Morbidfilter: What Jazz greats should I see live...before they die?
October 15, 2014 2:59 PM Subscribe
So I was lucky enough to see Ray Charles before he died at the Hollywood Bowl. And Sarah Vaughn at the Blue Note in the 80's. And Ella at Radio City around the same time. But I never got to see Sinatra. Or Sammy. Or Nina Simone. Largely because I couldn't afford it. So now it occurs to me I can. And Southwest tickets aren't that expensive if I want to go anywhere in the US. So who should I see among the greats - who are still out there playing - before it's too late?
Not exactly jazz, but Chuck Berry plays in St. Louis on a monthly-ish basis. Keep an eye on the Blueberry Hill calendar. Also look out for John Lee Hooker, Jr., Taj Mahal, and Buddy Guy.
posted by ChuraChura at 3:18 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 3:18 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
sonny rollins
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:22 PM on October 15, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by fingers_of_fire at 3:22 PM on October 15, 2014 [9 favorites]
Yeah, came here to post Sonny Rollins, but fingers_of_fire beat me to it.
Not jazz, but you could also add Bob Dylan to this list.
posted by mosk at 3:27 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Not jazz, but you could also add Bob Dylan to this list.
posted by mosk at 3:27 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Leonard Cohen
posted by ottereroticist at 3:29 PM on October 15, 2014 [8 favorites]
posted by ottereroticist at 3:29 PM on October 15, 2014 [8 favorites]
Oh, and Tony Bennett is 88 years young and still touring.
posted by mosk at 3:30 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by mosk at 3:30 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
Herbie Hancock/Chick Correa
Also not jazz, but Dick Dale.
posted by drlith at 3:36 PM on October 15, 2014
Also not jazz, but Dick Dale.
posted by drlith at 3:36 PM on October 15, 2014
I used to live in Los Angeles, and all the jazz greats seemed to live in the LA area, so going to any local jazz clubs meant seeing people 6 months, 9 months, and a year before their deaths (Jimmy Smith, Horace Silver, Oscar Brown Jr., etc). It was morbid when I realized this just like you have, and I went to great lengths to see as many greats as I could in the late 90s and early 2000s. The best night ever was at UCLA, when they threw a 2 night celebration of Horace Silver in the early 2000s. Sonny Rollins played there and he could barely walk. I would definitely try to see him if you can.
I would scour the listings at the bigger LA jazz clubs online to see if you spot any greats. I know Kenny Burrell used to teach at UCLA, is 83, and was amazing live the last time I saw him play.
posted by mathowie at 3:39 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
I would scour the listings at the bigger LA jazz clubs online to see if you spot any greats. I know Kenny Burrell used to teach at UCLA, is 83, and was amazing live the last time I saw him play.
posted by mathowie at 3:39 PM on October 15, 2014 [3 favorites]
Ornette Coleman.
posted by judith at 4:04 PM on October 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
posted by judith at 4:04 PM on October 15, 2014 [6 favorites]
Wayne Shorter! He's touring some this year to celebrate his 80th birthday. He's in Europe now, but he has a few US dates next year. I saw his group this spring, and it was one of the best jazz performances I have ever seen.
posted by thelonius at 4:10 PM on October 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 4:10 PM on October 15, 2014 [5 favorites]
So I was lucky enough to see Ray Charles before he died at the Hollywood Bowl.
I thought Ray Charles died at home? ;-)
Anyway, not jazz but please add Buddy Guy to your list. Saw him two years ago when he had just turned 75. He rocked out better than Jay-Z.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
I thought Ray Charles died at home? ;-)
Anyway, not jazz but please add Buddy Guy to your list. Saw him two years ago when he had just turned 75. He rocked out better than Jay-Z.
posted by nubianinthedesert at 4:17 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
Not 100% sure all these cats are still gigging / touring, but they're all still breathing:
B.B. King (89)
Mose Allison (86)
Paul Bley (81)
Gato Barbieri (81)
Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) (80)
Gary Peacock (79)
Carla Bley (78)
James "Blood" Ulmer (76)
Paul Winter (75)
Brian Auger (74)
Pharaoh Sanders (74)
Steve Swallow (74)
Ralph Towner (74)
Olu Dara (73)
Glen Moore (73)
John McLaughlin (72)
Jack DeJohnette (72)
Barry Altschul (71)
Henry Threadgill (70)
Billy Cobham (70)
Anthony Braxton (69)
Keith Jarrett (69)
John Abercrombie (69)
Famoudou Don Moye (68)
Dave Holland (68)
Paul McCandless (67)
Bill Frisell (63)
George Lewis (62)
John Scofield (62)
Ray Anderson (61)
Jamaaladeen Tacuma (58)
Seconding:
Sonny Rollins
Roscoe Mitchell
Herbie Hancock
Chick Correa
Ornette Coleman
posted by Herodios at 4:58 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
B.B. King (89)
Mose Allison (86)
Paul Bley (81)
Gato Barbieri (81)
Abdullah Ibrahim (Dollar Brand) (80)
Gary Peacock (79)
Carla Bley (78)
James "Blood" Ulmer (76)
Paul Winter (75)
Brian Auger (74)
Pharaoh Sanders (74)
Steve Swallow (74)
Ralph Towner (74)
Olu Dara (73)
Glen Moore (73)
John McLaughlin (72)
Jack DeJohnette (72)
Barry Altschul (71)
Henry Threadgill (70)
Billy Cobham (70)
Anthony Braxton (69)
Keith Jarrett (69)
John Abercrombie (69)
Famoudou Don Moye (68)
Dave Holland (68)
Paul McCandless (67)
Bill Frisell (63)
George Lewis (62)
John Scofield (62)
Ray Anderson (61)
Jamaaladeen Tacuma (58)
Seconding:
Sonny Rollins
Roscoe Mitchell
Herbie Hancock
Chick Correa
Ornette Coleman
posted by Herodios at 4:58 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
Caetano Veloso
posted by biscuits at 6:22 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by biscuits at 6:22 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ran Blake
posted by fingers_of_fire at 6:27 PM on October 15, 2014
posted by fingers_of_fire at 6:27 PM on October 15, 2014
I don't know if Clark Terry is still doing gigs at 94, but if so, you absolutely have to see him. A living jazz legend.
