Everyone would say Dont go to the creek! but we did anyway, and would come home with red shoes. His most recent books are an entry in the 33 1/3series on Sam CookesLive at the Harlem Square Club, 1963, a volume about the 1951 film Scrooge as the ultimate work of cinematic terror, and the story collection, If You [ ]: Fabula, Fantasy, F**kery, Hope. When did your brother start getting interested in music? Performers: Victor Feldman, p, vib; Scott LaFaro, b; Stan Levey, d. 22 Jan 1958. He got his first professional experience playing bass at Belhurst (with my fathers group). MTV, EMA and all related titles, logos and characters are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. 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Those years of self-discovery can be challenging at times and those moments found their perfect expression in the Village Vanguard SessionsI listened to that music for so many hours that it became my constant silent companion and a beacon of hope.. Performers: Pat Moran, p; Scott LaFaro, b; Gene Gammage, d. 1958. Lafaro's innovative bass playing, which combined virtuoso technique with a counter-melodic conception, was captured in all its glory at the Vanguard on June 25, 1961. Scott LaFaro. Bassist Scott LaFaro of Geneva had already achieved acclaim when he died in a car accident at the age of 25. You may additional context in comments. Already a member? LaFaro burned like a meteorite, rising to the top rank of bassists in a few short years and working with a Whos Who ofjazzgreats in the compressed time frame preceding his death at age 25. Pianist Walter Norris described him as a "wild fire," and said "he never used any stimulants to enhance life, but his every moment was seriously lived to the fullest." Ornette drew mixed reviews everywhere including Monterey, where his performance of Youll Never Know elicited a scathing review from John Tynan, who said it was patently bad, disturbed, and utterly unhappy. Still, he singled out LaFaro for his brilliant technique and ideas [that] were remarked on by all., Scotty was given to introspective thoughts about where the music was going and what he recognized as the increasing distance between jazzs new direction and the public. LaFaro joined the Bill Evans Trio in 1959 and, although he would record with Ornette Coleman (including Free Jazz) and gig with Stan Getz, the bassist is best remembered for his association with Evans, particularly their Village Vanguard recordings of 1961. The Jazz la Mode Blog has plenty to stimulate your interest and curiosity in American music. Dont get fancy, no double beatsPlay whats written.LaFaro flew east, passed the audition, and signed on for a six-week tour of one-nighters with Goodman. Tales are told of how much John Coltrane practiced, but you could say the same about the bassist from Newark. Bill Evans Trio. Q: What kind of influence did your father have on your brothers music? Man, woman decapitated after car slams into big rig on 5 Freeway in San Fernando Valley. After Scotty played at the Newport Jazz Festival with Stan Getz (July 1961), he went to Geneva to try to convince the people who had been renting our house to buy it. Read More Joe Williams: Beyond the Blues, As a JazzTimes writer, I can talk about the powers of a dynamic drummer until Im blue in the face: the weight of each tom-toms Read More Chops: What Bassists Listen for in Drummers, America's jazz resource, delivered to your inbox. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a154b16ff047cd4 The 25-year old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. Does anyone have pictures of this bass, or have you seen it in person? Showing all 2 results. He was playing mandolin and violin publicly by age 7. It was an idyllic childhood. Ted Gioia, in his 1997 survey,The History of Jazz, said, "LaFarotook far greater chances, departing markedly from the traditional walking line, instead offering countermelodies and guitar-like phrases. At age 12 he was recommended for the Ithaca Conservatory of Music, where he was classically trained in violin. The BMW then struck a fourth car which was traveling south on Corbin Avenue. He felt such a strong passion for the bass that he became obsessed with practicing, spending countless hours in the rehearsal rooms at Ithaca College. Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LaFarorecounts how three days after his appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival with the Stan Getz Quartet, hed driven to Geneva, NY to take care of some business related to his mothers home there. Styles. So if you were all living in California, how was it that your brother was near Geneva when he died? The tendency is to associate him with classical predilections, but here he is at one of the zeitgeist-shaking avant-garde sessions, and boy, does he drive the sound. Around this time he received a greeting card from Miles Davis suggesting that Davis wanted to hire him. In 2009, Resonance Records reissued five tracks from Memories for Scotty on Pieces of Jade, together with twenty-two minutes of LaFaro and Bill Evans practising "My Foolish Heart" during a rehearsal in 1960. The 25-year-old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. Become a member and get exclusive access to articles, live sessions and more! Press J to jump to the feed. Often controversial, always entertaining, JazzTimes is a favorite of musicians and fans alike. The 25-year-old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world. Scott was extremely picky and choosy, and