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I was listening to a Gene Harris Quartet CD the other day and was really enjoying Ron Eschete's playing on that recording and suddenly realized that I don't have any of Ron's work as a band leader. But when I thought about it some more, I came to the conclusion that I think Ron's strongest work was done as a sideman.
Another player who I enjoy more as a sideman is Herb Ellis. It's not that he (or Ron for that matter) weren't great band leaders and put some great stuff, it's just that I think they did their best work when playing a sideman role. In Herb's case, his work as a member of the Oscar Peterson Trio is simply outstanding.
A great non-jazz example is Ry Cooder's playing on John Hiatt's album "Bring The Family" (if you don't own this record, stop whatever you're doing and go buy it - NOW!). IMHO, Ry's work on this album is better than anything he ever did on any of his own LP's.
So, who do you think the great guitar sidemen of jazz are? Is there anyone who you think played better when the spotlight was focused on someone else?
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09-17-2014 05:23 PM
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I always thought jim hall was a great sideman.
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Grant Green
Kenny Burrell
Barney Kessel
Martin Taylor
Freddie Green
Joe Pass
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going old school, I'll say...
Eddie Lang
Carl Kress
Dick McDonough
George Van Eps
Carmen Mastren
George Barnes
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+1,000
Originally Posted by wintermoon
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Yeah...Ry Cooder--that's Ry playing the signature vamp on "Honky Tonk Women" by the Rolling Stones. Keef had to learn it and even get a five-string guitar made to make it work. It's pure Ry, though.
Back to jazz.
Freddie Green (top tier) everyone else is on a lower sideman level
Grant Green, Kenny Burrell (tie for best Blue Note guitar sideman)
Tal Farlow, Jim Hall, Herb Ellis (these three ruled the 50s as sidemen in many situations)
Bucky Pizzarelli
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IMO, best sidemen guitarists were Tiny Grimes (Art Tatum), Charlie Christian (Benny Goodman), and Ray Crawford (Ahmad Jamal)
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I'll add Barry Galbraith, who was in many ways one of the quintessential sidemen of his era IMO. He even did a fantastic job on John Lee Hooker's 'It Serves You Right to Suffer' - surprised me when I heard it. Made me respect him even more. When I think of Galbraith, the most immediate recording that comes to mind is where he played second guitar on 'The Tal Farlow Album' - takes a hip solo on 'Blues in the Closet', does unison melody lines with Tal (e.g. Gibson Boy), and comps throughout like a mofo.
Two other fifties sidemen would be Sal Salvador and Joe Puma.
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Oscar Moore with Nat Cole.
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I can't believe I left out Charlie Christian!
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Big fan of Ed Bickert's playing on "Pure Desmond".
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Eric Gayle
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Gale.
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Charlie Christian and Freddie Green were the best pure sidemen to me . Most were sidemen at times, and leaders at other times. Charlie Christian was too young when he died, so he had less of a chance to become the leader he could have been, but Freddie Green played withCount Basie for over 40 years an to my knowledge never took a solo. And when wanting to learn to comp in that style of jazz you needn't look an further than Freddie.
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When it comes down to it, who didn't do great work as a sideman at one point or other in their career? That's the history of jazz performing and studio work. Some cats lived in the studio when the work was offered and contributed to countless important recordings, while others did more work as sidemen on the bandstand. What makes a great sideman, performing or recording? Certainly different roles.
FWIW, Grant Green always comes to mind, because in a very important era for Blue Note Records, between 1961 and 1965, just think of all the monsters on that label during that time, and Green made more appearances on LP than anyone....
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Wolf Marshall's work with Tony Bennett - sublime
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Adam Rodgers deserve mention, as do Peter Bernstein for his work with Rollins
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Steve Cardenas. He's an integral part of Ben Allison's band. He works with Steve Swallow, Karrin Allyson and many, many others. He was also a member of Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra and Paul Motians BeBop band
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John Collins with Nat King Cole and Diz. Bill Frisell (I think over 40 LP credits his first year with ECM), Mick Goodrick (makes everybody sound good and shuns the spotlight), Ben Monder (in demand because he can add something amazing to anyone's gig/recording), Ed Bikert ( Paul Desmond became a must-know after working with Ed). My favorites anyway.
David
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I thought I would post this, because it would be of interest to Johnny Smith fans, and it doesn't get mentioned very often. It's a tune from a Hank Jones record called "Urbanity" feat. H.Jones piano, Johnny Smith gtr, and Ray Brown bass. It's from a CD called "Urbanity" which has 4 tunes (plus 7 alt. takes) by the trio from from 53, combined with a wonderful solo piano set from the 40's.
The title is "Thad's Pad".
It's available from Amazon.
Amazon.com: Urbanity: Hank Jones: Music
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John Abercrombie has added something nice to numerous recordings.
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Originally Posted by pubylakeg
Johnny also recorded with vocalist Jeri Southern. Yes most of his sideman work is overlooked. Good to know these little things are around though
David
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Interesting no one has mentioned George Benson he was on a lots of the old CTI and Kudo label recordings and has appeared on other peoples records thru the years. Joe Pass another who played with many others especially in the Pablo label years. Kenny Burrell worked on many artists. I would add Anthony Wilson all his work with Diana Krall.
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don't forget the one w/Beverly Kenney Originally Posted by TruthHertz
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Don't forget Mundell Lowe and Howard Roberts and John Pisano.
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