Personnel: Thad Jones, flugelhorn; Jon Faddis, Steve Furtado, Jim Bossy, Cecil Bridgewater, trumpets; Jimmy Knepper, Billy Campbell, Quentin "Butter" Jackson, Dave Taylor, trombones; Jerry Dodgion, Ed Xiques, Billy Harper, Ron Bridgewater, Pepper Adams, reeds; Walter Norris, piano; George Mraz, bass; Mel Lewis, drums.

@stpd1957

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you

@davidbrogan432

2 жыл бұрын

Wow 🔥🤩

Happy Birthday to the great Thad Jones born on this day 100 years ago, his legacy will live forever.

We who love this music can be very thankful for the efforts of all the European TV stations which captured this and other great concerts of the great American art form.

@WyattLite-n-inn

7 жыл бұрын

One time I was playing "Green Dolphin Street " with the late, great Arthur Rhames at 72 and Broadway. Some pharmacist looking guy comes and starts yelling in my ear "Play your bass drum!".. I said "Get the F**k outta here". He said "I know what I'm talkin' about , I'm Mel Lewis". I got to know Mel and we would talk. I know he liked my playing a lot and thought I should have been doing studio work but that's another story. Mel plays some out of this world solos on here and he could really feel that boogaloo funk beat.. I can relate to the Jewish thing he's got on the drums.. I don't think Thad was reading these parts here. He seemed to have to whole book memorized.. Every hit.

@bholaoates1542

6 жыл бұрын

+Harry Peterson Yep. 'Cause sadly, America sure ain't gonna do it.

@jimflys2

5 жыл бұрын

I was going to say before I got to it - must have been Mel Lewis! LOL!

@rhythmfield

5 жыл бұрын

Charles Telerant great story Charles. What was there at 72nd & Broadway at the time? A jazz club?

@geulabroiman1590

3 жыл бұрын

ף

Thank you for keeping the legacy of our Jones family alive! Long live King Thaddeus!

@fideliusconcrete4871

3 жыл бұрын

I have seen many of the famous conductors (Karajan, Bernstein, Abbado, Harnoncourt etc), but Thad Jones was the greatest of them all: He conducted with his elbows and even his legs. And the band reacted immediately. And they sounded damn tight too. So he's gotta be a really special leader. Your uncle or whatever was a very, very important musician!

@NavyLeaguer

2 жыл бұрын

Fortunate to have heard all the Jones Family play, sometimes together. All were under-appreciated. Thanks to Max and the Vanguard for all this great music. I had many a bad workday closing the Vanguard, getting a falafel and coffee at Mamoun's, and then heading back home to Central Jersey.

@fideliusconcrete4871

2 жыл бұрын

I was friends with Elvin, we met many times and we talked about everything openly. One day I said to him that he looks a lot like Thad, he said "I don't look like my brother at all ..." But he was very happy when I said that Thad is the coolest conductor ever (Elvin knew that I knew Bernstein, Karajan and some others well).

@WyattLite-n-inn

Жыл бұрын

@@fideliusconcrete4871I’m w Elvin here . I see zero resemblance

@mangalarobertwatling9168

Жыл бұрын

@@WyattLite-n-inn I can hear it in his voice, though, during his introduction of the first tune.

Take your children or grandchildren to hear jazz....Support jazz in the schools. Donate unused instruments in good condition to your favorite jazz band. Middle school is not too soon OR elementary! We miss you, Mr Orrin Keepnews. Bon Voyage.

@dahliafully

4 жыл бұрын

AND Keep clubs open. It's the best way to learn. Music in public schools!!!

A young 21-year-old Jon Faddis on lead trumpet! Marvelous band!

I love Thad Jones! I met him when I was about 18 years old….I waited for the band bus to pull into the stage entrance of the Kranert Center at the the U of I Champaign Urban campus. I had transcribed a blues he played and wanted Thad to sign it….which he did. No class work just loved that tone and solo. I wanted to play in his band! He said maybe finish school first. He was a gracious and inspirational man!

Probably my favorite big band. Thanks to my jazz band directors for being hip to this back in the 80s and having us play some of their arrangements. Also, Toshiko Akioshi big band.

