ONE LP PORTRAITS: COMPILATION: David Basse: Musician, broadcaster

{quote}My One LP is by Don Ellis - it's a live album by the Don Ellis Orchestra called Tears of Joy.When I was 16 the Orchestra came to my home town of 
Norfolk Nebraska. I had never seen live big band jazz before and this was a really big band!They had a string quartet, lower brass, tuba - lots of cool stuff stuff.
A pianist named Milcho Leviev had just come from Bulgaria a drummer named Ralph Humphrey who went on to perform with Manhattan Transfer and record on most of their albums.As time went on I had the great occasion of hiring Ralph to play in my band when I lived in Los Angeles
.I appeared with Milcho's quartet in Los Angeles and became very very close friends with Milcho as time went on.
I was just riveted by this music when I was 16 years old
 - very intricate very wonderful jazz.
Don Ellis was a innovative trumpeter who had a 4 valve trumpet instead of 3. In performance they were all dressed outlandishly - 
Don had boots up over his knees, riding pants and a long black coat when he played the trumpet.When he sat down he was at a set of drums - this made 3 drummers and a percussionist - and they would do drum solos !Songs in 9 13 and 33/8 - oh wow - whacky stuff going on all the time fantastic.It is still one of my favorites albums – I bought it in the early seventies, I play it on my radio show still - wonderful music.{quote}David Basse: Aladdin Hotel, Kansas City MO. May 2013David BasseDon Ellis: Tears of Joy
David Basse: Musician, broadcaster, Don Ellis Orchestra: Tears of Joy

 

"My One LP is by Don Ellis - it's a live album by the Don Ellis Orchestra called Tears of Joy. 

When I was 16 the Orchestra came to my home town of 
Norfolk Nebraska. I had never seen live big band jazz before and this was a really big band! 

They had a string quartet, lower brass, tuba - lots of cool stuff stuff.
 

A pianist named Milcho Leviev had just come from Bulgaria a drummer named Ralph Humphrey who went on to perform with Manhattan Transfer and record on most of their albums. 

As time went on I had the great occasion of hiring Ralph to play in my band when I lived in Los Angeles
. 

I appeared with Milcho's quartet in Los Angeles and became very very close friends with Milcho as time went on.
 

I was just riveted by this music when I was 16 years old
 - very intricate very wonderful jazz. 


Don Ellis was a innovative trumpeter who had a 4 valve trumpet instead of 3.  

In performance they were all dressed outlandishly - 
Don had boots up over his knees, riding pants and a long black coat when he played the trumpet. 

When he sat down he was at a set of drums - this made 3 drummers and a percussionist - and they would do drum solos ! 

Songs in 9 13 and 33/8 - oh wow - whacky stuff going on all the time fantastic. 

It is still one of my favorites albums – I bought it in the early seventies, I play it on my radio show still - wonderful music." 

David Basse: Aladdin Hotel, Kansas City MO. May 2013 

David Basse 

Don Ellis: Tears of Joy