The Great Bassist from Indiana, who more times than not was the steady bass player for Sonny Rollins. Cranshaw had been battling a series of challenging ailments. but it’s believed that he succumbed to his battle with Cancer. Cranshaw, IMHO, was one of the top five bassists in modern jazz history. My first experience hearing Bob Cranshaw was on the Blue Note Records classic by Lee Morgan, The Sidewinder, One of of the most commercially successful record ever recorded in Jazz. (1964)
The title track Sidewinder was the very last song added to complete the album, according to Cranshaw. Lee came up with the melody while on break from the session, Lee then asked Bob to come up with a pick-up line .The now famous bass-line pickup to begin the groove is talked about in detail via an interview from a documentary on Blue Note Records.
One other note at some point as he got older, Cranshaw chose not to play the upright Bass, which seemed awkward at first since he was performing with the great Sonny Rollins for decades. I have seen many concerts with Sonny Rollins over my lifetime, with most of those “gigs” with Cranshaw on Electric Bass, by closing your eyes one could hardly tell the difference.
We in the jazz community will sorely miss Bob Cranshaw out there, bringing smiles to our faces as he practiced his craft for over 7 decades . Rest in Loving Peace Bob & Join the Jam session in the sky where all the greats go.
KINGSTON CAFE Upscale Jamaican Cuisine restaurant featuring all of your favorite entrees, along with a fully-stocked Bar for your pleasure and delight .
2015 is proving to be a very special year for both talents as The Dale Fielder Quartet is celebrating 20 years as a group, virtually unheard of in today’s music business. Robert co-founded a jazz newsletter 17 years ago (The Hipster) as part of the Atlanta International Jazz Society, thats grown into a full-blown music Blog dedicated to classic Jazz, Blues and Soul music makers and their roots/history.
Both Leos, Dale Fielder & Robert Carmack are longtime friends and artists in constant creative mode. Fielder is set to record his 16th CD; “RESILIENCE.” A release date has not been set yet.
Carmack has penned another unique musical revue set in the 1950s and 60s Los Angeles, weaving a story around the music scene in L.A. while paying Homage to the music of, Nellie Lutcher, Ray Charles, Etta James, Bobby Blue Bland and Sarah Vaughn to name a few.
“CHITLIN’ CIRCUIT” written,directed and produced by Carmack, is debuting a Sneak Preview in late June 2015, as part of Black Music month (www.hipstersanctuary.com) production. “I met Dale while hanging out at a very popular coffeehouse in the 90s, 5th Street Dick’s in Leimert Park, said Carmack. It was in early 1993 as the area was trying to get back on track after the L.A. riot in 1992. an entire community of artist all came together inside a small area called Leimert Park (Village) groups of small business people, often marketing Afro centric wares, and crafts. One was a former homeless person living on the streets of downtown Los Angeles, who parlayed his 12 step-recovery and saved enough money to open a Jazz coffee-house. That owner gave Dale Fielder a spot hosting the jam sessions at midnight every weekend, while jazz flowed downstairs and out into 43rd and Degnan sidewalks. People came and came and came including the media cameras, movie celebrities and all the best young cats in jazz to jam and people watch.
This all coincided with what was happening with the Wynton Marsalis crowd, created an upsurge in Jazz spots in LA once again, because of three spots, Marla’s Memory lane, 5th Street Dick’s and Billy Higgins, master jazz drummer & Kamau Daaood developed the World Stage. A performance /workshop for musicians, poets and writers. Dale Fielder was at the forefront of all that. He went on to win the Jazz Discovery artist at TV network, BET in 1995/96. By then, he’d already produced three very solid CDs, including “Dear Sir” a moving tribute to Wayne Shorter’s music and was getting wide rotation and coverage on radio across the country. Fielder even had the blessings of Wayne Shorter himself as Dale performed songs from the newly released CD with the maestro himself in the house staying late and digging on the young saxophonist peppering solos.
Dale has been all around the world practically with the Quartet, sometimes Quintet. After 20 years, the passion has only gotten stronger with Dale, and his historic band, Pianist Jane Getz, Drummer Thomas White and Bassist, Bill “The Count” Markus. This band just knows how to squeeze every drop of soul, power, passion and sometimes romance out of the notes. The stories they tell through their instruments are like classic volumes in your personal library.
Don’t miss out on celebrating 20 years of fun-filled excitement and adventure with Dale Fielder as leader of the DFQ.
Save the date and RSVP for April 18th 7pm to 9pm @ The Kingston Café Pasadena California
333 South Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105
For questions about show or tickets *** contact Moon Glow Productions Marcia (626) 818-3160
IT never “Rains” in Southern California is not true, its just a matter of what type rain..as I laugh out loud. I went into Leimert Village on Saturday, Feb. 7 to catch a special show at the small, but mighty World Stage in Leimert Park Village. Yes, the same one founded by Billy Higgins and Poet Kamau Daaood over 20 years ago. Tonight , I was invited out by drummer/percussionist Don Littleton who was fronting a TRio of sort “without Piano” just drums/percussions, woodwinds and Bass Violin. what an Order! a quick peek at The personnel told me not to miss it. Though its been over 30 years since I lived in Leimert Park, I still enjoy driving back out from the Inland empire area to “GET MY REAL JAZZ FIX”. DON had assembled an eclectic trio of master Jazz musicians . including Don himself, Bassist John B. Williams, who many of you may remember in the early days at the Lighthouse Jazz Club with The Horace Silver Quintet, and fans of the Arsenio Hall first show in the 80s. He was Bass player /Poet in the “POSSE” Band led by Michael Wolff. Mentors and teachers like Ron Carter, no wonder John is one the premier bassist on a “first call status.” Muti-Reed man Pablo Calogero was the glue on saturday night as he weaved his way through Jazz Pioneer’s compositions without piano, with him carrying the onus of melody and creating new melodies off the harmonics of the original. MONK, DUKE ELLINGTON, Coltrane, just to name a few. The “Entree” was the mastery of improv. One of the tunes that stood out for me was a “call and response” ditty by Ellington re-spunned by the Trio.
(hear original Angelica by Ellington/Coltrane by clicking on link)
This group was able to get up under the skin and find your soul to connect with you in the audience. No fluff or gimmicks, just pure Jazz, soul , passion and experience took us on a 90 minute journey. I was particular amazed at the woodwind player, Pablo Calogero, who played masterfully on Saxes,Flute and a rare appearance of the infamous BASS Clarinet..a monster on any set.
John B. made it easy for us in the audience to complete the picture that was being painted by the group all evening. I love it when I don’t have to deal with musicians just “faxing it in” just because the ideal environment is not there. all of the musicians were true professionals on an obvious slow night at the door.. it did not bother their creativity one bit. (www.johnbwilliams.com)
Bass Clarinet & Soprano sax with Cajons(slap Drums)
Charles Edward Haden was a Jazz bassist. He’s best known for his long association with saxophonist , Ornette Coleman, pianist Keith Jarrett, and his Liberation Music Orchestra. This group was co-led with pianist Carla Bley. born-August 6 1937 ** died-July 11 2014.
