When Al Cohn played Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase on his first trip without Zoot, he played Zoot's solo feature on Johnny Mandel's lovely "Emily." I will never forget that. I came to hear Al on his last trip to the Showcase a year later. He was clearly hurting, but played his ass off. I will also never forget his will to play that night. When I returned the next night, he was too sick to come down from his room, and Joe took him to the hospital. Al is one of my heroes.
I think that’s an understandable reaction- In the jazz and saxophone circles your Grandfather’s a bit of a legend. Just out of curiosity do you know anything about his sax(es) ? Us saxophone geeks get hung up on equipment and always enjoy knowing what great players used. I think I’ve seen Al play a Selmer Balanced Action on one video with Tex Beneke. Here it looks like a Selmer SSS (Super) tenor with possibly a selmer soloist short shank mouthpiece. Any info you have on this would be cool- even if its a serial number! Your Grandfather had a killer tone- I love the reference he throws in there to ‘In the Mood’ haha - I’m sure somehow he knows about your appreciation. -All the best.
Hi, I thought your grand dad was a great, beautiful player. I met him in the early 80s in NYC at the Rainbow room where he was playing with my good friend Sonny Russo (trombone) and bassist Bob Haggart was also on the gig. Al and i spoke for a while on one of the band breaks and it was my absolute delight to meet him since i'm a sax/clar player also and grew up listening to his music. I have a question for you. I have always believed that Al Klink played that beautiful tenor solo on Glenn Miller's 'Stardust' despite the fact that there are cd's around crediting the solo to Tex Beneke who i do not believe played the solo. Do you know in fact who actually played the solo your grand dad or Tex? Thanks so much Al B
Zoot Sims was such a great musician. He was an uncommon comman man. I was gigging in Las Palmas Canary Islands and just finished the last set at 4 a.m. A man in shirtsleeves walked up to me and said "You sing very well, Miss." I said thanks and gathered my music and as I approached the bar, Jimmy Gourley said "I see that you met Zoot." I said "When???" Seems I had fluffed off one of my musical heroes! I treasured the fact that he gave me such a compliment.
My dad marky Markowitz was supposed to attend,he was invited by Louise sims.he and Zoot were close friends and working buddies since 1947,when Al and dad and zoot played in the thundering herd together
When Al Cohn played Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase on his first trip without Zoot, he played Zoot's solo feature on Johnny Mandel's lovely "Emily." I will never forget that. I came to hear Al on his last trip to the Showcase a year later. He was clearly hurting, but played his ass off. I will also never forget his will to play that night. When I returned the next night, he was too sick to come down from his room, and Joe took him to the hospital. Al is one of my heroes.
That is my grandfather, Al Klink, soloing at 7:58. I wish I'd appreciated his music more when I was younger. Awesome performance by everyone!
I think that’s an understandable reaction- In the jazz and saxophone circles your Grandfather’s a bit of a legend. Just out of curiosity do you know anything about his sax(es) ? Us saxophone geeks get hung up on equipment and always enjoy knowing what great players used. I think I’ve seen Al play a Selmer Balanced Action on one video with Tex Beneke. Here it looks like a Selmer SSS (Super) tenor with possibly a selmer soloist short shank mouthpiece. Any info you have on this would be cool- even if its a serial number! Your Grandfather had a killer tone- I love the reference he throws in there to ‘In the Mood’ haha - I’m sure somehow he knows about your appreciation. -All the best.
I wrote to Al Klink back in the 60s and received a very nice letter from him which I still have.
Hi, I thought your grand dad was a great, beautiful player. I met him in the early 80s in NYC at the Rainbow room where he was playing with my good friend Sonny Russo (trombone) and bassist Bob Haggart was also on the gig. Al and i spoke for a while on one of the band breaks and it was my absolute delight to meet him since i'm a sax/clar player also and grew up listening to his music. I have a question for you. I have always believed that Al Klink played that beautiful tenor solo on Glenn Miller's 'Stardust' despite the fact that there are cd's around crediting the solo to Tex Beneke who i do not believe played the solo. Do you know in fact who actually played the solo your grand dad or Tex? Thanks so much Al B
Zoot Sims was such a great musician. He was an uncommon comman man. I was gigging in Las Palmas Canary Islands and just finished the last set at 4 a.m. A man in shirtsleeves walked up to me and said "You sing very well, Miss." I said thanks and gathered my music and as I approached the bar, Jimmy Gourley said "I see that you met Zoot." I said "When???" Seems I had fluffed off one of my musical heroes! I treasured the fact that he gave me such a compliment.
My dad marky Markowitz was supposed to attend,he was invited by Louise sims.he and Zoot were close friends and working buddies since 1947,when Al and dad and zoot played in the thundering herd together
Great tenor Jam! Good to see and hear Turk Mauro, Ronnie Turso and Al Klink. Turk made an LP called The Underdog which is well worth finding.
Thanks for this, Bret!
Glad you dig it.
The most consistently swinging solos were from Al Klink.
The reason dad could not be there was he passed a month before this event