@brianhammer5107

Жыл бұрын

Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band was also superb - great writing from her.

Such sweet, superb band playing, musicianship, contributions, friendly free fellowship, all such quality playing stylists to make us feel happy, glad, grateful, wondering at the whys of this great art and its constant threat of dying, or simply fading. This is a path, a monument, an aim, a great performing art.

I saw this tour El Camino Jr College. The Best of all time!

I love how Mel Lewis looks like your laid back uncle who has what it takes to be Santa for the family but is one of the funkiest drummers you'll ever hear.

Mel Lewis is the busines not to say anybody else is behind , it just a great pleasure to listen to him play .

I'll tell you one thing...aside from Mel's obvious great chops on the kit I think he has just about the best sounding cymbals I have ever heard in my life and he really knew how to bring out every nuance from every cymbal on his kit he was a true master!

@rhythmfield

2 жыл бұрын

Agree 100%

@alexeisavrasov888

2 жыл бұрын

same here...he was a "musicians' drummer"...he was in it for the music, not the drumming...every solo is like what a non-drummer would play, in a way. "tasteful" does not even begin to tell his story. when these two came together it was musical history indeed

Such a great orchestra. Thad’s solo in Willow Weep For Me is tremendous! George Mraz is special

Now, this was a band! A lovely brooding Bob Brookmeyer arrangement too. Ah, Jimmy Knepper! Such an underrated trombonist. Paid his dues with Mingus and also paid the price. Check out his spotlight feature “ Where Flamingoes Fly’” with Gil Evans. Thanks for posting!

@moussetache1815

2 жыл бұрын

I was in a school once where I didn't gain much more than solid musical references and a taste for playing music, instead of being a sound technician. Among them, I discovered this tune. Our teacher liked to bring his LPs and listen to a selection of tunes with us. "Where flamingos fly" was one of them." I don't know exactly why but we listened to a good number of songs but this one and Blood Sweat and Tears' "Lonesome Suzie" still stand out vividly today in my mind. Merci Mr Lotito.

@cterbush

Жыл бұрын

Knepper was an amazing “story-teller” kind of soloist. The technique was more than all there, but always in service of the musical story. Almost conversational.

Thad Jones was so underrated bothas a trumpet player and composer the man was a genius or as Mingus put it he was Bartok with valves instead of a piano

Who, in their right mind, could ever dislike this!!!???

@bconroy2

11 ай бұрын

To listen to and enjoy/appreciate this music takes work! Of course, Thad and co make the work worth it. If you don't want to work, go listen to some pop candy music! This is the adult music listening room.

What a chance to watch such a rare vintage by the great Quentin "Butter"Jackson!

I love Mel's understated style. I try to play along with him but he owns it!

0:23 - "Willow Weep for Me" (Ann Ronell) - Thad jones - flh, Jimmy Knepper - tb 9:14 - "Central Park North" (Thad Jones) - Jon Faddis - tp, Jerry Dodgion - ss, Mel Lewis - dr 24:51 - " Jerry Dodgion - fl, Quentin Jackson - tb, Thad Jones - flh 32:27 - "Don't Get Sassy" (Thad Jones) - Walter Norris - p, Cecil Bridgewater - tp, Billy Harper - ts

@LuckyChops

6 жыл бұрын

The song at 24:51 is "Only For Now" from the fantastic "Suite for Pops" record.

Oh what a beautiful band, wonderful music beautifully played.

The Jones Lewis Big Band I remember was always considered a cut above the rest musically by the jazz musicians I worked with and this demonstrates why. Superb arrangements and playing. Wow some of those harmonies. Also big band drummers don't always have to hammer out phrases, Mel demonstrated the right way to play you can hear the subtle inflections in the other instruments because you can 'feel' him rather than 'hear' him stand out all the time. They are playing for the music as a whole and nothing else, not show boating etc. If the music is worth it give it the respect it deserves like Thad, Mel and all did. Thank you so much for posting this.

The Best Big Band Ever....I have seen them twice in the 70th (Laren Jazz Festival 1972 and Roermond Oranjerie 1974)... And what I had missed was their spontaneous mid day performance on a platform of the railway station in Haarlem Holland (not Harlem NY)....('72 or '74)...

