Saxophone-bass duets

BlueMiles · January-17th-2004, 01:55 PM

Just wanted to start up a little discussion on this.

I have long thought that the bass is the essential rhythmic backing in jazz. If you're going to have one instrument behind you, make it the bass (others might well vote for piano or guitar). I can think of quite a few cases of guitar/bass duets--such as Hall and Carter, Burrell and Reid, Metheny and Haden. Also the piano/bass duet is not so rare. But I have not heard much of sax/bass, especially through the course of a whole album.

I recently picked up one of those mellow "32 jazz" collections, and perhaps the outstanding track is a superb reading of "Blue Seven" by Houston Person and Ron Carter. I know that they have an entire album of duets, though it's probably not easy to find. One album I do have in the sax/bass format is, to my mind, a true classic--"Soapsuds, Soapsuds" by Ornette and C. Haden.

One advantage of this setting is the intimacy. I am not much of a fan of solo albums or songs, regardless of the instrument. I feel it's almost mandatory to have the interaction of at least two players.

Anyway, thoughts and recommendations on duets--but especially sax/bass duets--are welcomed.

chuckyd4 · January-17th-2004, 02:02 PM

The one I always add to these threads (I think we've seen this one before) is the Steve Coleman/Dave Holland disc on DIW (?) called Phase Space . I don't know if it's still available but it's consistently engaging and exciting.

BlueMiles · January-17th-2004, 02:11 PM

Really? I've never heard of a Steve Coleman / Dave Holland duo album. I know of, and even heard a couple of times, "Triplicate" with DeJohnette added for the trio.

Holland would certainly be a wothy player for the duo setting.

Sergio Zamora · January-17th-2004, 02:43 PM

I'll second Oakland Duets. I have the Coleman/Holland, but don't remember being particularly excited about it. I'll have to give it another listen

The McPhee/Duvall one was pretty good, and Moondoc/Parker "New World Pygmies" is great.

Pete C · January-17th-2004, 03:07 PM

The Sam Rivers & Dave Holland duos on IAI are excellent.

The Fred Anderson & Harrison Bankhead duo was one of the highlights of the last Vision Festival.

Alto sax + 2 basses & cello: Charles Tyler - Eastern Man Alone

stonemonkts · January-17th-2004, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pete C
The Sam Rivers & Dave Holland duos on IAI are excellent.

You beat me to it. I second this recommendation.

I also love Soapsuds, Soapsuds.

Someday I hope to see Joe Lovano record a duo with Dave Holland.

Dick Trickle · January-17th-2004, 03:16 PM

My classic favorite was the Slam Stewart and Don Bias stuff. I know, really old, but very fun to hear.

Pete C · January-17th-2004, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dick Trickle
My classic favorite was the Slam Stewart and Don Bias stuff. I know, really old, but very fun to hear.

I think you're byased.

Jason Bivins · January-17th-2004, 05:18 PM

John Butcher/John Edwards - Optic

and multiple Evan Parker/Barry Guy records (and Gustafsson/Guy) spring to mind.

D.D. · January-17th-2004, 10:31 PM

Two excellent bass-sax duos:

Anthony Braxton - John Lindberg "Six Duets (1982)" on Cecma label

Hannes Wienert - Peter Niklaus Wilson "Alphea" on Leo records (LINK ) - this one is particularly charming and original

relyles · January-17th-2004, 11:30 PM

Warne Marsh and Red Mitchell recorded a couple of duets together.

Dan G · January-18th-2004, 12:57 AM

Lee Konitz and Red Mitchell did an album for Steeplechase called "I Concentrate on You" that is pretty nice.

And I'll second the recommendation for Braxton/Lindberg mentioned above - it's a good one, but unfortunately not easy to find these days.

The Parker/Guy duos are also great - "Birds and Blades" from last year is as good as anything they've done.

Simon H. Fell has made a couple of good duet records with sax players Charles Wharf and Graham Halliwell.

If we can also nominate clarinet rather than sax (since cello/bass was mentioned), I've always loved the Dolphy/Davis version of Come Sunday on "Iron Man". And there's a really good album of Vinny Golia on clarinets with Joelle Leandre and Ken Filiano on basses called "haunting the spirits inside them"

Squaredancecalling Steve · January-18th-2004, 03:09 AM

Big thumbs up for the aforementioned "Soapsuds Soapsuds" and Braxton/Lindberg.

I also like the Braxton/ Mario Pavone "D-U-E-T-S" album.

And Paul Bley's "Time Will Tell" features a couple of fine Evan Parker/ Barre Phillips duets.

