Don Byas / Slam Stewart Duet Live 1945 ~ I Got Rhythm

[JBenjaminCooper]

1:44 - 1:48 = tasty.

[triggerbangfloat]

My god... this is so killer. Every time I think I've heard the greatest track ever - along comes another :)

[handicappedhoods]

This isn't fair, Slam. I hate you so much right now.

[hremdldw]

Very few master piano players or hip bass players.Everybody wants too play modes so it doesn't swing you have to woodshed.Listen too the masters on record or cd It's very few musicians that I can even tolerate.Most of players read well but can't solo, it's a sorry state of affairs.I don't think I 'm a snob as master Dizzy Gillespie told Miles Davis,Jimmy Heath,Clifford Brown you need too be able to play piano because it's right in front of you on the key board then you can transpose

[hermease]

This song is a masterpeice. Genius playing, near telepathic communication. try to find anything then or now with this level of rhythmic and melodic fluidity and precision. I don't think even Byas ever Recorded rc at this high level again.

[alavakian]

It was supposed to be a quintet; stormy night, just Slam and Don showed up. They went on anyway.

[alexhunterjazz]

@alavakian this is true!

... wow @byas throwing in those cycle of 5ths at 1.44! does anyone know an earlier example of this on rhythm changes? maybe tatum?

[attbassstrings]

Have you got recording the "Humoresque" with Don Byas and Slam Stewart from 1945( vol.2.)

[bopbrother]

Slamming. Love how he plays very honestly throughout. No silly chromatic jive, here.

[G7flat5]

This is one of the hippest solos I have heard for these changes. Does anyone have it transcribed?

[GeronimoTheJakAss]

ddoes slam sing along with his solo?

[Finobini]

@GeronimoTheJakAss Yeah he usually did that

[saxoman1]

I transcribed this, and it is a B****!Also, I firmly believe that it is a half step sharp (I lowered it to concert Bb to transcribe). I REFUSE to believe he played this in concert B (#C for tenor. Although, he IS Don Byas). In order to try and get all the little nuances (and there are a TON of them here) I had to keep it at 80% speed (at 100%, it just felt like a stream of notes with little nuances. Oh yea, and it is FREAKING hard just note wise) How does he has so much nuance at that tempo?

[alexhunterjazz]

@saxoman1 when you get this one down you should post it!

[laughingtiger123]

Flipa whatever... the standard has lowered, greatly. I say that because i am almost 50 yrs. old. Here's a list of who I've worked with, you friggin' clown. Starting at age 16... Jimmy Smith, Horace Tapscott, Sonny Stitt, Billy Higgins, Blue Mitchell quintet, Groove Holmes, Benny Carter, Phil Woods, World's Greatest Jazz Band, Sweets Edison, Kenny Barron, Teb Dunbar, Willie Bobo, Woody Shaw... etc...

Based on that, I stand by my statement, chump.

[flipadiddle]

to everyone here saying that no one can play changes today-you don't know what you're talking about. besides scores of professional musicians, famous and local, on the scene today who can tear through changes, good college jazz programs across the country are full of students who do nothing but practice playing through changes all day.

[bebop62]

Great music

[17205513]

someone get an ambulance for me; I can handle this its to last level.

[hepalera]

Killer!



[tadd1]

@ 1:52 Forshadowing Coltrane's future recording of 'Countdown' !

[trombonisteau]

man, what incredible playing!

[cablepuller87]

I loved this recording as a kid and have spent more than 50 years looking for it.

Wasn't it Duke Ellington who said "If it sounds good, it is good."?

[heavyweather77]

Pure awesome badness!

[fourblues]

oh, too fast...

this is key of B, in the correct key is Bb.

[minathmir]

yet slam plays his solo in F#

[JogiBass]

@fourblues There is no "correct key" in jazz nor a correct tempo. What are you talking about? This is two of the greatest jazzmen ever having fun an producing good music! If it sounds good, it is good.

[b1970b]

@JogiBass assuming he means the recording is playing too fast making it sharp - in B when should be Bb?

[fourblues]

@JogiBass i have this tune in the CD. the tune is key of Bb, but this tune is key of B, the rotation of the record player is too fast... i think two of the greatest jazzmen ever having fun an producing good music too and i respect them.

[janmorez]

@fourblues what are you retarded?

[laughingtiger123]

Total comand of the changes... something sorely missing today.

[Bebopopotamus]

@laughingtiger123 Not really. You just have to listen to right people.

[zappacrappa2]

@Bebopopotamus I think he means that it is scarce these days. Yes, there are cats who can really play changes but they are few and far between. I've even  heard some so-called 'young lions' who freely admit that playing changes "isn't their thing".

In todays musical climate the 'vibe' takes precendence over playing changes. Sad but true.

[Bebopopotamus]

@zappacrappa2 What's wrong with that? We can't all just keep playing changes all the time. It will all come out the same. There's something special about 4 or 5 people all creating something spontaneously. Playing changes is great, but it's been done before, for decades, a lot of times in the same way. We need to find something new. The music can't just stagnate. It has to evolve in some way or another.

[flipadiddle]

@laughingtiger123 you don't know shit

[TheAdawg1789]

@laughingtiger123 I agree but only to the extent that Byas' command of the changes allows him to escape them when he chooses to. I would argue that many contemporary jazz musicians, especially those playing more mainstream jazz, tend to have too literal a conception of the changes and not enough interest in transcending them.

[Gmakamian]

@laughingtiger123 Nothing really missed if you look at the right places :)

[alainarmel]

The NY Town Hall Concert was in fact recorded on records by Milt Gabler the owner and founder of Commodore label. There are 2 CDs produced by Commodore CCD 7005 and CCD 7006. On CCD 7005: Don Byas-Slam Stewart "Indiana'"; "I Got Rhythms" & 'Candy". On CCD7006, 5 small bands: Bill Coleman Quartet; Gene Krupa-Charlie Ventura Trio; Teddy Wilson Solo; Stuff Smith Trio and Flip Phillips wh Teddy Wilson Quintet. Other musicians were recorded by Commodore, see the MOSAIC Lp complete Commodore sets.

[schnieef]

Do you have more titles from this concert? This Byas at his best year, I think.