I used to sit in the Vanguard in the late sixties , early seventies and listen to this band. So many great musicians! Sheer joy! And it's 2020 and I'm still listening!
I stumbled upon the Vanguard while visiting NYC in 2019 after my freshman year in music college. I saw the line and asked the doorman who's playing. He said "the house band", which of course means what used to be Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. I lined up, bought a ticket at the door and went in for the most mindblowing 1.5 hours of live jazz I've ever heard. On the drums, carrying on Mel Lewis' legacy, was Mr. John Riley, whose drum books I have studied well. Cheers!
What a reed section: Henderson, Dodgion, Richardson, Daniels, Adams. Almost unbelievable that these great cats all played in this band at one time. Fantastic.
@@rhythmfield I'm planning to apply for master's at the Sibelius Academy here in my native Finland. Mr. Riley sometimes comes in to give masterclasses there. The up-tempo exercises in "Beyond Bop Drumming" really give your coordination a boost :)
@@mikkovaltonen3564 good luck with your educational pursuits - and thank you, I will look for that up-tempo section and John’s “Beyond Bop” book, thank you!
Frank, that's what playing in any large ensemble should be like!!! One of the best big bands ever! Many of the players directly from the Basie school, with a bit of harmonic updating, was a very fresh new sound in it's day! Example when the brass come in after the sax soli and then the shout soli with the whole band, that just wasn't ever done previously to my knowledge.
We had to learn this song when I was in college. I played the 1st tenor chair. It was brutal. However, the good part is I met Jerome Richardson in Berkeley (his Mother use to live a few blocks from where I was staying). He even came over to where I had my quartet (in Oakland), and 'sat in'. Monster musician and nice guy!
5 years later and I’m in your exact same spot except that I’m on 1st alto. This is such a huge jump up in a difficulty for us as we were just playing the Kansa City Suite. I hope that I can make it through this. 🙏
Good memories of the Great Thad Jones. A very inspiring man. I had the luck to play in a big band workshop under his direction, Denmark, 1979. A top experience.
After years of being alone and not feeling like finding someone worthy… yesterday I had my first kiss with her and this was playing on my phone… Couldn’t be better. If you only knew how better things can be.
My jazz education was Thad, Billy Byers, Sammy Nestico etc thanks to a hip band prof! This band was "epitome" on so many levels, from the status of each performer in his own right to Thad's unsurpassed writing, Mel's groove and taste, etc. I was too young to see the band in its time, but I'm so lucky I got a chance to meet and talk with Thad after a Basie concert in 1985 after he returned to the US. Class gentleman and one of the top of the top composers in jazz. Thanks so much for posting this!
That is how to conduct a big band: feed the groove back to the musicians. What phenomenal talent in one family. Where would Jazz be without Hank, Elvin and to my mind, the most talented of that trinity, Thad. Anyone know if some of the other Jones siblings were pro musicians?
@SoxFanWilly The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (which was my favorite big band) featured a number of white musicians besides Mel Lewis, notably Pepper Adams, Bob Brookmeyer, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels and Jerry Dodgion, among others that I can't recall. It was an outstanding band and listening to these tracks brings me back to those Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. Man, that was music!
Most definitely! And I had the supreme pleasure to have had him perform on a song I composed called, "About Time" back in 1979. The album was called, "One For Bird" by Bishop Norman Williams (no relation). Anyway, I can remember the "date" as if it were yesterday. I was nervous as hell. I didn't want to play at all. Bishop said, "It's your song, you're going to solo". I'm glad I did:)
Respectfully from one trumpet player to another, who cares about the high notes ? This is not what this piece is about - Snooky Young lays down the standard for all lead players on this recording...simply sublime playing from the entire band!
Having the reed section stand twice for applause shows how much Thad Jones appreciated their clean crisp performance on one of the best written and hippest solis in large ensemble arranging. Considering the soprano player wrote the tune and Thad arranged it what else would you expect! Smooth and swingin all the way. One of the best recordings of it I have heard too.
2:44 GAWD!!! That left hand ascending chromatic scale Roland does right there! AND DOES IT IN OCTAVE!! Good Lord, that's a lightning fast wrist! . I'm a lifelong professional pianist - have been doing lots of jazz and classical - I've NEVER executed a riff like that! Not sure I ever could!
