Tony Williams w/super star quintet 1982 "bird like"

[rklionel]

That "overplaying" blends so well with the rest.

They all "overplay"....playin' their asses off....

[Slamule]

Solos are too short. Could have listened to this forever! Thanks druman for posting this & your comments responding to ehardi.

[DUANESKEE]

My opinion Joe Henderson was the greatest tenor sax man of all times..,

[trombonermusic]

That's not over playing just high energy....

[saxoman1]

Oh, and of course Freddie piped my day as well. He swings right out the gate with a bad ass line. WOO!

[saxoman1]

Okay... (please excuse my language but...) 3:32 just FUCKED my mind over. Seriously Joe. WTF is wrong with you? That line just piped everything I have heard in the last ten days... Hell. It piped my life lol. Need to get in the SHED!

[acloakwithahood]

I included the contributions that Tony Williams made to Jazz drumming in a couple of papers that I wrote in college. I was able to use interviews from people who had worked with his sidemen, like Ira Coleman, and I found no evidence of substance abuse. However, apparently, Tony did appreciate a good cigar. CB

[meirrose]

These guys are such amazing geniuses. It's beyond my ability to understand their greatness. Freddie lives!

[meirrose]

I worship Freddie Hubbard 'till the day I die.

[tiluriso]

This is 1982, the audio equipment for Tv/filming has improved vastly since then,same w/ double-bass pick ups, and Tony could be very loud, even in the studio, just check-out Geri Allen's Twenty one w/ Ron & Tony, so my guess is that probably a mixed mic + pick up would be the best solution. Joe's lick @ 3:51is one of his trademarks, he plays it when trading 4's w/ Kenny Garrett on "Computer G" from Kenny's ' Black Hope'. This is Great Jazz. Thanx. Peace.

[adamecomp]

After the Piano solo the Solo trading with Freddie and Joe is the best I have ever heard!!!!! Such impeccable Time, Outside and Inside playing, SWING, and Passion! Wow!

[bigbass421]

The 'sound' argument regarding Ron Carter's amplified sound...well, here he is in a loud concert setting. You can hear almost every note he's playing, right? He sounds great! He plays his ass off, and the 'less than 'pure' tone isn't preventing him from kicking major ass here. Those CTI recordings he made with various jazz artists are quite memorable, in my opinion. Sounds like a lot of pickup on those records. I also love the acoustic sound of his Juzek on Lee Morgan's "The Procrastinator"

[jlevinson6]

I don't know, I like Ron's sound. I know it's not "Natural" but he developed it I think 'cause he tired of not being heard. I love his lines, I have sat in clubs and just listened to him.

[Bluesnswing]

Ron Carter has a nice bass sound in this clip as much as 2 Girls 1 Cup is romantic.

[nateo5]

thats the videos fault you asshole

[Bluesnswing]

No it's not. It's Ron's fault. Notice how almost all jazz records of the 70s and early 80s had bass sounds as pleasant as a colonoscopy? Notice how no matter how shitty the audio quality, no bass player sounds like this on any recording made before the late 60s?? Not much of a coincidence that the late 60s just happened to coincide with the invention of the pickup for the acoustic bass (either the invention of or the popularization of; I'm not sure). Ron sounds like shit. I rest my case!

[fiddlercrab3]

I like your style, Bluesnswing, but can only agree in part. Go check out Ray Brown's masterclass videos, floating around the Tube-osphere, where he discusses sound with a student. He makes the point "you should sound like your bass, and don't let the pickup play you."

While I agree with your view of the tone quality produced by Carter's pickup, I would point out that his technique didn't change. You have to listen past the pickup to hear truly masterful basswork.

[Bluesnswing]

I agree that Ron will never stop being a master musician. But the amped bass is ruining jazz in that someone who uses THAT MUCH pickup won't pull the strings to make the music swing hard, the way Blanton, Chambers, Pettiford, etc. did. To prove my point, take Oscar Peterson. OP's music didn't really change throughout his career. Yet how many OP records do you own post 60s? The only thing that changed was a severe amping of the bass, and thus a sudden drop in the level of swing.

[fiddlercrab3]

Not every bassist falls into that trap. Ben Street, for example, has a fantastic swing feel, and he pulls the hell out of those strings. I don't think we need to go so far as to say that pickups are "ruining jazz," inasmuch as they allow us to hear the bass lines with more clarity when the drummers explode. To play with someone like Tony Williams, for example, you need to pull the strings hard, and also amplify. Tony, after all, is very loud. :-)

I don't own many OP records at all, sadly.

[Whatisthescore]

@Bluesnswing wow you know a lot about swing bass. What do you think of Mingus? I have always considered him the master at swinging/groove on an acoustic bass. Something about Carter's sound always annoyed me like it was too loud or something and also I never thought he swung all that great. You just named it though..he uses pick ups so pluck so much to drive the swing.. Annoying.

[Whatisthescore]

@Whatisthescore woops that last sentence didn't make sense lol I meant he uses pick ups so he doesn't have to pluck as much to drive the swing... that's annoying definitely.

[jlevinson6]

Freddie is on fire playing this tune on the flugel is weird but he makes it work. What a genius!

[boertush]

Great! and to answer your question, there is another performance of this song on youtube(audio only but with a brilliant solo of McCoy Tyner) where Freddy says this song is 'dedicated to the late great Charlie Parker'

[ReminiscenceHr]

This is fucking heavy metal.

[genauder]

yeah... bebop is the death metal of jazz

[boertush]

I'd prefer the term 'heavy brass' ;)

[63Brummie]

Don't blame Tony :-)

[1hipgig]

don't get me wrong, Tony W was an innovative drummer, mastered and invented the broken 8th note feel, but he was a banger, even as a kid with Miles he smashed the hell out of the drum...I like a little more finess...like Victor Lewis, Connie Kay, Grady Tate, Billy higgins etc.

