, used the Wurlitzer electronic keyboard (organ), for John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme", with great effect. With Leroy Jenkins, on violin. My personal favorite version. Rufus Harley, also performed with Sonny Rollins, I think, Sonny's version of "Alfie", live of course.😂❤🎉 Mr. Played bagpipes, tenor saxophone, & possibly soprano. They are great musical technicians, Imho, thanks.
Thank you very much for that cool/nice info and I appreciate that you watch my videos 😊✌️
haven't pressed play yet. hoping for a yusef lateef oboe mention. rufus harley on bagpipes is definitely mentionable, but not a lot of folks know about him.
okay, pressing play now!👍🏻
EDIT: yes, definite props for highlighting rufus. and dorothy ashby - she's incredible!
for mine, definitely yusef lateef when he would play oboe in cannonball adderley's group. also ahmed abdul-malik, who made his name playing bass for monk, but mostly played oud on his own sessions.
😊😁...thank you ✌️
Kenny... I love this topic. I'm familiar with all the musicians you covered except Art Van Damme and I'm going to check him out now that you mentioned him. I think Dorothy Ashbey was ahead of her time (wonderful musician) On the Alice Coltrane album (you showed) there's a lady that's fantastic on the Oud....Okay, maybe not rare, but Eric Dolphy blows my mind (even now) playing jazz on bass clarinet...Bennie Maupin too.
Drummer Lenny White was credited for an alarm clock on Return To Forever’s Romantic Warrior
I have that great album and a alarm clock I must admit is very unusual 😊😁🎶
This one took me a minute to remember, but the Codona albums had more non-standard jazz instruments than could possibly fit in the comment section here, but you're talking about albums with instruments from India, Brazil, Mali, and Zimbabwe, plus dulcimer (don't want to start a fight over whose instrument that is).
I just listened to the Rufus Harley Courage album, and one of the songs that jumped out at me was his take on (Sunny), which the Stanley Turrentine version is probably my favorite version. The question of what is the most unusual instrument I've ever heard on a jazz album would actually be someone's voice that I thought was unique being used as an instrument. The voice and instrument belonged to Leon Thomas, which I probably should have had him down on my list of best male singers of all time a few weeks ago. I've had people listen to some of his songs like (Sun song) with, them not knowing right away if it was an instrument being used or his voice. Also, since I gave you the Billy Bang recommendation last week, I came across a live video that might grab your interest? (The video is The Billy Bang Quintet VF 2006) performance on the (Some Real music channel). I can't say the violin is a unique instrument but he uses it in a unique way. The second to the last song on the video is probably my favorite and enjoy. 👍
I've heard Leon Thomas and his amazing voice many times since the early 70s but I think Bobby McFerrin's voice on the "Round Midnight" song on the "Round Midnight" soundtrack album is amazing too 😊
tbh if I was flipping thru a stack I would never even think that an album was jazz if the cover had a dude with an accordion on it. thks kenny
Check out bluegrass banjo player Bela Fleck playing jazz with the Marcus Roberts trio.
There are a number 5 string banjo,players that are very adept at jazz
However banjo is certainly not as unusual as bagpipes!
I had to laugh when a jazz bagpipe recording was whipped out. Before I became concerned about stylus wear in the run out groove , I used to enjoy going to sleep listening to that great Alice Coltrane record, it has some very relaxing tunes. But I don't consider the harp an unusual instrument. there used to be a jazz French horn player who led his own group, but I don't know his name. I bet Kenny has one of his records somewhere. I guess the weirdest sound in jazz was when the occasional ocarina popped up.
I have never heard of the ocarina...I just looked it up on Google 😳
drummer Roy Brooks played the saw in his solos.
Thought this was going to be about Steve Turre playing the conch shell.
I’m sure there is something more unusual but only instrument I think of on the topic is Leon Thomas’s Pan Pipes.