he wanted to call the trio. LaFaro is one of those players who register to the ears like more than one man, generating a huge amount of sound with ostensibly little effort, and that sound resonating as direct, controlled, economical; this is part of the reason why. comments . I would love to see it. Died . We spoke with LaFaro-Fernandez by phone to give us a glimpse on her brothers formative years in Geneva. Grit is not a LaFaro staple, but that does not mean texture isnt. Little was as star-crossed as LaFaro, and hes usually talked about in conjunction with altoist Eric Dolphy as often as LaFaro is with Evans. [14] On April 4, 2014 a ceremony to rename a downtown street Scott LaFaro Drive took place. I was 19 and working. Bassist Scott LaFaro of Geneva had already achieved acclaim when he died in a car accident at the age of 25. Composer: Coleman While driving home late one nighthis car went off the road and struck a tree. Scotty grew up in Geneva, where his father Joe, whod played with the Paul Whiteman and Dorsey Brothers orchestras, earned a living as a violinist and shared his fondness for both classical music and big band jazz with his children. Evans stopped performing for several months. LaFaro went on to perform with Victor Feldman, Chet Baker, Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton, Stan Getz and Ornette Coleman. Also, Club 86 was bringing in major stars as well. LaFaro died in an automobile accident in the summer of 1961 in Flint, New York on U.S. 20 between Geneva and Canandaigua, two days after accompanying Stan Getz at the Newport Jazz Festival. Before that grim July night, LaFaro had been a busy bassist. It is still so wild to me that he was so influential. Killed in a car accident aged just 25, Scott LaFaro was widely regarded as the most technically gifted bassist of the 20th Century. Death. RE: Person I Knew is a tribute to bass legend Scott LaFaro, who died tragically in a car accident 50 years ago this year at the age of 25.Phil Palombi plays the EXACT bass that made Scotty a legend on the Bill Evans Trio, Live at the Village Vanguard Sessions!. A Dead Musician Directory Celebrity Page. The music of Jazz Abstractions proceeds as a series of shadings, which tend to be called variants on the finished LP. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [15][16], According to Joachim Berendt, LaFaro's innovative approach to the bass caused "emancipation", introducing "so many diverse possibilities as would have been thought impossible for the bass only a short time before". For much of 1958, LaFaro was with pianist/vibraphonist Victor Feldman's band. LaFaro started his professional career playing a German-made Mittenwald double bass but it was stolen in the Spring of 1958. . Such is the legacy of bassist Scott LaFaro, though I would suggest that what was was more than we often think. On December 19 and 20, he took part in John Lewis, Gunther Schuller, and Jim Halls Jazz Abstractions sessions, with buddy Bill Evans and Eric Dolphy. There is fealty and gratitude in Evans approach to that famed date, and we have our early summer day out with the best of chums, people we feel are our musical friends. Evans was an articulate interweaver of a pianist, a melodic speaker, a filigree lord rather than a rhythm king. Little, another ill-fated star of the period who died at 23 in October 1961, described LaFaro in the liner notes as distant, but closea paradox that resolves only for those who were simpatico. He also recognized Scottys distinctiveness as an innovator who was much more of a conversationalist behind you than any other bassist I know[Hes] technicallyabout the greatest bassist we have. Remarking on the solo LaFaro plays on Bee Tees Minor Plea, the trumpeter said, The bass is a crude and rude instrument, but Scott makes it into something else. Helene says Scotty would have loved being described as something else, since I could remember how excited [he] was when he brought around to play for me the first record of Ornettes he owned,Something Else.. He was a musician from age 4. Scotty had the concept for a trio to be conversational instead of the classic structure, instead of bass and drummer just keeping time. AMAGANSETT, N.Y. - Acclaimed tenor saxophonist Robert Berg was killed Thursday when a cement truck skidded across a snow-slicked road and rammed into his sport utility vehicle, East Hampton police said. Our Dad was from here. The all-timer live session that produced the aforementioned discs is rounded out by two studio LPs, Portrait in Jazz (1960) and Explorations (1961), which I sense are not listened to as much as they ought to be, but the Vanguard date is sufficiently lambent that it pulls us to it, which is good on one handthis is one sweet, invigorating flameand less than ideal on the other, because Scott LaFaro (who, along with Jimmy Blanton, Id posit as jazzs most important bassist) was a lot more, and did a lot more, than the prevailing narrative would have us believe. As weve already noted regarding the time period right around his tragic death, LaFaro packed a lot of art into his days. He would practice for hours: he had all these Sonny Rollins solos he had written out in bass clef! We were the kind that played a fraction, a millimeter behind. That is what so many families Sunday ritual were like. On date night, people would end up at The Smith. When Scotty was in sixth grade we took our first piano lessons. He began working in jazz radio in 1977 at WCUW, a community-licensed radio station in Worcester, Massachusetts. In