Don Ellis "Hey Jude" 1970

[Blahblobify]

I've been a Don Ellis fan since 1968,got a half dozen of his albums, but WTF is this shit? I couldn't make it past the first 3 minutes. Was Don eating a lot of acid at the time this was made?

[piliage]

@Blahblobify "Was Don eating a lot of acid...?"

Eh, Could be. However, pity you didn't get past the 3 minute mark to 3:10.

Personally, I think this is hilarious. When the band comes with the Hey Jude marching band it is Zappa on steroids. And then we get the thrash guitar vs. ring modulator trumpet trading 2s, followed by Tuba & Flute duet taking the lead....and then the worlds worst most hideous marching band waltz...

Damn funny stuff. Tongue firmly in cheek.

[WelcomeToInfinity]

@piliage I'm 15 and I get ALL his music

[888johnnyd]

holy s#@$ my first concert was Don Ellis at the great american music hall. two nights. two of the best nights of music I have ever heard

[logansGT]

This is great stuff.....loved it. RIP Don, we miss you.

Btw, I think Lennon turned over and Sir Paul needed another toke after hearing this one.

[jfbop37]

Just FYI, this isn't OOP anymore. Probably already knew that, but just in case. This album along with quite a few others of Don Ellis are now available on CD.

[UniweriaZekt]

@jfbop37

Thanks for the info.Will amend the description.

[ConspireToConspire]

I love it. Amazing. I wonder how many people got pissed off from this.

[xiphoguy]

to @MordantPleasure - no mellotron. The effect on the trumpet is a "ring modulator". The device takes an adjustable carrier frequency which produces the SUM and the DIFFERENCE between the carrier frequency and the note played. For example, if it's tuned to 440 HZ and you play 880 (an octave higher) you would get another 440 plus a 1320 - an octave lower plus a fifth higher, Also using a tape delay - digital was not invented. He used REAL strings, never needed a mellotron.

[pHiLind3]

If you have it, can you upload Final Analysis that's on the same record as this song?

[UniweriaZekt]

@pHiLind3

Upped *_-

[drproboscis]

Saw him live at Lenny's on the Turnpike in Peabody, MA in 1972. It was the first time he also played drumset. He said he always wanted to play drums, so he had been taking lessons. His group at the time included electronic string quartet, tuba, and French horn. Not only was he innovative, electronically and metornomically, but he never cracked a note, unlike most jazz trumpeters. Another good one was Bill Chase.

[spacepatrolman]

@drproboscis Yea bill chase was a lead trumpet player with woody herman when chase played newport in 71 they played then dave brubeck played then the police insited a riot don ellis was on the ed sullivan show i almost fell out of my chair the last ed sullivan show had roland kirk never seen the light of day in here .

[pindaric]

What's always intrigued me is that no one continued down the path Ellis was taking. Any thoughts from anyone on that?

[spacepatrolman]

@pindaric a few people wrote arrangements in odd meters don sebesky had the swinger the air force band played it but nobody specialized in that joel kaye had the new york neophonic orchestra doing something like jazz rock but more like stan kenton .

[pindaric]

@spacepatrolman

I guess I should have said--why haven't there been more players who developed what Ellis opened up. Kenton got Hank Levy and others to write things in odd meters. Joel Kaye's neophonic was much like Kenton's neophonic. But no body I've heard at least is carrying Ellis' approach forward.

[spacepatrolman]

@pindaric it was more than just oddddddd meters with don ellis it was ethnic music and instruments [ sitar] songs that take up a whole side of an album ,jazz rock, film scores...

[pindaric]

@spacepatrolman True. There are lots of small groups doing jazz/world music, but for me there's nothing quite like a big band playing the hell out of that kind of stuff like Ellis did.

[chach2000]

Actually, he was using the "Ring Modulator" with a Selmer pickup drilled into the mouthpiece.

[MordantPleasure]

Ah yes, the Mellotron.

[spacepatrolman]

@MordantPleasure did don use a mellotron thats a keybourd with tapes not the same thing as electric trumpet with effects pedals 

[pandrice93]

I've heard maynard's version and of course the beatles' version, but I'd have to say by far this is my favorite.

[luridplanet]

I used to drive my parents insane with this record when I was 15 - "THAT IS NOT HEY JUDE!" lol

[sjbabineau]

Ellis was incorporating electronics, half tones, and unusual meters -- not just "using" them. He may have been a misfit at Boston University, but would have b een considered "royalty" at Berklee. How does a person who doesn't drink or smoke die too young?

[nealbfinn]

@sjbabineau Ellis had a heart condition that eventually resulted in one of his heart valves literally coming loose. He had surgery but it failed to correct the defect. His last years were pretty much under wraps. He got weaker and unable to do tours. He passed in 1979.

[spacepatrolman]

@sjbabineau thats really too bad that he died he had an irregular heart beat in odd meter he said buddy rich had 3 brain tumors and died.

[spacepatrolman]

@sjbabineau thats a good point about berklee a lot of jazz musicians came out of there at newport in 71 they were in george shearings band woody hermans band buddy riches band