Down Beat October 19 1967
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SOUND PERFECTION... JOE MORELLOI LUDWIG! As in his playing, many times jazz poll ^'?j winner Joe Morello insists on perfection in his drums! That’s why Joe insists on Ludwig! Only Ludwig1 drums provide him with the exceptional tone, response and durability required for his great performances. For over 10 years, Joe has played and travelled with the Dave Brubeck Quartet ... a rigorous and demanding career which has earned Joe the wide acclaim he deserves. And, wherever you see and hear Joe play, you'll be witnessing the finest drummer playing the finest drums . Ludwig! experience/imagination/craftsmanship October 19, 1967 Vol. 34, No. 21 ONCE MORE FROM THE 1 DAN MORGENSTERN WEST down ' • BILL QUINN COAST IRA GITLER LEONARD FEATHER beat BARBARA GARDNER HARVEY SIDERS THE BIWEEKLY MUSIC MAGAZINE On Newsstands Throughout the World MARTIN GALL AY Every Other Thursday READERS IN 142 COUNTRIES GLORIA BALDWIN contents 6 Chords and Discords 13 News 16 The Natural: A Conversation with Erroll Garner: After years at the top, the famous pianist is seeking additional outlets for his musical ideas. By V/V6-8671 Harvey Siders Along comes California’s vibist-in- 19 Body & Soul: The Total Experience of Denny Zeitlin: Pianist Zeitlin achieves residence with some choice new Latin cooking, seasoned with Soul. a harmonious balance of mind and emotion, resulting in the “Now” sound. By Steve Toomajian 21 Cheers for Shearing: The resurgence of spirit and drive he shows in his Bolakete playing makes George Shearing seem ageless. By Harry Frost __ atthe 23 Down Patti: A Profile of Patti Bown: In the midst of a music world dominated Monterey by men, Miss Bown is recognized as an equal. By Helen Dance Festival 26 Caught in the Act: Barry Harris • John Malachi • Stan Kenton • Arrang¬ ers’ Holiday 1967 • Coltrane Memorial 30 Record Reviews 35 Rock ’n’ Pop, by John Gabree 38 Blindfold Test: Clare Fischer 45 READERS POLL BALLOT It happened in Monterey: the first 48 Strictly Ad Lib album to capture the full impact of Brazil's most gifted guitarist. V/V6-5027 Exciting new group on the San Francisco scene comes up like thunder from Sausalito 'cross the j 4 □ DOWN BEAT Gibson, the workingman's guitar. Gabor Szabo & Gibson at work for Impulse Records. When you talk about jazz piano, you must mention education in jazz A Forum For Readers -by Dave Brubeck Nothing short of amazing is the Poll Corrections way the Berklee School of Music As a long-time fan and ardent admirer equips its students to achieve suc¬ of the Saints and Sinners, I was disap¬ cess and security in the competitive pointed that they were not listed in the music field. Even the short space be¬ TDWR section of the International Critics’ tween recent visits to Berklee, I’ve Poll. seen startling improvements in in¬ They did receive the required 10 votes dividual students . natural talent in that category, and a listing therein might harnessed into vital creative musi¬ have helped in gaining the recognition that cianship. Every effort is made to they do, indeed, deserve. make the most of H. M. Townley their inborn gifts. Toronto, Canada On one occa¬ sion. I gave Berk¬ There is a mistake in the tabulation for lee students some the Critics’ Poll: votes for the Gustav of my material; Brom Band (Doruzka [31; Heckmann [2]; their sight read¬ Vogel [3]; Waschko [2]) total 10 points. ing and interpre¬ Why was Gustav Brom not included in tation of it was the tabulation? Please correct this. equal to that of Eric T. Vogel any professional New York City musicians I have Mrs. Townley and Vogel are correct. seen. Especially Our computer regrets the oversights. gratilying to me is that with all the freshness and spontaneity of their improvising, their understanding of The Truth About Skokie melodic and harmonic principles is In John Gabree’s article Conversation consistently in evidence. with Lenny (DB, Sept. 7) he begins . Another important thing — the “My friend Lenny from Skokie dropped personalized faculty-student rela¬ over Saturday night . .”