From: stuart@nynexst.com (Rory Stuart)
Subject: Re: jazz musicians deserving attention (was Re: JAZZ IS DYING:HELP!!)
Originator: stuart@eclipse
Reply-To: stuart@nynexst.com
Organization: NYNEX Science and Technology Center
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 92 20:36:09 GMT


In article <1992Oct16.013443.21792@gallant.apple.com>, ken_blackman@gateway.qm.apple.com (Ken Blackman) writes:

|> > Dave Creamer:  As I mentioned in my previous posting, George Benson described
|> > [...]
|> > I haven't spoken with Dave for a while, and don't imagine he performs much
|> > live to this day, but are there any r.m.b. readers who have heard him
|> > around the bay area?
|> 
|> I've heard him.   He's great.   When I was playing keyboards, the guitarist
|> in my band was studying with him, and I was always jealous.   We used to go
|> see him at Earls Solano club in albany (this was 7-8 years ago).   His
|> whole band was excellent, and his tunes were very original, heavy on the
|> melodic invention utilizing non-standard scales.[........]

|> One memorable concert was a duet between him and John Abercrombie (sp?).
|> It was recorded with the intention of releasing it, but it never made it
|> to press.   I think Dave was dissatisfied with the playing.   (Notice a
|> pattern?   This is why you've never heard of the guy.)   I'd give a lot
|> to get ahold of a copy of that...

I heard a rumor at one point about a duo recording with Abercrombie -- don't
know if it was of the live performance you saw or a studio date.  The
rumor (which may or may not have been true) was that they were actually
quite happy with a recording they made, but that it was financed by a
student who, for some reason, wanted it for himself and would not let
it be released (?!).
 
|> My friend said he was something of a jerk, at least toward his students.
|> (How was he with you, Rory?)   Wasted a lot of lesson time sitting in 
|> another room smoking dope and drinking, and generally acting real 
|> disrespectful toward the students.   But he kept studying with him 
|> because he had such a wealth of information.

It was ~16 years ago and I only spent a week with him, but I thought
he was an excellent teacher who was generous about sharing an enormous amount
of hard-earned knowledge.  I didn't have at all the impression your friend had;
and I was probably so in awe that the last thing on my mind was his being
respectful to me :-)  (though I understand what your friend was saying, and
didn't feel that way).

|> A few years ago I started playing Chapman Stick.   I called Creamer a
|> few times in the hopes of catching some lessons, but he never returned 
|> my calls.
|> --Ken Blackman

Do you still play the Stick?

[the following probably only of interest to stringed instrument players:]
You mentioned also in your posting about Dave's light touch.  It's
interesting that two of us I mentioned who studied with Dave (Tuck Andress
and I) play _very_ hard with our left hands, with high action, etc...
So Dave certainly didn't turn out students who were clones!
                               
Hmmmm, I'm glad I made my original posting, since it's given me
a chance to hear a little bit more about what one of the "deserving-
more-attention" musicians is doing.  I'd enjoy hearing about any really
amazing (though perhaps obscure) musicians that r.m.b. readers have
heard. Is this interesting to other readers?  I'd be happy to write more
about some of the other musicians I mentioned in the first posting when
I get a chance.

-Rory Stuart