- Featuring Jimmy Knepper, trombone, on the opener 'Willow Weep for Me', with Jiri "George" Mraz on bass and Thad on flugelhorn.

13:10, one of the sexiest grooves in jazz history.

As usual a beautiful place and great music... 😊🎶🎼

Получил несказанное удовольствие от увиденного и тем более от прослушанного . Это прямо сказка поиграть в таком оркестре.

Featuring Jimmy Knepper, trombone, on the opener 'Willow Weep for Me', with Jiri "George" Mraz on bass and Thad on flugelhorn.

c'est un immense plaisir que de renouveler cette écoute !

Magical... The time is unbelievable, the harmony transported me to another dimension, and Mel is now my favorite rock drummer. So much to say about this video. VonOhlen always said, "Mel was the best, when he played he didn't look like a drummer --he looked like a banker." I always feel like I was born too late to experience ensembles like this. Many thanks to the Norwegians that preserved this performance.

@FordGreeneLawyer

7 ай бұрын

Like a banker! Keeping track of every fraction of (time) value. No kidding!

Love Jerry Dodgion’s melodic solo. Beautiful mellow sound on what can be piercing and thin.

Thad looks so much like Elvin, and sweats as much too. He's so great!!

The solos are really conversations between band mates and audience is allowed in-this is so good

Fantastic!! thanks for posting.

Thank you for posting this!

How am I just finding this?! What happened!? We have to go back! -

Thank you SO MUCH for uploading! Great! :)

Simply phenomenal!

Wow! Thanks for uploading

Brand new archival footage of Thad/Mel band (now Vanguard Orchestra, going on their 51st year)!! Bless you for preserving and posting!

Absolueltely Lovely Rendition Of "Willow Weep For Me"!

Amazing videotape quality for 1974 ! ❤

I wore this record out in my high school and college days (played Alto 1 in my HS jazz band). The title track is beautifully performed here, and there are so many other excellent cuts on it as well. Thank you Thad and Mel. One of the finest jazz orchestras not only for the performing but the amazing arrangements.

what an incredible collection of cats in this band!each a jazz master in his own right.

Magical arrangements!!! The down beat of one gets completely lost!!

Great stuff from a Jazz Giant!

what a great band. Permanence is the key. most bands go out on the road for 14 weeks, and theres changes in personnel

One the best jazz orchestra!

Superb!

Super!

La big band que marcó un camino! Maravillosos arreglos tocados por maravillosos musicos!

Fantastic jazz! For Ever!

Dig Mel's heavy sound and tightness. Wow!!

@bigswingface5847

7 жыл бұрын

My favorite drummer.

Gamin, une trentaine d'années, je vis débuter avec ces voyous de Thad Jones et Mel Lewis, Dee Dee Bridgwater, jeunette, chez Max Gordon à NYC.... instants inoubliables.

Hello - greatest band, is IT from club7 in Oslo, If IT is i was there and have a tape recording of the fantastisk concert😊

A long haired Mraz He studied With "Long haired European classical masters" and he was in style in 70's with Thad and mel's big band . Jiri recently deceased Sept 16th 2021.

Magic!!!!!.

Quentin "Butter" Jackson, sein Posaunenspiel war wundervoll.Leider starb er bereits 1976.

@agamemnonpadar5706

6 жыл бұрын

Da kann ich nur zustimmen. Was für ein Musiker, schließlich spielte mit allen Großen wie u.a. Basie, Ellington, Calloway, Mingus, Don Redman, Lucky Millinder und hier Thad Jones/Mel Lewis. Und immer als der wundervolle Solist und zuverlässiger Musiker im Satz. Ein Beispiel dafür dass man niemals aufhören sollte zu lernen.

mel lewis start of broken time!!

That's how it's done boys and girls

Saw this great band at Blighties near Manchester (UK) in 1971. They were amazing and blew the audience away. I was 15, got Dad to drive us there (40 miles), found it was sold out but they let us stand at the bar (from 7.30 - midnight). Dad did not complain, he was as hooked as me on the great musicians and arrangements. They had a 21 year old singer, Dee Dee Bridgewater (married then to Cecil), starting her career. What a start! Has anyone any footage of Dee Dee with this great Thad Jones Big Band?

