Newly uploaded video of Ornette Coleman playing Berliner Jazztage in 1971, with Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Ed Blackwell: h/t to Hank Shteamer, uploaded by Bay Area drummer Jay Korber.
Category: Ed Blackwell
P. 38 canon
This is purely a writing experiment, pay no attention. Like, run away to some other web site right now. Actually this is a pretty good exercise for working up an Ed Blackwell kind of solo […]
Groove o’ the day: Ed Blackwell – Love
Here’s a fast 6/4 Afro type of groove from Ed Blackwell, on the track Love, from a duo record with Wadada Leo Smith, The Blue Mountain’s Sun Drummer. There’s no tune, it’s just free blowing […]
Reassessing some free jazz drummers
There was a period of about five years where I was listening to a lot of early free jazz— Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Albert Ayler, Archie Shepp. Ornette (and his circle) is the only one […]
Very occasional quote of the day: Blackwell and Ornette
“When we were awake, we were always playing. If we were not playing, Ornette would be sitting down writing a tune, or we’d be discussing music, or listening to music—different tunes. But that was it. […]
Analysis: Ed Blackwell – Strength and Courage
Here’s a boiled down version of the Christmas transcription, Strength and Courage, by Joe Lovano. It’s a real crash course in Ed Blackwell— a lot of what he plays on many albums throughout his career […]
Transcription: Ed Blackwell – Strength and Courage
Merry Christmas, everyone. Ho ho hoooeeere’s a LONG Ed Blackwell transcription for you, basically all of Strength And Courage, from Joe Lovano’s trio album Sounds of Joy, along with Alex Cox on the bass. The […]
Transcription: Ed Blackwell intro
A 16-bar drum intro played by Ed Blackwell on The Way You Look Tonight, from Mal Waldron’s album You And The Night And The Music. I like to post these things to shame myself for […]
DBMITW: Ornette Coleman live, 1968
A little change in gears as we near the end of our little fund raising drive. A big thanks to the mighty few who have made donations and purchased books— if any of our other […]
Ed Blackwell on playing with Monk
Another choice bit from Ted Panken’s interview with Blackwell— Blackwell played with Monk in 1972: I’ll tell you what happened with Monk. During the course of the gig, after about a week… He used to […]