There is no "best" in the arts, only favorites. _________________ '56 Martin Committee Deluxe #2 trumpet
14B Schilke mouthpiece
Couesnon Paris flugelhorn
Bob Reeves Sleeves and PVA
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9064 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:22 am Post subject:
I'm not sure you can get more melodic (discounting pop musicians) than Miles on Kind of Blue.
I think, overall, Bix is in the Pantheon. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"I wouldn't play like Wynton Marsalis even if I could play like Wynton Marsalis." Attributed to Chet
I'm not sure you can get more melodic (discounting pop musicians) than Miles on Kind of Blue.
I think, overall, Bix is in the Pantheon.
+1
Also, a lot of Miles' work with his 50's quintet (sidemen John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones) was extremely melodic.
Lastly, this version of "Oh, You Crazy Moon" by Chet Baker stands (for me, anyway) as a prime example of a melodic performance (Chet does both trumpet and scat singing improvised solos):
I dunno, Trumpetstud -- you've been asking an awful lot of jazz-related questions lately. Maybe you should demonstrate that you know the secret handshake before we answer any more. _________________ "He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)
"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run"
The reason this post started was because I read an interview with Tom Harrell. Someone said he (not sure of the exact statement) but he has the speed of Clifford Brown and the melodicness (?) of Chet Baker. So, just wondering who else might be considered melodic. Thanks. I have no secret hand shake. Just a desire to be the best jazz player I can. I LOVE it!!
I have no secret hand shake. Just a desire to be the best jazz player I can. I LOVE it!!
Just kidding about the handshake, friend. I'm glad you love jazz. Everyone who feels like you helps keep the music alive (a goal in which I have a definite vested interest). _________________ "He that plays the King shall be welcome . . . " (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2, Line 1416)
"He had no concept of the instrument. He was blowing into it." -- Virgil Starkwell's cello teacher in "Take the Money and Run"
Joined: 27 Aug 2009 Posts: 336 Location: near Harrisburg, PA
Posted: Wed Dec 27, 2023 9:28 am Post subject:
I don't believe I can speak to as to whom is the most melodic jazz player, as stylistically there is more variety of tone colors in jazz than anything else, but the best/most melodic sounding player I have ever heard in recordings and/or live music is Wayne Bergeron, and I do not care what music he's actually playing--his tone for me is the best/cleanest/most consistent tone throughout the instrument that I've ever heard from anyone. His extreme high range still has such a beautiful fat sound--not thin or pinched as some others--but so stunning.
Arturo is just phenomenal, as is Jon Faddis (especially his solo on Here's That Rainy Day), and Doc, and Bobby Shew, and so many others (I liked Wynton's classical work). However, when I hear trumpet in my head--the sound I'm trying in my admittedly very flawed way to emulate as best I can--it is always Wayne.
There have been so many great players that we have recordings of or are still with us. My preferences are for today's relatively vibrato-free tone, and not the heavy vibrato that was so typical years ago, so others will of course disagree.
Best wishes to all for a Happy, Healthy New Year with plenty of gigs!
John _________________ Kanstul 1500 trumpet
Kanstul 800-2
GR WB Classic and Studio M mouthpieces
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