Apropos of that post on
the Great American Music Band, I just saw that bassist
Buell Neidlinger has died after 82 years of a life well lived.
This fantastic tribute by Richard Williams has only deepened my awe at the breadth of his work: Neidlinger not only played with both Monk
and Ornette at the Five Spot, but also on little ditties like, oh, "Hotel California" and, um, "Y.M.C.A." (according to
jazztimes, anyway). Not to mention three small gigs with our resident hero, who was trying something new on an off-night during at the height of his powers. I can only begin to guess at the conversations backstage. Just incredible.
OK, back-to-back RIP posts means it's time for me get cracking. Some stuff is in the works.
[edit, Sept '18: I came across this 1975 album cover with Buell Neidlinger pictured on the far right and couldn't resist adding it here. An oft-repeated accolade is that Neidlinger was evidently Stravinsky's favorite bass player. Beat that.]
whoa, this 1983 interview is definitely worth a look:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.itinerariesofahummingbird.com/buell-neidlinger.html
"Some people say, 'Okay, well if you’re so fucking violent, then why Buellgrass, why play with Jerry Garcia and Richard Greene?' I have to tell them: Well, this is my way of trying to be able to play music. Because the opportunities to go out and blow your head off on a saxophone or a bass or a drum, and express yourself absolutely freely, are not forthcoming. No one’s interested in that. Very few people can get away with that stuff."
"I don’t always get to play jazz and I’m thankful I’ve played all the bullshit I’ve played, the Merle Haggard dates, the Bob Dylan dates. I’ve played with all these people, because that’s what we do here: we make records. We overdub. We save careers. And I’ve done it one note at a time...."
Yow! Not many interviews are as juiced as that one. His put-downs are as brutal as his compliments are sublime. Thanks!
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