Just my humble opinion.

[yulelovethebeats]

I'd like you to pick up the Herbie Hancock CD, THE QUINTET (1977), featuring Tony, Ron, Freddie and Wayne. Listen to the cut, LAWRA, and tell me if that changes your mind.

[1hipgig]

thanks for the listen...

[63Brummie]

I take your point but Tony's groove was electric...check him out on the earlier stuff with Jackie McClean..

Believe me none of the greats you mentioned are just one thing...

[nrobnas43]

I think Tony Williams drumming is the best ever. He's definately my favorite and I could listen to his drumming over and over. Chad Wackerman is another one of my favs.

[freddylebanon]

Damn all the best guys are dead but the standard they set is Diamond...

[hallmanjon]

They aren't all gone. Wayne Shorter, Sonny Rollins, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock and quite a few others are still around.

[ilikememusic]

Ron carter too. just saw him a few weeks ago

[freddylebanon]

Actually you're right there are quite a few left.Unfortunately lots vanished before i was even born.Would have loved to check it live.Oh for a time machine..1945 here i come

[johnpaton1989]

Anyone notice how Joe quotes "In 'n Out" on his first solo of trading with Hubbard?

[ssminopoopy]

What a joy to see the delight each musician got from each other. And that Tony Williams (RIP) God, could he ever drive a band!

[alexbluev]

Not sure.....but Freddie may or may not have played a flugelhorn before...

Friggin' A, man! Incredible stuff. And don't get me started on Joe Hen....this is just ridiculous.

[FIBONICITY]

Best bebop of Joe an Freddie I've heard

[Whatisthescore]

these`guys`suck`where's`the`te­chnique?``who`the`fuck`do`thes­e`idiots`think`they`are?

[Pickpocket86]

FUCK YOU.......... WhO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? YOU are A STUPID TWAT..... GO FIND A NEW HOBBY LIKE SUCKING BALLS

[Whatisthescore]

I was kidding.

[freein2339]

Tony Willliams....Tony Williams...

[otnas01]

Whooeeee someone please give me a glass of cold water!

[vnizzle13]

joe nd freddie such a nasty combo fuck this whole quintet is fuckin amazing

[TV3020001]

I don't know about Tony but I wish the cameraman and audio engineer had overplayed on this one :)

[ehardi]

As hard as it is to believe even the "greats" can be prone to grandstanding ie: hogging the spotlight at the expense of others. Tony was indeed a "great" and, as a youngster, he was unequaled...absolutley untouchable. Later,however, i think he was prone to grandstanding, although still playing his ass off.I witnessed this more than once in concert during the early 90s and came away disappointed.Nuff said.

[dandiacal]

This is Freddie at his peak. Listen to the fluidity of line, the tuneful phrasing, blues roots, energy.

[Jazzanswer]

The first recording of "Birdlike" to my knowledge is the one on the Blue Note recording "Ready for Freddie" - 1961. In my opinion this line is Hubbard's tribute to Charlie Parker. The melody is very influenced by the lines of Charlie Parker.

This makes more sense to me than the idea that the line was a tribute to Donald Byrd. Of course, this could easily be resolved by asking Freddie Hubbard.

[futboler454]

where's herbie on a night like this?

[ehardi]

Tony's overplaying and there is probably some medication involved here.

[GalacticWolf]

I disagree. Tonys just on fire.

[druman44]

I love that jealous excuse for not likening a perfomance, hes "over playing" while this can be true, (usually with younger talent) it funy when i see it stated in regard to the greats, even guys like buddy rich who i guess always overplayed then. dude i laugh, its like saying to a Picasso or Leonardo da vincii that they OVER PAINT, or over panted that...its a fucking joke. get off that medication ehardi.

[SpencerMA89]

hahaha soooooooo true druman

[kriskors]

@druman44 He's over playing. Just because he's one of the "greats" doesn't mean he is great all the time.

They're all human...

[TheHardCore89]

@ehardi man he just gives the right improvisation to a great jazz groove; it's normal to these guys...

[nycbassist]

Just to add a maybe snobbish note of clarity. The song is titled "Byrd Like" and is in reference to trumpeter Donald Byrd.

[dec10]

Freddie himself says in another recording of this tune on youtube (the audio only one) that it's written for Charlie Parker.

[nycbassist]

Hmm...maybe you're right. Originally I thought it was written for "Bird" too, but the spelling was Byrdlike, and had (admittedly heard from other jazz musicians I play with, that it was written for Donald Byrd. Anyway, there's no reason it can't be for both of them. Peace.

[jonnyboy747]

i love ya freddie you make it look so effortless cus you da man!

[jasonpchesney]

Imagine how terrifying and exciting it must of been to  play with Tony Williams! His groove is relentless and so on top of the beat! It never drops! Great clip, phenomenal line-up! Thanks for sharing!

[derricksax]

joe henderson was the sickest of the sick...the tits of the balls....the SHIT!

[SebCo77]

Great!

On some records, the tune is named "Byrdlike", maybe as a tribute to trumpet player Donald Byrd.

[gutossa]

uauuuuuuuuuu !! tony is the must !! never more we will have somebody as it....now he play for God...and jam with Elvin and Miles, Coltrane...

[claryscat]

Freddie 'n Joe pumpin' the licks out. You don't see Ron Carter smiling that much... this was happnin' no doubt. Kenny, Tony, some sick stuff.

I was just laughing all the way through this.. Bird Lives!!

[zinwah]

nice to compare this with Freddie Hubbard's you tube clip 15+ years earlier. Both great, but maybe the more recent one is a little scrappier and less adventurous