Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Big Band 1970

[@oostapchuk]

5:20 Joe's solo is so stylish. So little emotions on his face, but so much going on inside. He is one of the most innovative and complete saxophone players of all time. He is like no one, no influences in his playing. Just a pure art. What a genius.

[@trumcrum]

I was fortunate to have played with the band at the Village Vanguard before I moved to Europe in 1969. What great memories. I was lucky to know Thad as a friend.

[@ivangolub5620]

That's really great. Young jazz musician like me can only dream about it))) I think I would give anything to visit this concert))) You are really lucky man)))

[@peterpiece2102]

Congratulations. 👋

[@kenrubio1200]

I have a question. Thad Joneses brother is Elvin Jones, which is one of the greatest beings to play the drums. Why didnt Thad have him play in his orchestra?

[@kingperkoff]

Because Mel Lewis was a drummer. (Co leader)

[@Sprongles95]

For anyone wishing to learn more about the history, origins, and stories of this band, I can't recommend the Mel Lewis biography highly enough ("The View from the Back of the Band: The Life and Music of Mel Lewis", by Chris Smith). Excellent read for drummers and non-drummers (like my bass playing self) alike.

[@inklesswells]

Everything about this performance is amazing. When they get to 5:20 and Joe Henderson stands up to take a tenor solo, I find myself thinking, *of course* the only thing that could happen next is that Joe Henderson would take a tenor solo. It's like Thor showing up with an axe.

[@Batooska7]

OMG! "Thor showing up with an axe?" That's perfect! I laughed when I read this until I cried! The second that guy stood up I said "that's Joe Henserson, we're in for it now!" Love his LP "In Pursuit Of Blackness..."

[@ArthurHolloway-f1l]

Joe Henderson,the thunder god!!! That arrangement of "Willow Weep for Me"reminds me a lot of Gil Evans.

[@tomcunniffe7435]

Personnel: Thad Jones (flhrn) Snooky Young, Al Porcino, Richard Williams, Danny Moore (tp) Jimmy Knepper, Eddie Bert, Astley Fennell (tb) Cliff Heather (b-tb) Jerry Dodgion (as,fl) Jerome Richardson (as) Eddie Daniels, Joe Henderson (ts) Pepper Adams (bar) Sir Roland Hanna (p) Richard Davis (b) Mel Lewis (d) Soburg, Denmark; September 3, 1969.

[@stpd1957]

Tom, thank you

[@robertalbiston7822]

You have done us all a service. Thank you.

[@82149]

Thank you.

[@rdewar4324]

Sooooo....like...no talent at all? :) Thanks, Tom!

[@masonbays3860]

Thanks for the band roster. 😎🎺

[@jefferyperkins4668]

Monday night at the vanguard. Every time I got to new York Monday night was a pilgrimage to the village. Nothing like it. You could sit so close you could read the sax section music.

[@jokeyman2943]

I was fortunate to have been in his music class when he was in residence at William Paterson in the 70's when the jazz program was just finding its feet, and Thad had his brother Elvin come and do a performance for us in one of our rehearsal rooms, wow! The dept. chair wouldn't let me sign up for the class because i was "teaching' major, imagine! I did anyway. God could he play huge impressionistic chords as he taught us about arranging. He also brought Dizzy's quintet to WP that year too-he played the flugelhorn like Dizzy played the trumpet-unbelievable "cutting' contest between the 2 that day was unforgettable. he left for Europe a few years later, what a shame he had to go overseas to make a living, what great, big, generous guy he was. Had a smile that warmed up the entire music department. and my brother managed to squeeeze a few lessons from richard Davis while these geniuses were in NY.

[@lmn6bo]

What a band! Love the energy that Thad brings out of the band too with his conducting.

[@tottifruti8904]

00:00 Second Race 10:20 Willow Weep For Me 17:50 The Jive Samba 28:30 Tow Away Zone

[@slocol537]

I was in the audience at The Vanguard every Monday night, usually standing quite near the telephone at the entrance to the hall leading to the kitchen because it was always SRO. Never ever forget those fantastic nights.