. Please ask him tionship is completely unique, end¬ who his friend Lenny is. Having resided in lessly rewarding. It’s great to see Skokie for almost eight years, I have yet students free of the usual formality to know anyone who at the mere mention of classrooms, exchanging ideas of “Bird” or “Trane” will not think of a freely with their teachers. That’s little feathery creature with wings or the very exciting. Skokie Swift. You can hardly buy a Down Berklee graduates that I’ve met Beat out here. have the common three vital quali¬ Sandra Levy ties: mastery of the techniques of Skokie, Ill. jazz . complete command of their instrument . the ability to create Don’t Stuff and thereby contribute to the future The 32nd Annual Readers’ Poll has of jazz. begun, and I would like to make a request No wonder Berklee students that . people please do not stuff the have such an outstanding career rec¬ ballot boxes for their favorites. ord. I just wish there were more I, and I’m sure many others, want to schools like it to fill the considerable know how the readers really feel about need certain jazz musicians, and how (their views) differ from the Critics’ Poll. Alvin Joseph Los Angeles BERKLEE School of Music Dept. D 1140 Boylston St., Boston, Mass. 02215 Tell It Like It Is Enjoyed Dan Morgenstern’s words on Bessie Smith in your recent Critics’ Poll issue. We should all be pleased that she finally made it after a scant 30 years. (Freedom Now! Can’t happen overnight. Mustn’t rush things.) Sadder and wiser, I now have every¬ one’s number and realize most of the polled critics are the true mouldy fyggs— for (since labels are still stylish) it should be noted, and I gladly note it here, that the music of Louis Armstrong is as “avante” and “moderne” as possible. and, of course, Are the ears of most of them there COLUMBIA RECORDS® critics plugged with wax—are their brains locked with fyggs!?! Surely hope it’s not where great jazz lives too late to apply the remedy of dear old on and on. Swiss Kriss as played on the Selmer trum- □ DOWN BEAT AMPLITONE Groovy new Amplitone brings you real In-Sound. It's a guitar headphone with built-in solid state amplifier. So easy to use. Put the Amplitone on, plug it in any electric guitar and play. Amplifies the sound you want —for you and you f> jf alone. Gives you completely private listening so you can swing anytime. And because it’s battery operated you're free to play indoors or out —at home, the studio, on top of a mountain or on the beach. Or turn the Amplitone switch to off and use it as a regular headphone with tape recorders and hi-fi systems. Try Amplitone at better music stores. Monaural AMPLITONE I Stereo AMPLITONE II FI FYacoustics Carrying caddy extra lift, pet by the King of Jazz—Louis Armstrong! If those who listen can’t hear that Louis’ swing is in, out of, and beyond polls . I guess I’ll accept the truism that the critics I refer to are tuned in to something ACE TONE else—on a lesser channel. I can’t be smug while I thank my lucky star that there is a King Louis Armstrong, here and now, for all of us. He is feeling just great and de¬ livering the most righteous message going. If you dig the Ayler and the Sun Ra—- guess that’s your red wagon. But do there have to be so many of these wagons drag¬ ging along? Long live Pops—the best friend jazz music ever had. Roni Failows New York City The Great Debate Continues On the basis of his weighty, sweeping pronunciations of drivel and inaccuracy, I hereby nominate Robert Rosenblum (Chords, DB, Sept. 7) for the post of Reactionary Laureate. The quote from the article on rock merely expresses bassist Steve Swallow’s observation of the scene, but Rosenblum uses it as a springboard to launch an at¬ tempt at mockery. Rosenblum seems unaware that Swallow is a jazz bassist, not a big, bad rock-and-roller. Who told Rosenblum that a rock fan desires nothing more than volume and a big beat? I’m a rock fan, and I desire much more, and from the better groups I get it. (Incidentally, as a jazz fan I desire more than suspended rhythm and mysti- Ace Tone Top-5 Fully Transistorized Electronic Organ n, but that’s another story.) Apparently, Rocking performer at a rock bottom price, the Ace Rosenblum is put off by the volume and Tone Top-5 at $385 (B) is really irresistible. Plug into hysteria which are a commercial fringe, a any amplifier, and it puts out the grooviest rock, blues selling point of much rock. But thumbs and pop sounds around. Guaranteed to out-look, out- down on excessive volume? Let’s see—that eliminates Stan Kenton, Johnny Richards, Woody Herman, Dizzy’s 1947 band. 4 lbs.,s., it’ssrealljTpo^l^o real I ™*65 Se"Se' The responsibility of a critic, Rosenblum 't wait. See it to the contrary, is not to uphold and raise values of jazz—that’s the musicians’ :s special bass . The critic’s responsibility is to get his storized organs! ) cents in at the right moment so he can itinue to pose as an authority. The only ent jazz criticism is reporting; the only dligent critics are the journalists.