One of your clips popped up in my feed of your take on the American music awards l. I also don't & haven't taken the American music awards seriously since the 80's when I think it was the last time awards were being given for actual talent & not popularity. Although you can consider me to still be young, I was born in the mid 70's & had a chance to experience living through the 80's, which songs that had come out previously to that decade were still popular & gave me a taste for quality radio listening which gave me a taste in album buying as I got older.Throughout the 90's going into the 2000's is where my radio listening habits dwindled as far as newer artist and music which shifted me going back to older music from the 80's and further back. I pray that your daughter will be o.k. as this hurricane approaches. 👍
Thank you very much for your prayers for my step daughter, it's much appreciated and I will continue to keep you and the state of Florida in my prayers. I was 13 when the first American Music Awards was broadcast and I did not like the concept of the show then and I still do not like it because it's a glorified popularity contest.
@@kennysaudiophilerecordreviews I'm with you 100% 👍
Stuff Smith played solo violin in jazz which I thought was unusual.
On Chick Corea's Inner Space i noticed that a bassoon was used on one song
Definitely Dorothy Ashby on harp. Bill Barber on tuba, Miklós Lukács on cimbalom, Mihály Dresch on tárogató (Sorry, but I didn't find english version 😁), I need to check the records of Van Gelder studios, because I saw a jazz euphonium player, but I didn't remember his name....
Gary Moore (also a huge fan of Jazz) hosted the "I've Got A Secret" tv show, not Steve Allen. Steve Allen had many Jazz Artists on his late night tv shows which included Miles Davis, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and more!
You are incorrect. Look at the Wikipedia page for the the show as it will state that Steve Allen replaced Gary Moore in 1964. Also see the link to the video with Steve Allen as the host of the show in the description section of my video.
Sun Ra Arkestra used drum machines, synths, hand made drums, strings, Ukuleles, Mandolins, Kotos, Koras, Hammond Solovox, Crumar Electronic Valve Instrument, Clavinet, Timpani, bells, shakers, shells, bassoon, many African instruments etc, etc.
Talking of rare jazz harmonica players. In the UK in the fifties there was a zany radio comedy show called ‘The Goon Show’ starring Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe. Spike played jazz trumpet himself and had two musical guests on every episode. One was Max Geldray ,a Dutchman, who played jazz harmonica. Was he the first? I’m not sure. There was also the Ray Ellington Quartet who were no slouches playing jazz. I still listen to The Goon Show today, available on Spotify and Amazon. I listen for the humour; the jazz is a bonus. I’m trying to imagine you listening to an episode. Try ‘The Canal’ with guest Valentine Dyall. I dare you.
Dizzy Gillespie with the Mitchell Ruff duo incorporating the French horn ?
My nomination would be Sidney Bechet playing the E-flat contrabass sarrusophone on "Mandy, Make up Your Mind," in a band with Louis Armstrong. It's a deep bass reed instrument, playing an octave lower than the baritone saxophone. Bechet plays a big solo on it, really putting that horn through its paces!
ua-cam.com/video/kx37RvmUwlo/v-deo.htmlsi=fPd8xJ9DbA9Eo_ki
As for Rufus Harley, I first saw him on that 1960s TV game "To Tell the Truth." A close friend who plays the Highland bagpipes assures me that Harley's piping technique definitely showed that he was self-taught, as it revealed many characteristics that differed considerably from traditional piping technique.
Count Basie Orchestra on triangle? (The Intro and the Outro - Bonzo Dog Band) 😊😊😊
interesting that you mention I've got a secret, Steve Allen did go to CBS at one point
Billy Joel deploys some accordion on his more jazz influenced tunes. I've heard it deployed on gypsy jazz and titles Toots was affiliated with.
The jazz cut on Atlantic wasn't cut well and obviously Van Gelder wasn't involved. It tough to make good sounding records.
Too bad the electric bass guitar isn't an obscurity on jazz recordings. I like my upright bass! No compromise!
Buster Moten also played accordion on various Bennie Moton sides in the 20's and 30's.
How about Bennie Maupin’s great bass clarinet playing in “ B*tches Brew”
Drummer Jack DeJohnette playing melodica was a first and unusual instrument used on a jazz album.
ua-cam.com/video/Yh8NpcsxWzo/v-deo.html