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Fuller & Richer
Your January issue—
with its articles on Thelonious
Monk, Dizzy Gillespie,
Ella Fitzgerald and Buddy
Rich—sparkled.
I especially liked Ted
Panken’s article on Gillespie,
“The Greatest Linguist
in Jazz,” in which he points
out how arrangers like Gil
Fuller helped Dizzy expand
on his harmonic and rhythmic
ideas in order to create
a finished composition.
The day after I read the
article, I attended a concert by the Oberlin
Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dennis Reynolds.
The last piece on the program was Gillespie’s
1946 composition “Things To Come,” arranged
by Gil Fuller.
In addtion to the historical pieces in your
January issue, I also enjoyed the Jazz On
Campus article “Jazz Essential at Oberlin.”
It may not be essential, but it has made life
richer for me.
SID COMINGS
OBERLIN, OHIO
Offer for Keppard?
I’m writing in regard to John Mc-
Donough’s essay in your January issue
about the first jazz record, recorded by the
Original Dixieland Jazz Band in 1917.
It would have been interesting to hear
his opinion of the widely circulated story
that trumpeter Freddie Keppard was offered
the chance to make the “real” first jazz record
two years earlier, but turned it down.
A Wikipedia article on Keppard describes
the numerous differing versions of this story,
none of which can be called definitively
authentic. However, it is still fascinating to
think that a black man could have been the
real pioneer.
GARY MILLIKEN
LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
ZACK SMITH
should trade him to CNN, where he belongs
(for a wastebasket and a player to be named
later).
RON WEBSTER
THE VILLAGES, FLORIDA
Duopoly Disparity
I am all about the current jazz releases. But
based on your reviews nowadays, it’s hard to
tell what’s good. There’s such a disparity lately.
For instance, in The Hot Box in your December
issue, pianist Kris Davis’ album Duopoly received
a 1½-star rating (from John McDonough)
and a 4½-star rating (from John Corbett). It’s
hard to feel confident with that.
That said, it’s difficult to find a jazz radio
station that plays your reviewed albums on a
consistent basis. So here’s my suggestion: Have
all of the reviewed albums available on your
website, and allow subscribers to stream any of
them for one time only. The key is that it would
be a one-time listen. Just a thought.
KEVIN MCINTOSH
STERLING HEIGHTS, MICHIGAN
Delfeayo Marsalis
Apolitical Correctness
I’m writing in regard to (critic?) John Mc-
Donough’s Hot Box review of Delfeayo Marsalis
& The Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s album Make
America Great Again! in your December issue.
If McDonough can’t keep his political opinions
out of your (my) magazine, perhaps you
Remembering Wellins
Sadly, Bobby Wellins—one of the giants
on the British and European jazz scenes—died
Oct. 27. He was 80. He was a great saxophonist
with a very original sound. (I played with him.)
Some of his best work was on the Stan
Tracey Quartet’s album Jazz Suite Inspired By
Dylan Thomas’s “Under Milk Wood,” which is
still selling over here. You can get further info
on his website, bobbywellins.co.uk.
PAUL BURNETT-KIRK
PLJZZMN@AOL.COM
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10 DOWNBEAT FEBRUARY 2017