Best Non-Jazz by a Jazz Musician

[Elliot]

A companion to the "jazz by non-jazz musicians" thread:

Richard Davis' bass playing on Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" album;

Dannie Richmond's drum solo on the song "The Phoenix" on the Mark-Almond Band's "Rising" album;

Wayne Shorter on Steely Dan's "Aja."

[chuckyd4]

"Mr. Ron Carter on the bass.... a Mr. Ron Carter on the bass" - A Tribe Called Quest

[pollo loco]

Sarah Vaughan's "Lost Weekend" on Godley & Creme's three disc set, "Consequences."
pl

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

Igor Stravinsky's "Ebony Concerto" was done well by both Woody Herman (for whom it was written) and Benny Goodman.

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

And MJQ's Connie Kay is also on "Astral Weeks." So is Jay Berliner on guitar and, though he is perhaps not a jazz musician, he also appears on Mingus' "The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady."

[Douglas]

And Mr. Goodman again, this time Bartok's Contrastes. (At least in France, EMI have a disc out "Bartok joue Bartok" selling at mid-to-low price that is very good - Bartok playing a selection of his Mikrokosmos makes up the remainder of the disc)

nicenice...

[pollo loco]

What does that mean? Just what it says? And what does that say?
pl

[Deke]

'Witchi-ti-to' - Jim Pepper.

[Alastair]

Evan Parker and Steve Beresford on Vic Reeves' "I Will Cure You"

[kenny weir]

'Sfar as I'm concerned, Astral Weeks is a purebred 100% jazz album, and that includes Morrison's vocals. It amuses that this has got such a rep as a rock album with a few jazzers on board.

[JazzAt52ndStreet]

...fast forward a little bit.
Vinnie Colaiuta on the Megadeth revival cd....hahah, I can't wait, I just can't see it.

[JazzAt52ndStreet]

...OH, and how can i forget, Roy Hargroove w/ the RH Factor, Hard Groove.

[Elliot]

...and I forgot Branford Marsalis jamming with the Grateful Dead on "Eyes of the World" (on the Without a Net album).

[BuzzG]

I've always thought Sonny Rollins' solo on the Stones' "Waiting for a Friend" was a great piece of pop musicianship, catchy and hummable. Certainly the saving grace of that song.

[hermann]

I like this Ornette Coleman things, You know.

[Tom K]

Ronnie Scott on the Beatles' "Lady Madonna"?

[JiminHouston]

Earl Fatha Hines on Ry Cooder's PARADISE AND LUNCH

[BFrank]

McLaughlin on "Flame - Sky" on Santana's "Welcome".

Tony Williams on Ray Manzarek's "Golden Scarab" (Larry Carlton, too)

[Jesse]

Tristan Honsinger on The Pop Group's "We Are All Prostitutes".

Don Cherry with Rip Rig & Panic.

[Lois Gilbert]

Phil Woods on Billy Joel's NY State of Mind

[JamesShipp]

I'll get my foot in the door with Jimmy Smith on Michael Jackson's 'Bad.' He's in the credits as playing organ, (surely Quincy could've hooked that up) and I suspect he may actually be the soloist on the title track.

That said, this thread brings a lot of irritating but pertinent questions to mind-- do these have to be instances of 'jazz' musicians making cameos on non-jazz records? To my ear, Dave Douglas 'Witness' isn't, for the most part, jazz. Dave's obviously got jazz chops and a history of playing jazz... so does that count? How about Javon Jackson or Charlie Haden playing with Egberto Gismonti? What about guys like Cuong Vu, Chris Speed, Jim Black etc... For me, it's hard to say when these guys are and aren't playing 'jazz', and there are those out there who would contend they never HAVE played jazz, and I'm not sure I'd disagree.

[Il Anto]

Originally Posted by BuzzG

I've always thought Sonny Rollins' solo on the Stones' "Waiting for a Friend" was a great piece of pop musicianship, catchy and hummable. Certainly the saving grace of that song.

Sonny also played on the tracks "Slave" and "Neighbors" which are also on the album Tattoo You.

Also, I'd like to add David Murray playing with the Dead in December of 1993 at MSG. I have a bootleg of the show, very impressive.

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by Lois Gilbert

Phil Woods on Billy Joel's NY State of Mind

And Phil Woods on Steely Dan's "Doctor Wu."

And Victor Feldman anywhere.

[jaka]

Derek Bailey on David Sylvian's Blemish

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by Gentle Giant

And Victor Feldman anywhere.

Jason, I'm unfamiliar with Victor Feldman's non-jazz career. What does he appear on?

[Gentle Giant]

Originally Posted by Pete C

Jason, I'm unfamiliar with Victor Feldman's non-jazz career. What does he appear on?

I was mainly referring to his session work with Steely Dan, Joni Mitchell, and the Doobies, but searching a 500+ album discography, I see sessions for Marvin Gaye, BB King, the Four Tops, Tom Waits, the Beach Boys, and many more.

[Enforcer]

Wayne Shorter's soprano sax solo on Don Henley's End Of The Innocence.

[pollo loco]

Mulgrew Miller and Terrence Blanchard on Jubilant Sykes' "Jubilant" CD.
PL

[Sergio Zamora]

Originally Posted by JamesShipp

That said, this thread brings a lot of irritating but pertinent questions to mind-- do these have to be instances of 'jazz' musicians making cameos on non-jazz records? To my ear, Dave Douglas 'Witness' isn't, for the most part, jazz. Dave's obviously got jazz chops and a history of playing jazz... so does that count? How about Javon Jackson or Charlie Haden playing with Egberto Gismonti? What about guys like Cuong Vu, Chris Speed, Jim Black etc... For me, it's hard to say when these guys are and aren't playing 'jazz', and there are those out there who would contend they never HAVE played jazz, and I'm not sure I'd disagree.

Whether or not everyone concurs with those contentions is a whole other thread.