[@mangalarobertwatling9168]

A joy to watch him conduct this band. I've never heard him speak before. He sounds just like Elvin speaking. Great to hear Richard Davis here and all the band. Just a great sound. Thank you for posting this.

[@TheFanusik]

17:14 Dexter Gordon in the audience.

[@kfdisawesome]

+Peter Palaj holy shit yes!!

[@tommythompson241]

Notice!!!! Thad conducts the MUSIC , the Phrases not just stand in front and keep time. Wow, Wow. What a tenor duo! Eddie also plays amazing clarinet. I was not a clarinet fan until I heard this man play jazz on one; check him out!

[@SalvatorePerla]

I can only give this video one thumb up, but it deserves 100! What a band!!!

[@milesdavid4358]

Thad Jones and Mel Lewis. Monday nights walking down the steps of the Village Vanguard. My goodness; the finest musicians playing big band jazz. And Mel Lewis keeping the beat with that 'smooth touch' on the percussion. And the band was just plain smokin'!!! I enjoyed many an evening hearing Thad's fabulous arrangements and his flugelhorn. And the band had a special sound that you had to witness 'live' at the Vanguard. I consider myself truly blessed to have witnessed this GREAT musical ensemble. Thad Jones....your arrangements are FAB-U-LOUS!!!!

[@rmo52]

Snooky Young & Al Porcino on trumpets I & II...that'll work! Legends all around. Thanks for posting. I got to hear the band with Thad 3 times. Blown away every time.

[@hivicar]

Joe and Eddie trading tenor solos with this great orchestra in "Tow Away Zone"! For me, seeing this band in 1972 at a French restaurant near Yale, at 16, got me started on a life of going to hear the masters live!

[@paramjitc.9120]

Wonderful music. Thanks for sharing.

[@61moonshine]

I just discovered this gem. Thanks, Ake Eriksson, for giving us this treasure. One of my favorite bands of all time. So much talent. Mel Lewis is the quintessential big band drummer. The arrangements always cook. The solos are endlessly interesting and inventive. The groove is unstoppable. The players are totally into it. Thad Jones knew how to lead a band.

[@stevesalke5404]

It is very rare, indeed, to see Jerry Dodgion playing live, as he was always a behind-the-scenes studio musician. Rare as well to see Eddie Daniels playing tenor sax instead of clarinet. Very cool video!

[@thebritandtheyank3821]

Eddie Daniels, having been my teacher 12 years after this, I find most interesting. With no less than Joe Henderson on first tenor, and the uniquely great Dexter Gordon far from inconspicuous in the audience, Eddie is his own man, swinging and driving hard. His clarinet section work is uniquely his own, yet belonging to the ensemble work all the while. Bravo to ALL!

[@spb7883]

And if didn’t know better, it sounds like Daniels (in tribute?) is quoting Henderson’s own “Inner Urge” at 33:45

[@PeteN_2]

.....doesn't get any better than this ...... I don't know where to start .......words fail me .

[@steveslagle1859]

GREAT BAND! CHECK OUT JOE HENDERSON,JIMMY KNEPPER AND THE GREAT WAY THAD LEADS THE BAND....MASTERFUL---BRAVO THAD + MEL

[@raulvallese2252]

Es lo mejor que he escuchado desde que soy adicto al JAZZ. Estos tipos son “fenómenos”!!!

[@jerrybauer8108]

Joe Henderson was something else !! Nothing he could not play with his horn. I am proud to be able to call him a friend just as Jerry Dodgion, Pepper Adams, Thad and Mel.

[@richiebeirach3671]

JOE HEN !!! DAMN !!!! KILLING IT !!!

[@vincentellin3821]

Back in the day, they were THE BAND.......wow.

[@freddekker5589]

Recorded in Kopenhagen during the band's 1969 European tour. Their concert in Basle Swizerland that year was recorded and not released until 1995 by the Swiss label TOB in the Swiss Radio Days Jazz Series (TOB 02042).