posted by firechicago at 7:57 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by firechicago at 7:57 PM on October 15, 2014 [1 favorite]
McCoy Tyner.
posted by zeri at 8:11 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by zeri at 8:11 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]
Nobody's mentioned Archie Shepp - but he's one of my favourite jazzmen, and he still plays from time to time. Last year he performed a concert with his Attica Blues big band in London and I'm gutted that I missed it. I wouldn't pass up an opportunity like that again.
posted by Ted Maul at 1:38 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Ted Maul at 1:38 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Just saw Tony Bennett a few weeks ago in Prague and will whole heartedly recommend watching him live if you can! Almost 90 and still got it!
posted by shazzam! at 5:10 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by shazzam! at 5:10 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Mose Allison for sure, if your definition of jazz is a tiny bit loose.
posted by fivesavagepalms at 6:49 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by fivesavagepalms at 6:49 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Lee Konitz.
posted by in278s at 8:16 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by in278s at 8:16 AM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
BTW, saw BB King at age 80; he was still worth twice the price of admission.
Saw Arethra 6 years ago; she was quite sadly dependent on her backup singers (although her health lately suggests she'll not tour again). So, that was more bragging rights than enjoying a genius at their art. (Obv, I went hoping for the latter.)
posted by IAmBroom at 9:01 AM on October 16, 2014
Saw Arethra 6 years ago; she was quite sadly dependent on her backup singers (although her health lately suggests she'll not tour again). So, that was more bragging rights than enjoying a genius at their art. (Obv, I went hoping for the latter.)
posted by IAmBroom at 9:01 AM on October 16, 2014
All of the above are excellent. I would like to include some perhaps lesser known but still amazing older gents. There are many more I'm sure that I can't think of at the moment.
Piano:
Barry Harris
Junior Mance
Cecil Taylor
Kenny Barron
Bass:
Reggie Workman
Ron Carter
Henry Grimes
Drums:
Jimmy Cobb
Charli Persip
Andrew Cyrille
Saxophone:
Hamiett Bluiet
Joe Temperley
Phil Woods
Jimmy Heath
George Braithe
Marshall Allen
Gary Bartz
Trombone:
Curtis Fuller
Gracham Moncur III
Also FYI, Frank Wess passed last year.
posted by alhadro at 1:27 PM on October 16, 2014
Piano:
Barry Harris
Junior Mance
Cecil Taylor
Kenny Barron
Bass:
Reggie Workman
Ron Carter
Henry Grimes
Drums:
Jimmy Cobb
Charli Persip
Andrew Cyrille
Saxophone:
Hamiett Bluiet
Joe Temperley
Phil Woods
Jimmy Heath
George Braithe
Marshall Allen
Gary Bartz
Trombone:
Curtis Fuller
Gracham Moncur III
Also FYI, Frank Wess passed last year.
posted by alhadro at 1:27 PM on October 16, 2014
Bob Dorough is 90. If you get a chance to see him live, don't pass it up.
posted by Lexica at 2:59 PM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Lexica at 2:59 PM on October 16, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pharaoh Sanders, and sit as close to the stage as you can.
posted by timshel at 4:59 AM on October 17, 2014
posted by timshel at 4:59 AM on October 17, 2014
peter broetzmann
posted by noloveforned at 1:35 PM on October 18, 2014
posted by noloveforned at 1:35 PM on October 18, 2014
Seconding McCoy Tyner and adding Jimmy Cobb, the drummer and only musician left who played on Kind of Blue. I saw him play the whole album with (an excellent) band at the Tower of London for the 50th anniversary and he was amazing, in general and especially so for someone his age. He's still touring, see him if you can.
posted by goo at 9:27 PM on October 18, 2014
posted by goo at 9:27 PM on October 18, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 3:07 PM on October 15, 2014 [2 favorites]