Recorded from a European tour in late 1969: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis (ldr), Jerry Dodgion (f, as), Jerome Richardson (as), Eddie Daniels, Joe Henderson (ts), Pepper Adams (bar), Danny Moore, Al Porcino, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young (t), Thad Jones (fh), Jimmy Knepper, Benny Powell, Julian Priester (tb), Bob Burgess (btb), Roland Hanna (p), Richard Davis (b), Mel Lewis (d)
I've heard many different "Jazz" groups and big bands and the Thad Jones Mel Lewis big band in 1976 and i must say it was one of the most profound musical experiences of my life especially the ensemble written parts left me nailed to the floor.
One of the greatest, most musical drummers who ever lived. Mel not only knew every nook and cranny of the charts he was playing (which he had memorized), he knew exactly what to play to complement the music in just the right way, phrasing with the band, finding the right colors and picking the right cymbal every step of the way. And MAAAANNN, what a shuffle! I never realized until recently how studying Mel has paid so many dividends in all of my playing, even in music that isn't jazz or big band related! I would say every young jazz drummer should check him out, but every drummer in general should, too!
I was lucky to be living in New York City in late 60s and early 70s and go to the Village Vanguard on Monday nights and listen to this fantastic band...God bless them RIP Thad,Mel....
Played this in HS jazz band, great tune. One of the best big bands ever, here. Incidentally, that's Bill Berry on 2nd trumpet. He later went on to lead the Monterey Jazz a Festival HS All Star bands throughout the 70s and 80s. I had the fortune of playing lead trumpet in the 1986 band. Great and hilarious guy.
Village Vanguard, the 1970s... the HOUSE band... saw these cats so many times I can't remember! KILLER KILLER KILLER! YA YA YA! Max Gordon, the proprietor- fellow Reed College Alum! THANKS!
Lars Olof Sjöström Thank you, Lars! Hello to you- one of my favorite people on the planet, Caroline Wingolf, lives in Göteborg, and works for Documix... she was my girlfriend in NYC in the 1970s- she's now a Grandmother- I'm still trying to come to terms with that! Happy New Year to You and Yours, Luke Sacher Praeses & Soapbox Productions Inc. VIVA BASIE... PS- are you also a Bebop lover? Here is my mother's first documentary film, about Joe Albany. Hope that you enjoy it: ruclips.net/video/fnufLQMb6To/видео.html&google_comment_id=z12yjjnjdln2vlavd23ue5yirqecdfcyv04&google_view_type#gpluscomments
Man this song is sick!!!! We're currently playing it in our high school jazz band and I'm 2nd alto saxophone and that soli is driving me crazy but I'm sure we're gonna nail it in April for competition.
Trente ans après, je pense encore que c'est le plus beau big Band et le plus grand arrangeur depuis l'avènement du jazz. Je ne me lasse jamais de réécouter tous les disques que je collectionne comme des bijoux. Merci Thad, Mel et le M.L.T.J. Big Band
Listening to this group as a teenager was truly a spiritual experience for me. I was in a trance one time after practicing my alto when I heard the sax soli (4:02)Thank God for Thad Jones - Mel Lewis et al. Truly All-Star all Hall of Famer Band! Tony B.
Big band swinging jazz is one of the few kinds of music that I just want to get up and dance to. These guys are a new discovery for me, and I’m so glad I got to hear this! I wish I could’ve lived in the time where I could go see them in person.
Mel Lewis was such a great drummer! And he was a lot nicer than Buddy Rich! LOL. Some drummers are brilliant musicians but lousy humans. Your grandfather was a class act all the way.
Richard Davis proving his endless versatility again, I came to this from Eric Dolphy and the Five Spot. He's so at home in such radically different sounds.
The opportunity to have been able to actually see this band playing live every time they were in Stockholm was great. They are simply the best. They are. And the arrangements and compositions is outstanding. I am so glad that youtube is here to bring them on again.
Mel is is the best drummer of his generation. I was a proffessional musician classical. But also played in jazz bands. In a league of his own. I appreciated his range, subtlty, dynamism.