[@ripaseca]

Ohhh Man...What a powerful performance. You gotta feel thankful watching it. This is unbelievable

[@scottlafurio]

great concert and stunning Joe Henderson!!!!! wish i was there!

[@rodrigozuniga45]

First time I heard this band live was in December 1973 at New York's Village Vanguard. Since then I've seen it literally dozens of times. Never get tired.

[@noahpettibon]

My shameless jealousy your way!

[@alfredoremus4409]

Para mí la continuación contemporánea de la gran orquesta de Duke Ellington, Thad Jones un grandioso músico, trompetista y eximio arreglador, esta big band fue inigualable, viva la buena musica! Y Mel Lewis 'un monstruo'!

[@homzymusic]

I am so glad to hear this version, having memorized the original recording of Second Race made 52 years ago. After the "shout chorus" there was this hip lick played by two saxes in harmony. When the chart was published, I didn't see the lick. In this version, at 8:53 (as the piano solo begins), we hear the lick - played by the trombones. Obviously, this was cooked-up in 1967 and handed down through the band. The depth of great jazz is like Bach - constantly fulfilling -

[@arzinia]

The Mighty Richard Davis on Bass !!!!

[@benflint]

Hell yeah. What a unique voice

[@babycmamasavant]

WooowwwwWWWW !!!!!!

[@43carioca]

When living in New York City I use to go and listen to this fabulous band live at the Village Vanguard on Monday nights

[@yamabolero972]

音楽に歴史は有る 音楽に国境は無い だから私は音楽が好きだ❤️

[@PeekaPeep]

My favorite big band of all time! Nothing else need be said about it... ;-D

[@philpryor7524]

The old big bands were famous, for dancing, matchmaking, good times, war memories, movies, etc., but, these newer generation bands were just sensational in advanced and balanced musicianship and qualities over the whole musical spectrum of time, tone, taste, technique, tensions, treatment. Far out, almost too good, beyond comparison and category, here is a lesson, a course, a degree, in big band quality performance.

[@homzymusic]

Obviously you are not talking about The Maestro - Duke Ellington.

[@philpryor7524]

@@homzymusic I love no band or orchestra more than incomparable Ellington. My comments here refer to this band in context, being accessible in modern times.

[@jimbrown1559]

What a wonderful band. I was lucky to hear several incarnations of it on their visits to Chicago, and every one was a thrill. I learned to appreciate Mel during his time on the Kenton band and in the west coast studios, and Thad's writing for Basie, and vocal charts for Bill Henderson. But the stuff he did for this band was on another plane, and I still love watching him conduct.

[@StantawnKendrick]

This totally made my morning lol!!!! Joe Henderson is kicking so much ass whew Jesus!

[@jad1175]

I was at the Village Vanguard on Monday nights about 10 times throughout the 70’s. I saw Jon Faddis the first time playing with Thad and Mel’s band. What excitement!

[@felipemendozar]

Oh my god, thank you so much!

[@Egbert1957]

... here they are, the irretrievable musical heroes from the lands of my youth.

[@warwolfii]

Brings back all those memories from a hundred Monday nights at the Village Vanguard. Thanks for posting!

[@nyvcr502]

Wow if you were there; that must have been real special.

[@freejazzbone]

thanks for sharing,

[@worsley1000]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! THIS reminds me that I'm LUCKY to be OLD enough to have seen this Band play LIVE!!!! Thank YOU for the POST!!!!

[@russellesimonetta3835]

Me too three times!!

[@SalvatorePerla]

I saw them too! Amazing band.

[@libbyschwartz3647]

Me too, and I got to play with them as well.

[@nyvcr502]

jon ancker how cool is that. I saw them once when they came LOS ANGELES. I was amazed by the fact that the band had such a big sound and yet they were not loud. A big sound without hurting my ears. Very sophisticated. I’ll never forget it.

[@nyvcr502]

Joe Henderson and Eddie Daniels.!! Can it get any better than that. What is passed of as music today may be ok but there is no comparison to the rich sound of real musical artists. Dedicated to their craft.

