Some live Eddie Diehl w/Tal, Red Mitchell, Sam Brown and Bob Dorough
When I was finally reunited with many earthly possessions late last month I was looking forward to revisiting live cassettes I'd either made or was given dupes of. The artists were people like Tom Harrell, a Vanguard recording of the last Bill Evans Trio (in need of repair), John Collins with Monty Alexander, lots of Chris Anderson---and Eddie Diehl.People who know me off-line know that things between Eddie and myself ran very long and very deep. I'd have to call him and Jimmy Raney my biggest influences, largely b/c I interacted with both (studied and hung a bit w/Jimmy when he came through in '79). But Eddie and I were friends and playing partners (especially early on) for over 40 years. As many good times as we had (I'm listening to one of the recordings now and just heard a lick I stole!) he could be a pretty damn rough customer. And our own friendship did not end well---sad but true. The combination of his personality, which put many people off, and a mental illness that he never treated, and could make him weird---even (verbally only) mean---as hell were reasons he's not rightfully known today as one of the greatest players ever, at least by my lights. I say this with regret---and as one who loved him as much as I've ever loved anyone, man or woman. He was, in the end the most honest and big-hearted person and musician I've known.But, as Phil Woods said of Benny Goodman, it's the great art we want to remember. So I found these memories---these taped documents of gigs I attended (and sometimes sat in on, as with Pat Patrick and Bill Takas) and, as it happens, was ready anyway to release my own tribute CD (Freddie Bryant says in the liners it's a 'Creative Dedication') of duets with Ray Machiarolla and Sheryl Bailey (and one solo rendition of Reflections in D, in honor of Eddie's love of Ellington). Since it's not out yet I'm thinking if I can get clearances from the heirs of the participants, why not hear from the man himself and include some tracks? They actually are in the exact spirit of the jamming concept we used to 'get' his approach---that of a real improviser. And there's so much to choose from---a cornocopia: Eddie sitting in with Tal and Lynn Christie, both playing their asses off; Eddie and Red Mitchell at Bradley's; and a gig at Zinno where Bob Dorough sat in with Eddie and Bill Takas---and Eddie BURNED on Buzzy---a solo that ought to be studied by serious players. And it all came back as I listened, every note. Not many people could one say that about.So stay tuned---at least two tracks from these archives will bookend the forthcoming recording (Joel Fass and Friends Jam for Eddie Diehl)...