JazzMusicArchives.com Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home >Jazz Music Lounges >Jazz Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Famous multi-instrumentalists in jazz
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Famous multi-instrumentalists in jazz

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message
Ricochet View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Location: Nauru
Status: Offline
Points: 319
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ricochet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Famous multi-instrumentalists in jazz
    Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:09pm
I'm developing an idea for a review I'm working on, but I may just not be knowledgeable enough and end up saying something stupid. Also, I may actually know myself some names, in which case this will serve as a reminder.

Are there famous (legendary, even) multi-instrumentalists in jazz history? Two or more instruments.

This question should not be read as:

a. Are there famous jazz musicians who are (were) multi-instrumentalists? They have to be famous for the aptitude itself.
b. Are there jazz instrumentists who also mastered one or many other instruments? They have to be famous in both (or any) cases.
c. Which jazz multi-instrumentalists are your favourites / which jazz multi-instrumentalists do you love/appreciate/prefer? As much as possible, mention objectively musicians heralded as greats in this regard.

You could partially exclude close-related instruments, as well. Even more, saying one plays both alto and tenor saxophone would, of course, be missing the point.


Back to Top
Matt View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Jazz Reviewer

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 2527
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:42pm
Hermeto Pascoal, Henry Threadgill, Eric Dolphy Sax man........................ and Dave Grohl WinkLOL
Matt
Back to Top
Abraxas View Drop Down
JMA Collaborator
JMA Collaborator
Avatar

Joined: 10 Mar 2011
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 1251
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Abraxas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:48pm

Roland Kirk. 

He's a multi-instrumentalist, but mainly wind/brass but not sure if that counts for you.
Back to Top
Ricochet View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Location: Nauru
Status: Offline
Points: 319
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ricochet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:49pm
Hard to catch on their fame just by mentioning them, so plz to specify.

To be more specific, what inspired me what Mingus' "piano album". It's quite good, but I wouldn't say it ranks him among great pianists. I read he also played cello and trombone, but I never picked this up just by listening to his albums. Pretty sure we still associate him just with the bass (and as composer), right?

Thus my wonder, if there are artists ranking just as stellar in two or more sections.


Edited by Ricochet - 16 Aug 2011 at 3:53pm

Back to Top
Abraxas View Drop Down
JMA Collaborator
JMA Collaborator
Avatar

Joined: 10 Mar 2011
Location: Argentina
Status: Offline
Points: 1251
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Abraxas Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:55pm
Originally posted by Ricochet Ricochet wrote:

Hard to catch on their fame just by mentioning them, so plz to specify. 

Well, Hermeto Pascoal is definitely one of Brazil's most versatile and innovative musicians. He played on the Montreux Jazz Festival, but really, I'm not sure what do you really mean by 'famous'? I mean, I don't think he sold million of records.

I know very little of Kirk, but I think John can tell you more of him and about what he did in the jazz field. I simply know that this guy inspired many saxophone players to use multiple ones at once, like David Jackson. But he was not  simply a "showman".

Eric Dolphy, you must know this guy, don't you? 

EDIT: now that I've read your edit, well, Hermeto is clearly known for his keyboard abilities, but his sax among other diverse instruments never were really behind I think.
Kirk, like I said, he played various wind instruments, does that count?
Eric Dolphy as well, well known for his bass clarinet, flute and alto sax.


Edited by Abraxas - 16 Aug 2011 at 3:57pm
Back to Top
dionisio View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Location: Bucharest
Status: Offline
Points: 20
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dionisio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:57pm
Ornette coleman, beside the sax, played the violin and trompet ! And damn, he is good.
Back to Top
Matt View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Jazz Reviewer

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 2527
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:59pm
Originally posted by Matt Matt wrote:

Hermeto Pascoal, Henry Threadgill, Eric Dolphy Sax man........................ and Dave Grohl WinkLOL
 
Hermeto...Keyboards, flute, saxophone, accordion or squeeze box if you prefer, melodica, guitar, anything Brazilian plus others.  Miles said he was a genuis.
 
Henry...Alto sax, flute, hubkaphone
 
Eric....Alto, flute, clarinet, piccolo, bass 
 
Cool
 
 
And last but not least, Dave........drums and guitar Tongue
Matt
Back to Top
Ricochet View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 08 Apr 2011
Location: Nauru
Status: Offline
Points: 319
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ricochet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 3:59pm
Originally posted by Abraxas Abraxas wrote:

Originally posted by Ricochet Ricochet wrote:

Hard to catch on their fame just by mentioning them, so plz to specify. 

Well, Hermeto Pascoal is definitely one of Brazil's most versatile and innovative musicians. He played on the Montreux Jazz Festival, but really, I'm not sure what do you really mean by 'famous'? I mean, I don't think he sold million of records. No, I mean attested in jazz history.

I know very little of Kirk, but I think John can tell you more of him and about what he did in the jazz field. I simply know that this guy inspired many saxophone players to use multiple ones at once, like David Jackson. But he was not  simply a "showman".

Eric Dolphy, you must know this guy, don't you? Sure. LOL

EDIT: now that I've read your edit, well, Hermeto is clearly known for his keyboard abilities, but his sax among other diverse instruments never were really behind I think.
Kirk, like I said, he played various wind instruments, does that count? Maybe.
Eric Dolphy as well, well known for his bass clarinet, flute and alto sax.