Mar.28th: Happy birthday Jazz trumpeter-Composer-Bandleader Thaddeus Joseph "Thad" Jones (1923-1986) The Count Basie Orchestra, The Jazz Messengers. Thank you and God bless. RIP. Thanks for the upload, Bob Hardy. Blessings
life like this sure is sweet huh?
DRUSKI
Sure is
It definitely is.
It sureeeeee is HAHAHAHA
@@alecguijarro3882 🥂
I'm about to be blasting this in the whip and laughin like harlow
Like a fucking boss.
I did the same thing when I found this video
Jean Harlow?
I used to sit in the Vanguard in the late sixties , early seventies and listen to this band. So many great musicians! Sheer joy! And it's 2020 and I'm still listening!
I stumbled upon the Vanguard while visiting NYC in 2019 after my freshman year in music college.
I saw the line and asked the doorman who's playing. He said "the house band", which of course means what used to be Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra.
I lined up, bought a ticket at the door and went in for the most mindblowing 1.5 hours of live jazz I've ever heard.
On the drums, carrying on Mel Lewis' legacy, was Mr. John Riley, whose drum books I have studied well. Cheers!
What a reed section: Henderson, Dodgion, Richardson, Daniels, Adams. Almost unbelievable that these great cats all played in this band at one time. Fantastic.
@@mikkovaltonen3564 John Riley - great drummer & brilliant educator too - I enjoyed my one lesson w/ him, time for another one.
@@rhythmfield I'm planning to apply for master's at the Sibelius Academy here in my native Finland.
Mr. Riley sometimes comes in to give masterclasses there.
The up-tempo exercises in "Beyond Bop Drumming" really give your coordination a boost :)
@@mikkovaltonen3564 good luck with your educational pursuits - and thank you, I will look for that up-tempo section and John’s “Beyond Bop” book, thank you!
That's what playing piano in a large ensemble should sound like!
Franck you're the man yourself! I love Out a Day. Thanks for that album!
you tell it
SIR ROLAND of HANNA... THE VISCOUNT!
Frank, that's what playing in any large ensemble should be like!!! One of the best big bands ever! Many of the players directly from the Basie school, with a bit of harmonic updating, was a very fresh new sound in it's day! Example when the brass come in after the sax soli and then the shout soli with the whole band, that just wasn't ever done previously to my knowledge.
@@ttrumpetguy Tony, old friend, so many years later, we're all still marvelled at Thads genius. Hope you're well!
We had to learn this song when I was in college. I played the 1st tenor chair. It was brutal. However, the good part is I met Jerome Richardson in Berkeley (his Mother use to live a few blocks from where I was staying). He even came over to where I had my quartet (in Oakland), and 'sat in'. Monster musician and nice guy!
Pepper Williams that would be what I call "an honor"
It was! And he was such a nice guy.
5 years later and I’m in your exact same spot except that I’m on 1st alto. This is such a huge jump up in a difficulty for us as we were just playing the Kansa City Suite. I hope that I can make it through this. 🙏
Man, Roland Hanna kills it so hard. Also, HUGE props to the bassist..I've never seen anyone do that.
Richard Davis
This is a classic piece...every big band music player should try it. you will never forget it.
Good memories of the Great Thad Jones. A very inspiring man. I had the luck to play in a big band workshop under his direction, Denmark, 1979. A top experience.
After years of being alone and not feeling like finding someone worthy… yesterday I had my first kiss with her and this was playing on my phone…
Couldn’t be better.
If you only knew how better things can be.
Such a nice thought... thank you.
These guys are so chill. I love it!
My jazz education was Thad, Billy Byers, Sammy Nestico etc thanks to a hip band prof! This band was "epitome" on so many levels, from the status of each performer in his own right to Thad's unsurpassed writing, Mel's groove and taste, etc. I was too young to see the band in its time, but I'm so lucky I got a chance to meet and talk with Thad after a Basie concert in 1985 after he returned to the US. Class gentleman and one of the top of the top composers in jazz. Thanks so much for posting this!
druski and jack sent me here
Such a pleasure TJ!
That is how to conduct a big band: feed the groove back to the musicians.