@geoffnelson4777

2 жыл бұрын

I saw the band in 1973 at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco and Dee Dee was singing with it.

still love it!!

1974?? it looks like HD. Beautiful colors. Music ain't bad either. Great all-around production.

After we lost Don Ellis, either this band or Toshiko’s was THE big band. Hard to pick. The opening chart here has a lot of the Gil Evans sound. Arrangers in jazz never get enough credit. People like Thad, Slide Hampton, Mike Abene, Gil, Quincy Jones, Benny Carter, Neal Hefti and so many more don’t get the props soloists do. It’s a shame.

Check out Mel swingin' and groovin' there happy as he can be with those punchy calf skin drum heads and that dark, riveted ride cymbal. He knew how to lay it down with a big band. His drumming on the album "Art Pepper +11" is some of the best you'll ever hear in the bebop genre (along with Philly Jo Jones on "Art Pepper meets the Rhythm section"). All you drummers out there listen and learn! Nice post here. :-)

8:29 10:24 12:19 13:06 change to the blues form in 13:10

Didi Bridgewater was the band singer - unfortunately not featured here

good

Looks like George Mraz on bass.

Wonderful band with lots of great players. Co-leaders, a wonderful arranger and one of the finest of all big band drummers. I see Pepper Adams, without question of the three finest baritone saxophonists of all time, in the section, but no solo space. Huh? Great to see and hear Butter Jackson and Jimmy Knepper, neither of whom I got to hear live. Sadly, almost a textbook example for sound engineers about how to screw up the sound of a big band. WAY too many mics. Yes, I know some are for PA, but the PA should have had splits from the recording mics. This is a band best recorded with a spaced stereo pair down front, mics in the piano and on the bass, and a few solo mics. I've done it that way, far superior to this muddy mess.

@lovelymo_

4 жыл бұрын

Sounds like too much bass drum on Central Park North, but otherwise I can live with the mix

@ertatta

2 ай бұрын

Yeah I agree especially in the last tune Sassy. I’ve recently recorded with a pair Schoeps MK2 omnis on a 18” stereo bar with solo mics for trpt & sax( shure ksm32) and the results were quite transparent and balanced. An amazing band like this would’ve benefited from that approach in this setting.

@jimbrown1559

2 ай бұрын

@@ertatta I'm very much a fan of a widely spaced pair for the ensemble, with spot mics for quieter instruments as noted. Look for "Stan Kenton in True '52 Stereo," which sounds like a spaced pair of very good mics. Dynaflow 2007-1. Bert Whyte did the recording with a specially built staggered head Magnecorder.

@ertatta

2 ай бұрын

I’ll be sure to check these out. Jon Faddis here led a group called the Carnegie Hall Jazz band back in the mid 90’s. They did only one recording that I know of that was recorded with a stereo pair of omnis by the legendary audiophile entrepreneur Mark Levinson. It was recorded in a fairly dry studio, so IMO it doesn’t quite work as well as it might’ve if they had recorded in a performance space like an auditorium or recital hall. Still definitely worth owning as the group is fantastic and performs some wonderful classics.

@jimbrown1559

2 ай бұрын

@@ertatta Concert halls designed for European classical music don't work well for big bands or other jazz forms. The reverberation which they provide is critically important for classical forms, but destroys rhythmic music like jazz, pop, and rock. A widely spaced pair close to the band can work for recording, but sound for the audience is generally poor. Classical performance is always unamplified, and sound systems for concert halls are designed only for speech. Rental systems brought in for jazz performances make the sound louder, but the acoustics still destroys it. I designed sound systems for halls like this, working with the acoustic consultants who designed the halls, and I've heard music in some of the world's greatest halls.

20:24

@23:05

George Mraz's obit is in today's NYTimes and probably elsewhere . . . . 09/29/2021 , , , , ds

MAKING KENTON'S BAND SOUND COMMERCIAL IS NOT THAT ALL PLEASING.

TJ ML Orch played this kinda off-sounding chart WAY too often. Ah, well...

やはりジャズは白人バンドはさらっとし過ぎて楽しく無い、特にタイコ存在感が全く無い。

@slothmode3590

Жыл бұрын

My friend, you are wrong