Back to Top
Matt View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Jazz Reviewer

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 2527
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 4:01pm
Originally posted by dionisio dionisio wrote:

Ornette coleman, beside the sax, played the violin and trompet ! And damn, he is good.
I like him too on trumpet and violin.......I still say he is hack on the violin but I like it.......screeching away Approve very Avante
Matt
Back to Top
dionisio View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Location: Bucharest
Status: Offline
Points: 20
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dionisio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 4:07pm
His sound on the violin is.. weird (weird not as a bad thing here), i really like it, bt i cannot think of anything else similar to that, and i know a lot of violin jazz players (from more traditional to avant garde ones), he plays the violin like somethin else.. it's clearly more about the sound than a melodic approach, i think and i feel that as a violin player, that he doesnt have some skills developed, so instead of a more conventional approach, he just.. grab the violin and make sound coming out of it, and damn, it sounds great, really great.
Back to Top
Matt View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Jazz Reviewer

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 2527
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 4:11pm
Originally posted by dionisio dionisio wrote:

His sound on the violin is.. weird (weird not as a bad thing here), i really like it, bt i cannot think of anything else similar to that, and i know a lot of violin jazz players (from more traditional to avant garde ones), he plays the violin like somethin else.. it's clearly more about the sound than a melodic approach, i think and i feel that as a violin player, that he doesnt have some skills developed, so instead of a more conventional approach, he just.. grab the violin and make sound coming out of it, and damn, it sounds great, really great.
Yes I agree, love his Blue Note ones for that reason Thumbs Up
Matt
Back to Top
js View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Site admin

Joined: 22 Dec 2010
Location: Memphis
Status: Offline
Points: 34042
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote js Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 4:44pm
Jack DeJohnette is one of the greatest drummers ever, and a very good piano player too.
Back to Top
darkshade View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 09 Mar 2011
Location: New Jersey
Status: Offline
Points: 1973
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote darkshade Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:04pm
I haven't read through this thread yet, but it should be known that a lot of sax players usually know how to play flute or clarinet-and visa versa. A lot of brass players (trumpet / trombone / tuba / french horn) know how to play them all (For trombone, you have to know the slide positions, but there are valve trombones. French horns are tuned differently). Also many guitarists can play bass, and visa versa.

I'm pretty sure most jazz musicians in general have a basic understanding of piano as well. Even drummers (many in music colleges must know some piano / take piano classes.)

Just wanted to throw them facts atcha


Edited by darkshade - 16 Aug 2011 at 6:05pm
Back to Top
dionisio View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 16 Aug 2011
Location: Bucharest
Status: Offline
Points: 20
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dionisio Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:06pm
In fact, at least for the clarinet / sax players i know.. all the clarinet players end up playing pretty well (in a very short time), flute, trumpet and sax.. while the other way around doesnt happen as easily, bt still happen !
Back to Top
Kazuhiro View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 3776
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kazuhiro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:21pm

Violin that Allan Holdsworth plays. Or, piano of playing of Ralph Towner. And, tenor sax of Ornette Coleman. These are unique.

However, I do not feel the drum that Jaco Pastorius plays as a too peculiar performance. LOL

Back to Top
js View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Site admin

Joined: 22 Dec 2010
Location: Memphis
Status: Offline
Points: 34042
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote js Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:32pm
Keyboardists Jan Hammer and Chick Corea play drums on a couple of albums.
Back to Top
Kazuhiro View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar

Joined: 15 Jan 2011
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Status: Offline
Points: 3776
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kazuhiro Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:36pm
And, Gary Husband also performs on the piano.
Back to Top
Matt View Drop Down
Forum Admin Group
Forum Admin Group
Avatar
Jazz Reviewer

Joined: 16 Jan 2011
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 2527
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Matt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2011 at 6:59pm
What about Bobby Valentin.........started on trumpet and now  bass "el supremo" for me anyway. Only took up the bass because his band player did not turn up so he did it and that was that......bass was his instrument pretty much from then on. Cool
 
Or Louie Ramirez..............Vibes or Timbales...................(take it away Louie) I am a big fan
 
One other note does arranging get you included because these two above a pretty good at that as well
Matt
Back to Top
Dick Heath View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 11 Jul 2011
Location: Loughborough UK
Status: Offline
Points: 98
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dick Heath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Oct 2011 at 9:07am
How common is it for drummers who also play keys and vice versa e.g. Gary Husband, Jack De Johnette, Jan Hammer, Billy Cobham?
Back to Top
Shrdlu View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: 31 Jul 2014
Location: Azerbazian
Status: Offline
Points: 36
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shrdlu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jul 2014 at 9:34am
Here are a few.

Bob Brookmeyer mainly played valve trombone, but he was also an excellent pianist, good enough to record a two-piano album with Bill Evans. Bob recorded on piano with the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band.

Gerry Mulligan was, of course, of course, mainly a baritone saxophone player, but he was also great on the clarinet, on which he had a Lester Young approach. He also recorded on soprano saxophone (and, occasionally, on alto and tenor). But most of us reed players play more than one horn. Gerry was also a fine pianist , and you can hear him on the piano on some of the Concert Jazz Band recordings.

Lester Young played a mean clarinet, too. You will have to hunt a bit to find recordings of that, but there are one or two with the early Basie band, and he played clarinet on a great Commodore session. Benny Goodman gave him that clarinet, and it was one of the rare metal ones. He only stopped playing it because it was stolen.


Edited by Shrdlu - 31 Jul 2014 at 9:35am
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 10.16
Copyright ©2001-2013 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.356 seconds.