[@tholley8215]

Dexter Gordon is in the studio audience (17:17)!!

[@mattdavis9801]

Heh, good spotting!

[@tykrieger2817]

I wish Joe Henderson stayed in this band longer, the recordings of him in this band and his big band album are all really great big band recordings and he solos really well in them.

[@putonzon]

Ty Krieger :

[@josephsudlersr.7854]

All masters of there craft that the best

[@ironcloudz52]

this is just ecstatic big band music, and Joe Henderson is off the charts genius level playing. Beyond words.

[@joellevine7522]

Joe Henderson!

[@jocknarn3225]

I love this ... especially their earlier more groove-oriented material, eg Groove Merchant & Jive Samba. How about that awesome flute solo in Jive Samba (Jerome Richardson .. Jerry Dodgion @ the ride-out). My fav arr of this tune

[@DrummerDanVa]

Amazing what they do with dynamics and how effective that is.

[@Scion-cy6wj]

rare video capturing Sixties-era Richard Davis (bass) - five years earlier he'd played on Eric Dolphy's crowning achievement, "Out To Lunch"

[@paulheldenglishnativespeak1770]

Timeless!!! I was lucky to spend a couple afternoons with Al Porcino in his Munich apartment. An unforgettable experience, listening to recordings and hearing his stories.....

[@edtrujillo1294]

One of the all-time great bands: they could play with fire and turn it into rain with the same intensity, and the fire never went out.

[@billmunger9241]

I have reading VIew from the Back of the Band. Nice to have these videos to catch up w/.

[@danschlieben8221]

One of the best ever , , , , ,

[@Cantbuyathrill]

Damn that sounds delish

[@EmilViklicky]

While living in NYC, I´ve heard the band in Village Vanguard live at least 5 times /February, March 1978/, just before Thad left for Europe. The same musicians except Joe Henderson. Once Hank Jones replaced Sir Roland Hanna. Incredible band !!!

[@robertalbiston7822]

Mel Lewis drove his band with a musicality differing from his peers. Having one of his signature series ride cymbals myself, I am hearing his strikes on different areas of his to compliment sax, then trumpet, piano, and bass. Each zone is alive with harmonics that blend with and emphasize the tonality of whatever instrument is in the lead. Of course, his percussive punches give these greats the big band wonderful pulse and thrust.

[@cephoras]

I took lessons from Mel in 1977 when he visited Boulder with the Thad and Mel BB - I as already a working drummer but was humbled by how much I did not know about m y own instrument. Mel was a gentle giant on the drum throne.

[@tomloya7366]

Such well placed rests in the solos...

[@scottlies7813]

Wow😃this was over 50 years ago great stuff!!!

[@aandjwynn]

Awesome music power! Miss you all!

[@fatheadthedog]

Pepper Adams!

[@phyllishinton9377]

UNBELIEVABLE!!!!! THOSE WERE THE DAYS!!! MY FATHER ALSO LOVED THIS BAND !!!

[@dubinlives]

Your father would know. THE Judge!

[@jonplante5575]

Dynamics. Incredible.

[@moussetache1815]

That J.Richardson flute solo is the funky shit wow.

[@onemoremood2761]

Fuuuuuuuuudge ME richard williams killing it in the beginning like absolutely no lead up just melt your face off right up front?! Then... THEN JOE HENDERSON decides to take up richard williams unspoken challenge and make sure the audience is still alive. This band know's what's up! So good...

[@ArthurHolloway-f1l]

Another one of my favorite big bands

[@robertknox704]

A magical time gone by! I challenge anyone to come up with anything close to these collectively talented souls in today's world. Happy for them, sad for us....... but at least we have it recorded! One of my favorite moments 35:27 - Check out the intensity of Thad Jones as he not only conducts but is ONE with the music (but this is a constant, of course). And that Henderson vs. Daniels battle at 35:40 - there are no winners and no losers!