Tom Storer · January-18th-2004, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BlueMiles
I recently picked up one of those mellow "32 jazz" collections, and perhaps the outstanding track is a superb reading of "Blue Seven" by Houston Person and Ron Carter. I know that they have an entire album of duets, though it's probably not easy to find.

Actually they had two albums on Muse, released later as a double CD called "The Complete Muse Sessions." Amazon lists it as out of stock, but they released a third duo album in 2002 called "Dialogues" on High Note, and that's available on Amazon. I have that one, and except for the sound being a little too plummy and reverbed, it's a good one.

BlueMiles · January-18th-2004, 10:09 PM

I see a lot of the duets are done by avant garde artists. Nothing wrong with that, though I don't go this route a whole lot. Also, such stuff is also a little harder to find. Some intriguing things out there.

I seem to recall that the Konitz-Haden-Meldau albums (Alone Together and Another Shade of Blue) were first conceived as Konitz-Haden duets. It would actually be interesting to hear that.

Seems like the duo format (other than some tenor-piano numbers) is one of the few Joe Lovano has not really explored. Something for him to investigate, I think.

Bill Barton · January-18th-2004, 11:54 PM

It's probably going to be next to impossible to find, but an album I have always loved is the 1978 Jane Ira Bloom/Kent McLagan duo We Are on Outline Records. There's a version of "Chelsea Bridge" on this one that's for the ages.

Nick · January-19th-2004, 02:14 AM

Ken Vandermark and Brian Dibblee did a nice duet album that is available for free download here http://www.futureref.com/vandermark_dibblee.htm Vandermark sticks to bass clarinet though.

DTMX · January-19th-2004, 07:35 AM

"Looking at Bird" by Archie Shepp & Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen.
Looking at Bird review on Allmusic.com.

HenryMc · January-19th-2004, 07:39 AM

One of the best - if you see it buy it - do yerself a favour!

HenryMc · January-19th-2004, 07:40 AM

Wow DTMX- Great Minds EH???

I have had this on LP since it came out - along with the Trouble in Mind and Goin'Home sets, they are some of the best Shepp recordings

DTMX · January-19th-2004, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HenryMc
Wow DTMX- Great Minds EH???

Great minds for sure but a bad memory (for me). Radio station WREK out of Atlanta plays "Billie's Bounce" from this recording quite often but everytime I hear it I can never remember who it is. I feel like that guy from Memento - everytime I hear this recording I think I'm hearing it for the first time. I've also heard a bass/sax version of "Law Years" but naturally I can't remember who did it. I think I need to buy a copy for myself (and then write a note to remind myself that I bought it).

Alastair · January-25th-2004, 08:10 PM

My two faves:

Peter Brotzmann/Bill Laswell - Low Life

Miroslav Vitous/Jan Garbarek - Atmos

shrugs · January-25th-2004, 11:11 PM

I've been waving a torch for the Shepp/NHOP date for sometime now and the praise always seems to fall on deaf ears. Glad to see two other people dig it.

Bill Barton · January-26th-2004, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shrugs
I've been waving a torch for the Shepp/NHOP date for sometime now and the praise always seems to fall on deaf ears. Glad to see two other people dig it.

Make it three other people.

Vince Kargatis · January-26th-2004, 05:28 PM

<unsurprising post>Tim Berne & Michael Formanek - Ornery People</unsurprising post>

stonemonkts · January-26th-2004, 05:37 PM

For whatever reason I'm especially drawn to piano- and trumpet-less ensembles with a tenor sax. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the ones with piano and/or trumpet, but there's something compelling about how a tenorist plays without them. I'm thinking mainly of sax/bass/drums trios (sorry about the somewhat off-topic reference).

Someone should start a thread about sax/bass/drum trios.

stevebop · January-26th-2004, 07:14 PM

On saxophonist Ron Blake's recent Mack Avenue CD, "Lest we Forget" there is a very nice duet with bassist Christian McBride on "You Must Believe in Spring."

Always Know,

Steve Schwartz

Jazz From Studio 4
Friday, 7p-12a
WGBH, 89.7FM, Boston
www.wgbh.org

Capt. W./TX. · January-28th-2004, 02:18 AM

If you get the Sam Rvers/Dave Holland duets on IAI, be sure to get both-they're excellent.

Rivers plays tenor on the first piece, soprano on the second, flute on the third and piano on the fourth.

Both sets, unfortunately, are becoming harder to find. I got one off the CyberMusicSurplus website last summer and the other from CROS; I paid half-price for one, full price for the other.

Neither Allegro or CyberMusicSurplus currently shows either title as being available. However, IAI's
website is still has them for sale.

January-28th-2004, 03:14 AM

Nuff said..........

Tanager · January-28th-2004, 08:34 AM

Damn you Dolan, you beat me to it...