What phenomenal talent in one family. Where would Jazz be without Hank, Elvin and to my mind, the most talented of that trinity, Thad.
Anyone know if some of the other Jones siblings were pro musicians?
NO Band ever swung better!!!!!
@SoxFanWilly The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (which was my favorite big band) featured a number of white musicians besides Mel Lewis, notably Pepper Adams, Bob Brookmeyer, Joe Farrell, Eddie Daniels and Jerry Dodgion, among others that I can't recall. It was an outstanding band and listening to these tracks brings me back to those Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. Man, that was music!
Life without social media
Disgusting
Rolland Hanna is ridiculous
+Ryan Griffiths (“The Geepers' FGS”) Who ? hhh :D
Your comment is. And your spelllling of his name as welll.
Ryan Griffiths I know right!! I’m trying to to transcribe his solo
DAT PNO INTRO
SIR ROLAND of HANNA! YAH YAH YAHWEH
life like this sure is sweet huh?
It definitely is
@bobjazz11 Just one thing, how were these things recorded, in a way that you could put them on youtube as video?
Mr. Pepper Adams can be seen here ;)
Great sound!
A lot of Basie guys in this ensemble
The song sounds like a tribute to Basie
that moment between the bassist and the composer from 5:55 - 7:00
Richard Davis I rest my case
Who is the pianist? That pianist gets down like no one else!
Roland Hanna
Was that pepper Adams?
+Kyle Gulick Sure was
Most definitely! And I had the supreme pleasure to have had him perform on a song I composed called, "About Time" back in 1979. The album was called, "One For Bird" by Bishop Norman Williams (no relation). Anyway, I can remember the "date" as if it were yesterday. I was nervous as hell. I didn't want to play at all. Bishop said, "It's your song, you're going to solo". I'm glad I did:)
Welcome to Chinatown....Thanks NYPD
Respectfully from one trumpet player to another, who cares about the high notes ? This is not what this piece is about - Snooky Young lays down the standard for all lead players on this recording...simply sublime playing from the entire band!
Is that Jimmy Cleveland sitting 3rd bone chair?
is any one who can transcribe this brilliant intro?
Played this at university and just came back to it today. Was just thinking I need to transcribe this intro for sure
Snooky Young is the best. It is as simple as that. Or was.
godDAMN this shit swings like it ain't nobody's business!
thad jones/mel lewis FTW
this bassist is hilarious
How much did he sell the groove for
¥5
I didn’t expect to see you guys here
Applause, popularity, blessings, thoughts and prayers.
There’s no price for this kind of elegance
As much as he could get but no more than he needed
Having the reed section stand twice for applause shows how much Thad Jones appreciated their clean crisp performance on one of the best written and hippest solis in large ensemble arranging. Considering the soprano player wrote the tune and Thad arranged it what else would you expect! Smooth and swingin all the way. One of the best recordings of it I have heard too.
pepper adams baritone
Listen that sax section as one with Jerome and pepper leading the way pure Magic
On folks bro
Life like this sure is sweet huh 🥂
It definitely is 🥂
Life like this sure is sweet.
It definitely is 🥂
"Life like this sure is sweet huh?" - Jack Harlow
2:44 GAWD!!! That left hand ascending chromatic scale Roland does right there! AND DOES IT IN OCTAVE!! Good Lord, that's a lightning fast wrist!
.
I'm a lifelong professional pianist - have been doing lots of jazz and classical - I've NEVER executed a riff like that! Not sure I ever could!
Some Erlkonig technique in there for sure 😂
Listening to this makes me feel like the happiest person alive
...and that is Snooky Young on the first trumpet. He can not be missed. That straight tone in the upper register is there few people that can acheive.
this is great!
This comment was 9 years ago. Wow
Recorded from a European tour in late 1969: Thad Jones, Mel Lewis (ldr), Jerry Dodgion (f, as), Jerome Richardson (as), Eddie Daniels, Joe Henderson (ts), Pepper Adams (bar), Danny Moore, Al Porcino, Marvin Stamm, Snooky Young (t), Thad Jones (fh), Jimmy Knepper, Benny Powell, Julian Priester (tb), Bob Burgess (btb), Roland Hanna (p), Richard Davis (b), Mel Lewis (d)
I've heard many different "Jazz" groups and big bands and the Thad Jones Mel Lewis big band in 1976 and i must say it was one of the most profound musical experiences of my life especially the ensemble written parts left me nailed to the floor.