[@arthurholloway-bu4gu]

Those cats are just having a ball playing some music!!!

[@giovannisugonatoli]

great great band and absolute genius Joe Henderson

[@linlasj]

My God. Snooky Young at his best.

[@cvb6957]

Just wonderful ❤️ A request: Can someone provide a title list? 🙏🙂

[@Oliver-do5sl]

Just found out yesterday that Thad Jones hank jones and elvin jones are brothers

[@lawbail5956]

Elvin said once he got away with everything as he was the baby boy!!!

[@erichuang7839]

You just let me know. Thanks

[@blakebradley829]

I wish there was more info concerning the members of the band and the song set. Although maybe I should know more of both

[@michel181248]

l'art des nuances et du swing

[@mikekaupa9190]

I heard this basic personnel at the Vanguard, ‘72.

[@Cantbuyathrill]

I think these guys would easily blow down The actual Walls Of Jericho

[@ronaldunkel2681]

It saddens me to have to say that these extremely gifted/talented Jazz musicians we see here on this fantastic clip, are no more. I can’t think of any band/group that can even get close to this marvellously drivin’ Jazz-music these days. This kind of absolute top level groovy (merchant) big-band Jazz is not played anymore. Thanks therefore that we’ve got their recorded legacy. Yes, Dexter, was indeed there, this was recorded in Denmark where he lived. Enjoy & Cheers!

[@MarioCalzadaMusic]

When everything is together, what a wonderful band, and what an incredible performance

[@saxxoplay]

Priceless material, maybe the 4 thumbs down folks can't hang. :}

[@MarvelousMaxter]

Young had killer chops on this date

[@jakeboldman]

He and Porcino! Killing playing

[@NadavHbr]

What a band ! Sheer joy

[@AngelWest58]

Joe Henderson just WOW

[@crustafari]

Oh hell yes. Awesome.

[@beeshor1]

Come on man...Richard Williams on muted trumpet! This is why jazz is king!

[@soapbxprod]

Every Tuesday night at the Vanguard... Thad and Mel were the House band... oh, the 1970s in the Village! I was 16 in '76 and went all the time- before all this stupid 21 drinking age and the police state! :)

[@vova47]

+soapbxprod It was Monday nights at the Vanguard.

[@soapbxprod]

+vova47 Zoiks- I'm sorry for the screwup, boss. Hey, I bet we were four feet from each other back then and never knew. Did you grow up in NYC? Did you go to the West End too? To see "The Countsmen" Basie alumni on the weekends?

[@vova47]

+soapbxprod It's alright, what's one day between friends?!! We might have been real close indeed. I didn't grow up in NYC but i lived there for twenty years. I used to go to West End frequently and saw many great people there. I miss the hell out that joint!!... Be well, my friend!

[@ghairraigh]

Second Race - Roland Hanna, Richard Williams and Joe Henderson. Willow Weep for Me (arr. Bob Brookmeyer) Thad Jones and Jimmy Knepper

[@alfredoremus4409]

Tuve la suerte de ver esta misma big band un lunes en el Village Vanguard de la inconmensurable ciudad de New York., yo llegué al extasis, fue inolvidable para mi.

[@sttrumpet]

What a gem!!!

[@johnholloway2445]

go MAN GO ...................THIS BAND SWINGS

[@BobSchusterMusiccom]

Eddie “clarinet” Daniels on sax. Those were the days.

[@drummereiji]

サドジョーンズの指揮っぷりがものすごくかっこいい。

[@DocPeteMD]

Thank you Ake

[@STATter911]

Great cutaway of Dexter Gordon in the audience.

[@dipsyfriday]

WOW - Eddie Daniels playing Tenor Sax (33:21) - And without his signature mustache!

[@NINT3ND0master]

Eddie Daniels did really well with keeping up with joe Henderson 😭😭 so impressive

[@arturwachowski6827]

Grande: )

[@tzotzo]

was there a more tight band in lockstep... all sections were just locked in the pocket perfectly.

[@bobbylinning2348]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