Lester Bowie's New York Hot Trumpet Quintet

Dennis Gonzalez · April-17th-2005, 09:38 PM

In Ben Ratliff's New York Times obituary for Lester Bowie, he says: "In the early 80's, he formed the New York Hot Trumpet Quintet, which briefly included Wynton Marsalis."

Does anybody know anything about the group? Did anybody see them perform? So many questions...but I'll let you all answer.

John L · April-17th-2005, 10:15 PM

Interesting.

I don't remember where I heard the following strory about Wynton Marsalis and Lester Bowie. On night, when Lester wasn't there, Wynton apparently picked up his trumpet, blew some lines, and put it down, remarking something like "I just wanted to make sure that it IS possible to really play it." When they told Lester later on the Wynton has played his horn, he took it and threw it out the window.

Mind you, I have no proof that this really happened. I just heard it or read it somewhere, and I don't remember where. But it does make for a great story.

I also heard that Marsalis has played with the Sun Ra Arkestra. Really?

Sergio Zamora · April-17th-2005, 10:31 PM

I'm guessing this group was a prototype or spin-off of the Brass Fantasy. I bet Marsalis woulda sounded good in a setting like that.

Brian L · April-18th-2005, 12:21 AM

I remember reading an article that talked about this group some years back, but I don't remember where it was published. It might have been an article about Malachi Thompson.

I found some promo material for one of Thompson's Delmark albums that said he, Olu Dara, and Stanton Davis were the members of the group, along with Lester and Wynton.

Gary Sisco · April-18th-2005, 07:57 AM

That's an apocryphal story, right there. It's a rip off from Clint Eastwood's (not very good) movieland version of Charlie Parker in "Bird," where "Parker" plays a guy's tenor who used to be a jazz guy who mocked Bird in the movie, but then goes R&B with some single-note barwalking.

Brian Olewnick · April-18th-2005, 08:22 AM

Before Brass Fantasy existed, Malachi Thompson ran a multiple trumpet group, maybe beginning around 1978, presumably inspired by WSQ. I saw them a couple of times but I think there was always a rhythm section involved (no piano, though, iirc). I recall hearing later on that Marsalis sat in with both Thompson's and Bowie's groups.

Steve Reynolds · April-18th-2005, 08:23 AM

there is a true story about Roy Eldridge listening live to Lester Bowie, loving it, then joining him on stage

wonder if the pompous one ever heard that story

Clay Fink · April-18th-2005, 08:52 AM

I saw them about '83 or so. It was sort of a proto-Brass Fantasy with Bowie, Olu Dara, Stanton Davis, Malichi Thompson and Bruce Purse (who replaced Winnie, I think). I enjoyed the performance, though 4 trumpets + cornet is a tough combination to pull off. Either way, being in the same room with Lester was always a pleasure.

BTW, where is Stanton Davis these days. He was a hell-of-a trumpet player.

Brian Olewnick · April-18th-2005, 09:02 AM

Yeah, Davis was one of the high points of some of George Russell's bands back then. I remember wondering at the time why he didn't have a higher profile on his own.

mtaylorjazz · April-18th-2005, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clay Fink

I saw them about '83 or so. It was sort of a proto-Brass Fantasy with Bowie, Olu Dara, Stanton Davis, Malichi Thompson and Bruce Purse (who replaced Winnie, I think). I enjoyed the performance, though 4 trumpets + cornet is a tough combination to pull off. Either way, being in the same room with Lester was always a pleasure.

BTW, where is Stanton Davis these days. He was a hell-of-a trumpet player.

Stanton is working for Local 802 (Musician's Union - at least he was last time I saw him) and still playing. Every so often we run into each other on a brass quintet gig or sumthin'. He still is a hell-of-a-trumpet player!

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