YEAH BABAY!
A life like this sure is sweet
That bass player's got soul.
+Paris Butler Richard Davis
+Bass Kid to the shed
+Paris Butler Where else? haha
Check out Van Morrison's "The Way Young Lovers Do." Davis is ineffable in that.
8:15
Joe H... wow!
One of the greatest, most musical drummers who ever lived. Mel not only knew every nook and cranny of the charts he was playing (which he had memorized), he knew exactly what to play to complement the music in just the right way, phrasing with the band, finding the right colors and picking the right cymbal every step of the way. And MAAAANNN, what a shuffle!
I never realized until recently how studying Mel has paid so many dividends in all of my playing, even in music that isn't jazz or big band related!
I would say every young jazz drummer should check him out, but every drummer in general should, too!
Yeah, a truly amazing drummer. Any drummer benefits from studying big band drumming and Mel is the best drummer to have ever worked in this field.
This is one of the best compositions ever for a big band.
This is the band I used to see at the Village Vanguard. Great fun.
I was lucky to be living in New York City in late 60s and early 70s and go to the Village Vanguard on Monday nights and listen to this fantastic band...God bless them RIP Thad,Mel....
What a talented family! Hank Jones, Thad Jones and Elvin Jones are all renowed jazz musicians...
The big 3!
one of the best big bands EVER
I have to say, Thad Jones was one hell of a composer. I had the pleasure of playing this song with my band and it was a great experience.
Jerome Richardson composed this one
POV: your here from jack Harlows and Druski’s video😂
who is still watching this in 2019
Every damn day
me
.....
@@Jr-ll9kk Interesting when a pinhead just doesn't get it!
Who still has a fortnite pic in 2020
Me! (March 28th 2020 to be exact).
Played this in HS jazz band, great tune. One of the best big bands ever, here. Incidentally, that's Bill Berry on 2nd trumpet. He later went on to lead the Monterey Jazz a Festival HS All Star bands throughout the 70s and 80s. I had the fortune of playing lead trumpet in the 1986 band. Great and hilarious guy.
Village Vanguard, the 1970s... the HOUSE band... saw these cats so many times I can't remember! KILLER KILLER KILLER! YA YA YA! Max Gordon, the proprietor- fellow Reed College Alum! THANKS!
You are a lucky person!
Lars Olof Sjöström
Thank you, Lars! Hello to you- one of my favorite people on the planet, Caroline Wingolf, lives in Göteborg, and works for Documix... she was my girlfriend in NYC in the 1970s- she's now a Grandmother- I'm still trying to come to terms with that!
Happy New Year to You and Yours,
Luke Sacher
Praeses & Soapbox Productions Inc.
VIVA BASIE...
PS- are you also a Bebop lover? Here is my mother's first documentary film, about Joe Albany. Hope that you enjoy it:
ruclips.net/video/fnufLQMb6To/видео.html&google_comment_id=z12yjjnjdln2vlavd23ue5yirqecdfcyv04&google_view_type#gpluscomments
Dynamics ! Very tight. Loved Mel Lewis with Terry Gibbs also.
Johnnyc drums
Ever see this? Frank Wess and Sweets Edison Big Band, Basie Tribute with Marshall Royal:
v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNTA1NjI5NDYw.html
***** : I have now! Love it!
this chart is CLEARLY so much fun to play, i could feel the energy even from decades later and through a screen
Man, the sax soli is so velevety.
Rare example of Joe Henderson playing with this band. It's unfortunate that there's not more recorded material of his tenure with this band.
Man this song is sick!!!! We're currently playing it in our high school jazz band and I'm 2nd alto saxophone and that soli is driving me crazy but I'm sure we're gonna nail it in April for competition.
