Bagpipes

[Woody Sound]

[Mick-7]

Rufus Harley is the only bagpipe player I know of who played jazz.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Rufus Harley is the only bagpipe player I know of who played jazz.

Rufus was actually a fine sax player. He told me that he took up the ‘pipes to differentiate himself from the pack because “I’m no Coltrane” (I paraphrase). I played a few gigs with him years ago, and he was really good. But even in his hands, the sound of bagpipes gives me the blues.

[Aiq]

A friend was in the St. Andrew’s Society and invited us to the Kirking of the Tartans at National Cathedral.

A large collective of pipers in a medieval style cathedral is quite the sound.

I think the uilleann pipes can actually sound pretty sweet.

You should know about the Uilleann Pipes - YouTube

[Woody Sound]

Rufus was actually a fine sax player. He told me that he took up the ‘pipes to differentiate himself from the pack because “I’m no Coltrane” (I paraphrase). I played a few gigs with him years ago, and he was really good. But even in his hands, the sound of bagpipes gives me the blues.

I read that he was inspired to try the pipes by JFK's funeral.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

I read that he was inspired to try the pipes by JFK's funeral.

While we were on a break at a gig, I once asked him why he chose the bagpipes. He told me that he knew he wasn't going to be another 'Trane, and that he wanted to be highly thought of as a special kind of musician at that level. The fact that no one was playing jazz bagpipes was a major factor in his decision. I know Wikipedia and similar sources say that he was inspired by the pipes at JFK's funeral. It may well be true, but he never mentioned that to me.

He studied with Dennis Sandole and was actually a very fine sax player. I think he may have sold himself short on that - but the 'pipes sure did get him where he wanted to be.

[Mick-7]

While we were on a break at a gig, I once asked him why he chose the bagpipes....

Bagpipes are so damn loud, you must need a high-octane amp to accompany them?

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Bagpipes are so damn loud, you must need a high-octane amp to accompany them?

I only played 3 or 4 times with him. They were quartet dates at receptions plus one jazz vespers IIRC, and he mostly played tenor sax. I don’t recall that the bagpipes were particularly loud, though. The droning was annoying, as was the whiny tone. But that’s how bagpipes sound to me.

[wintermoon]

He used sat in w us a bunch of times draped in the American flag, it was quite the scene, he was like a pied piper playing bagpipes, people would follow him around the room in a long line. He didn't hold them the right way but it worked for him.

[BWV]

I like the E European Bagpipes

Bartok imitated the instrument in his Out of Doors suite

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

Anything worth doing is worth doing right.....

[Aiq]

If you go back far enough every human culture has the drone and pentatonics.

Undeniable, inescapable.

[Litterick]

If you go back far enough every human culture has the drone and pentatonics.

Undeniable, inescapable.

Up to a point, Lord Copper. The Great Highland Bagpipe has the drone, but its scale is G Major with a flattened 7th: Mixolydian.

[Aiq]

Up to a point, Lord Copper. The Great Highland Bagpipe has the drone, but its scale is G Major with a flattened 7th: Mixolydian.

Further back. Way back.

Well, up to a point, Lord Copper! | Bridging the Unbridgeable

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

The Great Highland Bagpipe has the drone, but its scale is G Major with a flattened 7th: Mixolydian.

Once you learn to warp notes on it, it’s a real blues bag

[Litterick]

Depiction of Highlands piper created by AI for Stockcake; one of many

[GuyBoden]

The Uilleann pipes (Irish Elbow Pipes)

[randal]

AA used pipes on this date (Henry Vestine - guitar)

[KirkP]

I’d rather not try to play jazz standards with a bagpiper. But many years ago I was asked to back up a smallpiper (in ensemble with violin, cello and drum) for a Burns supper and loved it. One of the tunes on the set list was by Fred Morrison.

To internalize the melodies ahead of the gig I recorded a few short guitar duets based on the melodies as I heard them. Here’s one for that Fred Morrison tune. <Box>

It’s also fun to jazzify Celtic melodies a bit, though it can spoil them if if taken too far.

[randal]

I actually play a lot of pipe music (pibroch, laments, airs..) but on clarsach (gaelic or early Irish wire harp).

I've never thought of any of this traditional music in any sort of jazz context.