Meet Me at Jim & Andy's: Jazz Musicians and Their World, Gene Lees wrote, "The shock of LaFaro's death stayed with Bill for years, and he felt vaguely guilty about itHe felt that because of his heroin habit he had made insufficient use of [their] time togetherAfter LaFaro's death, Bill was like a mane with a lost love, always looking to find its replacement. [9], Writing for AllMusic, music critic Thom Jurek wrote of the album: "While the Sunday at the Village Vanguard album focused on material where LaFaro soloed prominently, this is far more a portrait of the trio on those dates Of the many recordings Evans issued, the two Vanguard dates and Explorations are the ultimate expressions of his legendary trio. The great bassist is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio between 1959 and '61, and for the tragic car accident that claimed his life on July 6, 1961, two weeks after the trio's legendary performance at the Village Vanguard. Scott LaFaro was born 64 years ago today. He insisted that Stan fire LaRoca and hire Roy Haynes, and Stan was so impressed with how strong and unique he was that he acceded to his wishes.. Pianist Pat Moran, who led a trio that Scott toured and recorded with in 1958, says he was was very aware of his genius and used to love to go into clubs and intimidate bass playersHe was quite a character, lots of fun. Moran is little known today as Patti Moran McCoy, butin 1960 LaFaro was quoted ina profile written by Martin Williams forJazz Review, I dont even like any of my records except maybe the first one I did with Pat Moran., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HAbUcKTdcI. Three of the tunes from their setBaubles, Bangles and Beads; Where Do You Go; and Airegin were released on CD in 1994. LaFaro left Morrow and settled in Los Angeles in 1957. His death came just ten days after recording two live albums with the Bill Evans Trio, Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby, albums considered among the finest live jazz recordings. LaFaro died in an automobile accident on July 6, 1961, in Seneca, New York,[5] on U.S. Route 20 between Geneva and Canandaigua,[9] four days after accompanying Stan Getz at the Newport Jazz Festival. Los Angeles Fire Department crews were called to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Search Music. The last day was recorded for two albums, Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby.[8]. Colin Fleming writes fiction and nonfiction on myriad topicsart, film, music, sports, literature, current eventsfor a wide range of publications, and talks regularly on radio and podcasts. In addition to hosting Jazz la Mode since 1984, Tom writes the jazz blog and produces the Jazz Beat podcast at NEPM. In a December 29, 1960 letter addressed to his lover Gloria Gabriel, the dancer to whom he dedicated Glorias Step, he wrote, One important thing is that I realize day by day the true artist and musician is becoming more and more meaningless in terms of public comprehension. He would have played twenty-four hours a day if he couldHe was learning a mile a minute., Morrows outfit had a big hit with Night Train. The bandleader told Helene, We were a band which was dedicated at the time to mainly rhythm and blues. He lives in Boston and has contributed toJazzTimessince 2006. They worked together with vocalist Dick Haymes, whose road show included dancers and a comic. Scotty sort of led the way on the bass becoming a solo instrument in its own right. After Scotty joined the Buddy Morrow Orchestra, he traveled with them all over the country until they reached California, as he really wanted to be where the West Coast jazz scene was happening. How did that happen? Tom holds a BA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he majored in English and African American Studies. Scott LaFaro was an American jazz musician whose technique on the double bass left an indelible impression on future artists even though he died in a car accident in 1961 when he was just 25 years.. It was released in 1962. What a natural setting for a multi-ecosystem guy like LaFaro, the dream bassist for a project of this nature, which is jazz, classical, painterly, open yet demonstrative. My father passed away (from a heart attack) in 1957. A jazz musicians legacy can be a multifarious slope. Scott LaFaro at Newport July 2, 1961 - Killed in a Car Wreck 4 days later. Q: What were Scotts childhood and teen years like here in Geneva? 2023 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. John Tynan wrote inDownbeatthat the rhythm duo [LaFaro and Billy Higgins] were the baddest cats on the date. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. In fact, the tune Glorias Step, was an outgrowth of his interest in those chords. He also recalls getting the call from Scotty to spell the ailing Evans for a couple of nights at the Jazz Gallery. Freidman, LaRoca, and LaFaro recorded a demo session in 61 thats now available in a companion CD to the biography,Pieces of Jade. LaFaro-Fernandez, Helen; Ralston, Chuck; Campbell, Jeffrey R.; Palombi, Phil (2009). May 23, 2021. During World War II the club scene changed and he came back to Geneva where he could find work. Waltz for Debby is a live album by jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans and his trio consisting of Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian. We never got to enjoy it as a concert venue in our day, unfortunately. It is well remembered as the final performance by the Evans trio of the time, which included bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. Taking a tip from Red Mitchell, he trained himself to pluck the strings of his bass with his index and middle finger independently. . I adored him, and I was thrilled to be able to work with him. (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 23:36. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. On Sundays our family would go to church, then go to the movies in the afternoon. He replaced Charlie Haden as Ornette Coleman's bassist in January 1961. The 25-year-old Scott LaFaro's death in a car accident shortly after was a major shock to the jazz world." Scott Yanow. Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 July 6, 1961)[1] was an American jazz double bassist known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio. Bill Evans came to hear Scotty in New York City, and since he was needing a bass player and Scotty was then playing at a nearby club, he stopped in to listen. Active. He remembered that Scotty was dressed up for the Newport appearance. Genre. 1926). One of the most substantial biographies Ive read in recent years is the 2009 publication that Helene LaFaro-Fernandez devoted to her brother Scott. we do worse! Evans, LaFaro, and Motian were committed to the idea of three equal voices in the trio, working together for a singular musical idea and often without any musician explicitly keeping time. Such is the legacy of bassist Scott LaFaro, though I would suggest that what was was more than we often think. Dad (Joe LaFaro) never forced us to play music. The rest is told in his gripping visuals, The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist. Performers: Bill Evans, p; Scott LaFaro, b; Paul Motian, d. 28 Dec 1958. I remember one time Scotty came home with an LP under his arm. The great bassist is best known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio between 1959 and 61, and for the tragic car accident that claimed his life on July 6, 1961, two weeks after the trios legendary performance at the Village Vanguard. - The Absolute Sound Scott LaFaro's Pieces of Jade features long-lost material recorded in New York City shortly before the bassist's death in a car accident in 1961. There is a grave mistake a prospective listener can make with LaFaro, and when I say what that is, I may come off as somewhat risible, but one must do what is right: loving the Village Vanguard recordings so much that you sleep on the rest of what he achieved as a certain kind of jazz genius. Tom was honored by the Jazz Journalists Association with the Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Career Excellence in Broadcasting in 2019. LaFaro-Fernandez: When Scotty was in sixth grade we took our first piano lessons. The Sampson Air Force Base was so big that it brought in big names like Duke Ellington. It wasnt until he left for Ithaca College, where music majors were required to play a stringed instrument, that he first played bass. As was, really, LaFaro. A professor encouraged him to audition for an open spot in the Buddy Morrow Orchestra. LaFaro and his stellar bandmates pianist Don Friedman and drummer Pete LaRoca run through four jazz standards, including two takes of Sacre Blu. LaFaro-Fernandez: After Scotty joined the Buddy Morrow Orchestra, he traveled with them all over the country until they reached California, as he really wanted to be where the West Coast jazz scene was happening. What happened to your brother after Ithaca College? Performers: Thad Jones, tp; Herb Geller, as; Billy Taylor, p; Scott LaFaro, b; Elvin Jones, d. June 1959. He stuck with his new hire, offered Scotty the option of plane fare to New York or L.A., and showed him the door. Cool Modal Music Post-Bop. Performers: Ornette Coleman, as; Don Cherry, c; Scott Lafaro, b; Ed Blackwell, d. New York City, 31 Jan 1961. The bass was badly damaged in the automobile accident that killed him, but was eventually restored and is sporadically used in performance to honor LaFaro. The entire day's recordings were released in 2005 as The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961. Scott LaFaro - Death. Tragically, LaFaros chance to see how far his talent would take him was cut short when he died in a car crash near Geneva in July 1961 at the age of 25. The loss of LaFaro hit Evans hard, and he went into a brief seclusion. After three months at Ithaca College, he concentrated on bass. LaFaro originally played clarinet and tenor before settling on bass while in college. LaFaro was taken from this world 60 years ago, on July 6, 1961, in Flint, New York, where he was involved in an auto accident a few days after playing with Stan Getz at Newport. Haynes shared with Scotty a fastidiousness about clothing, and hed just been named toEsquiresBest-Dressed list. [3] He took up double bass at 18 before entering college because learning a string instrument was required of music education majors. Evans also went on hiatus after LaFaro's death for a period of several months. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ_rZZusz90, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbTEgBEaEM4. Performers: Bill Evans, p; Scott LaFaro, b; Paul Motian, d. 7 May 1960. They needed a bass clarinetist, and he promised Scotty that he would be allowed to play clarinet and eventually the tenor sax if he took that position. Scotty was on the road at the time, in California. At the time it was such a revolutionary idea, and it ushered in a sea change for jazz. 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