Trente ans après, je pense encore que c'est le plus beau big Band et le plus grand arrangeur depuis l'avènement du jazz. Je ne me lasse jamais de réécouter tous les disques que je collectionne comme des bijoux. Merci Thad, Mel et le M.L.T.J. Big Band
7:40 is amazing. you can see how much thad loves the music just in his conducting! its such a great video I've watched it about 50 times...today
A beautiful moment happens during the Bass solo texturally, dynamically, rhythmically, and overall spiritually and soulfully between musicians.
Eddie Bert on lead trombone, and looks like Jimmy Knepper on solo chair. Man, what a trombone section.
I feel like the Jones family from Pontiac, MI was a little greedy with it’s musical juggernaut offspring.
Listening to this group as a teenager was truly a spiritual experience for me. I was in a trance one time after practicing my alto when I heard the sax soli (4:02)Thank God for Thad Jones - Mel Lewis et al. Truly All-Star all Hall of Famer Band! Tony B.
Big band swinging jazz is one of the few kinds of music that I just want to get up and dance to. These guys are a new discovery for me, and I’m so glad I got to hear this! I wish I could’ve lived in the time where I could go see them in person.
Just so fantastic!
so much jazz!
it's like a groovy merchant sold them all the groovy groove in the world!
Julia Wertz yep
+Emily Dahlstrom Groovilicious... :)
Sir Roland Hanna is from another planet. The whole band is smoking. Just so great.
The BEST piano solo of all time.
Sir Roland of Hanna, babay... :)
you are adorable, baaaaaby! 😘😘😘
This is mahvelous!!
you are adorable, baaaaaby! 😘😘😘
This is mahhhvelous!!
You know ....... it really is
watch sweet georgia brown by oscar peterson
Mel Lewis was such a great drummer! And he was a lot nicer than Buddy Rich! LOL. Some drummers are brilliant musicians but lousy humans. Your grandfather was a class act all the way.
Richard Davis proving his endless versatility again, I came to this from Eric Dolphy and the Five Spot. He's so at home in such radically different sounds.
Such an All Star assemblage of jazz greats ! Sir Roland Hanna and what a band !
Sir Roland Hanna was one of those pianists who knew all the jazz styles and played all of the piano!
Thad Jones was one of the most underrated musicians of the 20th century
3:50
Snooky Young on lead trumpet is the king...
The opportunity to have been able to actually see this band playing live every time they were in Stockholm was great. They are simply the best. They are. And the arrangements and compositions is outstanding. I am so glad that youtube is here to bring them on again.
Mel is is the best drummer of his generation. I was a proffessional musician classical. But also played in jazz bands. In a league of his own. I appreciated his range, subtlty, dynamism.
Most perfect bigbandmusic. So great!
They had the most Groovin' sax section since Ellington. No comparison! 5 stars!
Best performance from a horn section that I've ever seen. Seriously. Wow.
I'm getting tired of people making stupid comments about great music
If swing and groove were poisonous we'd all have just been given a lethal dose.
I hate to say it, but there are 8 people with corn stuck in there ears!!!!
The bassist is the incomparable Richard Davis!!! Ironman!!!
@SoxFanWilly
Well to start with ..... Mel Lewis (drummer and co-leader) ....... !
that bass solo was one of the most 'zen' things I've heard!
Roland "Blackmaninoff" Hanna RIP.
I love Roland Hanna- I never have seen someone attack a piano like that before
Mar.28th: Happy birthday Jazz trumpeter-Composer-Bandleader Thaddeus Joseph "Thad" Jones (1923-1986) The Count Basie Orchestra, The Jazz Messengers. Thank you and God bless. RIP. Thanks for the upload, Bob Hardy. Blessings
Richard Davis kills it!
I'm sorry but could you swing a little less hard, please?
Le meilleur du big band, l essence meme du jazz dans ce au il a à la fois de plus sophistique et spontane
SANS BLAGUE, mon ami. ;)
...this song is so damn sexy.
Roland Hannah having to wipe the sweat off his forehead at 4:13 is some of the realest shit I've ever seen.
I can't begin to tell you how many Monday nights I spent at the Village Vanguard listening to this great band.
that opening piano solo was hip AF
Qu'es que c'est bon, good sic...I like the smile of the Bassist....
Wow. This is an amazing find. Great musicianship; made my day!