Carla Bley *1936 +2023

[RichardB]

According to the liner notes, Julie Tippetts' contributions were recorded in November '73 at Island Studios, engineered by Frank Owen. The rest was recorded between September '73 and February '74 in New York. Hope that helps.

Her singing is the best thing about that album IMO, although Carla did give her fine material to work with.

[Tenor Freak]

Her singing is the best thing about that album IMO, although Carla did give her fine material to work with.

Agreed, though I do also like Gato's contributions too. Calling him "Unidentified Cat" is "Charlie 'Chan'"-level nonsense though I guess it had something to do with those pesky recording contracts.

[Jazzrook]

'A Genuine Tong Funeral' with Carla Bley, Gary Burton, Gato Barbieri, Steve Lacy, Mike Mantler, Jimmy Knepper, Howard Johnson, Larry Coryell, Steve Swallow & Bob Moses recorded 1966/67 -
"A Dark Opera Without Words"(Carla Bley)

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=xtxYKWTlcyY

JR

[Tenor Freak]

Thanks for the link Jazzrook.

[Serial_Apologist]

Perceptive tribute from Liam Noble - someone who, one feels, shares a few of the characteristics and quirks he detects in her music and its spirit:

http://www.londonjazznews.com/2023/10/18/carla-bley-a-tribute-by-liam-noble

[Ian Thumwood]

Good to hear the Carla Bley tribute on JRR including the wonderful track with Gary Valente from the "Live " album. Again, this disc was one of my introductions in to more contemporary jazz albeit I do feel that the "avant garde" tag is unfortunate. Maybe she did flirt with this as everyone else did in the late 60s and early 70s yet most of her post 90's work is firmly in the big band / swing tradition. Her quirkiness and originally set her apart yet i do not think anyone coming from listening to Count Basie's New Testament band would find Carla Bley's music more of a challenge. My Dad was a fan of her big band even if he did not care for artists like Miles Davis or John Coltrane. I think her music was really witty but also accessible too. Even the smaller groups with Paulo Frescu were packed with humour. She did not play post-bop and kept to her own distinct path with increasingly ran parallel to the mainstream. If you don't enjoy records like "Fleur Carnivore" or "Goes to church," I would question anyone's commitment to jazz. For my money, Carla Bley would be one of those artists you would introduce to people who had never listened to jazz and found it unaccessible. Her music was intelligent but she never ceased making the music fun to listen to.

[Tenor Freak]

Welcome back, Ian.

[Ian Thumwood]

Cheers, Bruce!